Squirrel Hill Magazine Summer 2020 Issue

A Publication of the Squirrel Hill Urban Coalition

Squirrel Hill Magazine

Vol 18 | Issue 2

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Summer 2020

FINDING BEAUTY IN SQUIRREL HILL COMMUNITY CHAMPIONS: THE BUSINESSES, MERCHANTS, AND RESTAURANTS OF SQUIRREL HILL THE CAREER DEVELOPMENT CENTER AT JFCS PITTSBURGH’S SISTER CITY IN ISRAEL SQUIRREL HILL ART & ARCHITECTURE

A lot of expertise goes into our therapies.

A lot of laughter, too.

It isn’t just world-class medical treatment that makes the difference. It’s our approach to caring. It’s finding joy in the journey. It’s combining elements of play with innovative physician and therapy services, including behavioral health, in an outpatient setting. At The Children’s Institute, every child’s care is family-centered and individualized to be as enjoyable as possible. The results we see are truly amazing. To learn more, call 412.420.2362 or visit amazingkids.org.

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BRIDGEVILLE IRWIN PLEASANT HILLS SQUIRREL HILL WEXFORD

NOW MORE THAN EVER, WE‘VE REALIZED THE IMPORTANCE OF HOME. IT’S OUR OFFICE, OUR CLASSROOM, OUR PLAY SPACE, AND MOST OF ALL, OUR SAFE PLACE.

SO WHETHER NOW OR IN THE FUTURE, WHEN YOU NEED A NEW HOME, I‘M HERE FOR YOU - YOUR FOREVER AGENT.

Brian Sergi-Curfman

ASSOCIATE BROKER, REALTOR®, CRS, CNE, SRS, ABR, SRES, GREEN, RRS, RFS, RCC, CNHS

412.521.5500 (office) • 412.901.6900 (cell) briansergicurfman@thepreferredrealty.com www.BrianSergiCurfman.com

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SUMMER 2020

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in every issue GREETINGS FROM THE SHUC PRESIDENT

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STATE AND CITY COUNCIL CORNER

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by Mardi Isler

COMMUNITY CHAMPIONS The Businesses, Merchants, and Restaurants of Squirrel Hill

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features 12

PITTSBURGH’S SISTER CITY: KARMIEL

By Jeff Pollock, Esq.

14 FINDING A CAREER PATH DURING COVID-19

Interview with Sarah Welch

GOOD NEWS FROM OUR SCHOOLS

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NEIGHBORHOOD NOTES

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SHUC SNAPSHOTS

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PET POINTS

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SQUIRREL HILL HISTORY

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FINDING BEAUTY IN SQUIRREL HILL

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by Helen Wilson

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Squirrel Hill Magazine

Our Mission The Squirrel Hill Urban Coalition gives voice to the hopes and concerns of our residents, institutions, businesses and visitors and works to preserve, improve, and celebrate the quality of life in our vibrant urban Squirrel Hill neighborhood.

ON THE COVER:

“No Place for Hate” Sign created by Lori and Aaron Hausman Photo

by Mardi Isler FOR ADVERTISING INQUIRIES

Contact marketing@shuc.org.

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

Life comes at you fast. If you’re like me, you were glued to your phone or television for months, watching the world transform seemingly one day to the next.

Indeed, each time we were ready to send this issue to print, more major news developed.

In what has been a strange time, and a painful one for many businesses, families, and our Black community members, we find hope in this Summer. Though we’ll miss some of our favorite events, let’s cherish these warmer months: we can visit our favorite shops again, meet our loved ones to make up for time lost, and enjoy the beauty of Squirrel Hill out of the doors we had to stay inside. Let’s count our blessings and welcome Summer to help us appreciate them more than ever.

Natalie Kovacic Editor, Squirrel Hill Magazine

Vol 18 | Issue 2

Summer 2020

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SQUIRREL HILL URBAN COALITION OFFICERS PRESIDENT Mardi Isler VICE PRESIDENT Marshall Hershberg VICE PRESIDENT Lisa Murphy VICE PRESIDENT Joshua Sayles SECRETARY Raymond Baum ASST. SECRETARY Dalia Belinkoff TREASURER Paul Katz ASST. TREASURER Lisa Steindel IMMEDIATE PAST PRESIDENT Richard Feder BOARD OF DIRECTORS Anna Batista, Jill Beck, Vivian Didomenico, Lori Fitzgerald, Heather Graham, Barbara Grover, Michael Henderson, Paul Katz, Lois Liberman, Cynthia Morelock, Joseph Ott, Mary Shaw, Erik Wagner, Eveline Young, Ceci Sommers (Emeritus) MAGAZINE COMMITTEE Harriet Baum, Dalia Belinkoff, Michael D. Henderson, Eleanor Hershberg, Mardi Isler (Ex officio), Helen Wilson CONTRIBUTORS & PHOTOGRAPHERS Lou Astorino, Maria Cohen, Raphael Eisenberg, Larry Gerson, Mardi Isler, Natalie Kovacic, Jeff Pollock, Helen Wilson.

EDITOR Natalie Kovacic DESIGNER Lynn Kawaratani EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Maria H. Cohen

Squirrel Hill Magazine, Vol. 18, Issue 2, 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.

Summer 2020 | 5

SHUC PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE

Greetings from the SHUC President

By Mardi Isler, SHUC Board President

TIMING, AS THEY SAY, IS EVERYTHING. For our last issue of the magazine I wrote about our “Happy City”—only to have that publication appear in the early days of a pandemic. Today we might dispute this moniker, but probably not the underlying notion. For all its strangeness, the experience we are all now sharing is underscoring how our surroundings contribute to our happiness. We appreciate living in Squirrel Hill because of its parks, tree-lined streets, architecture, and the colorful commercial district that for now lies quiet.

But there is something else that makes Squirrel Hill a happy place even in a difficult time, and that is its people. All who were here on October 27, 2018 will always remember how our community rallied after the worst crime in our history, when an enemy of our civilized society carried out an unimaginable act of hatred and anti-Semitism. All of Squirrel Hill seemed to rise as one with an outpouring of support, and showed our capacity to care with countless acts of kindness, large and small.

“No Place for Hate” may be an aspirational statement for many places, but here we consciously want it to define us. We are sensitive to unjust and demeaning labels. We go beyond mere expressions of tolerance, as many institutions and individuals in our midst actively strive to create a community that is welcoming, where each one of us feels accepted. Not that all is perfect.

Like all communities, we still see symbols of hatred intruding on our streetscape. But, thankfully, our neighbors work quickly to shut down hateful speech.

We do not look away—we look out for each other.

Today our enemy is invisible, a virus that has threatened public health and economic well-being everywhere, but still we are responding by looking to each other

even as we stay apart. Here as elsewhere, anxiety and uncertainty are in the air. We are discovering or rediscovering what is most important to us. In my age group, first and foremost we miss hugging our grandchildren! Actually, we miss hugging all those we love. But we FaceTime and Zoom to stay connected, to do our work, volunteer, and celebrate special celebrations. We find new ways to reach out and carry on, supported by our special relationships.

...This is a time for remembering that at the heart of community, even in a time of quarantines and pandemic, lies the strength of our relationships and concern for each other.

What helps is that so many of us know our neighbors, restaurateurs, retailers, service providers, police officers and firefighters. We have merchants who deliver to our doors, neighbors who check in on us, and friends who walk by and put our Sunday paper on the porch so we don’t need to fetch it in the rain.

This is a place where family and neighbors drop off breakfast scones and groceries. We have friends who drive by and sit in the driveway so we can talk and stay safe. In our neighborhood, we smile through our masks as we pass each other on the street, offering each other a variation on the motorcycle wave from an appropriate distance.

Yes, this is a special community with many of the ingredients of the “Happy City”—surroundings that CONTINUED on page 7

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Our campus may be closed, but CDS is open for learning

enhance our lives, in a place where many necessities and pleasures are close at hand. But it helps to remember that all those assets are an expression of the people who live here. Timing is everything, and this is a time for remembering that at the heart of community, even in a time of quarantines and pandemic, lies the strength of our relationships and concern for each other.

We will get through this, stronger than ever. And when we do, the “beauty of Squirrel Hill” will be there waiting for us, and we will revel in celebrating it—together.

Martha Iser, SHUC Board President P.S. While in the throes of this pandemic another enemy was brought to light by the brutal murder of George Floyd, literally at the knees of the Minneapolis Police. Usually we are indignant, we rail at the injustice, then eventually life goes back to our “normal”. But this time the reality was so horrific that the world is recognizing how these cruel inhumane acts affect us all— reflect on us all. Many watch from a distance the rainbow of those who are protesting peacefully and demanding accountability and change.

But we can all play a part in creating a more just society: we can advocate breaking down institutional racism, policies and practices that put people of color at a disadvantage. Reforms must create social outcomes that benefit us all equally without regard to the color of our skin.. Social justice to me begins (but does not end) with children, as children really are our future. It is up to us to shape children’s values of empathy tolerance and acceptance. Let’s recognize that children need special considerations to develop in healthy ways, and they need to learn a sense of mutual responsibility that a just society requires. We need equality of rights and resources. It’s time to act on solutions, to demand action from our elected officials who have significant power to pursue social justice reforms. Vote for those who are willing to champion justice and equality, and prioritize fairness.

Visit comday.org or call 412-521-1100 to about Pittsburgh's only co-ed Jewish

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Offering a wide range of organic, natural, and local products.

7516 Meade Street Pittsburgh, PA 15208 www.eastendfood.coop 412.242.3598

STATE AND CIT Y COUNCIL CORNER

SUMMER UPDATES

STATE & CITY COUNCIL CORNER IS OUR QUARTERLY UPDATE of news and press releases from the offices of Squirrel Hill’s city and state representatives to keep you informed.

BILL PROPOSED TO PROVIDE PA DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH FLEXIBILITY TO HIRE CONTACT TRACERS State Rep. Dan Frankel proposed legislation last month to reinvest in the state’s health care capabilities, specifically to allow for widespread coronavirus testing and case investigations similar to efforts in other states.

To keep social distancing requirements relaxed “requires a robust system of testing, case investigation and contact tracing. We cannot let our defenses down and negate our hard work and sacrifice for the last month.

We must protect ourselves from a second wave of infection,” said Frankel. His bill would provide the state Department of Health with flexibility to hire contact tracers and ramp up efforts to protect communities across the state.

NEW ORDINANCE PROHIBITS LANDLORDS FROM DISCRIMINATING BASED ON IMMIGRATION STATUS Councilperson Erika Strassburger introduced a bill in April which expands the city’s anti-discrimination code to include “perceived or actual” citizenship status and language (whether spoken or written) as protected classes for housing and public accommodation. The City Council unanimously approved the new ordinance which gives housing protections for renters no matter their immigration status or native language.

LEGISLATION APPROVED TO HELP CITY FILL GAPS IN BUDGET DUE TO LOSS IN TAX REVENUE Councilperson Corey O’Connor introduced a bill which authorizes the Mayor, Office of Management and Budget, and Department of Finance to secure lines of credit for supporting the continuous provision of City services. The option to open lines of credit would ensure the City has a way to continue vital services after losing millions in expected amusement tax and other revenue as a result of COVID-19 shutdowns.

The measure would also ensure the City doesn’t have to tap into its reserves to maintain services.

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Clockwise, from top left: City Councilmember Erika Strassburger; State Senator Jay Costa; City Councilmember Corey O’Connor; State Representative Dan Frankel.

Councilperson O’Connor proposed the City give preference to Pittsburgh area lenders if it does open new lines of credit.

JAY COSTA AND PA SENATE ANNOUNCE $225 MILLION IN FEDERAL CARES ACT FUNDING TO AID SMALL BUSINESSES State Senator Jay Costa and PA Senate Democrats announced the start of Main Street and Historically Disadvantaged Business Revitalization Programs on June 8, allocating $100M in CARES Act funds for main street businesses and $100 million for historically disadvantaged businesses. Businesses who have suffered economically as a result of COVID-19 are eligible for up to $50,000 in grants, which can be used to cover operating expenses from the shutdown and in the transition period to reopening. Businesses can apply through one of the CDFI Network partners and will have to have been operating on or before February 15, 2020, and must have paid taxes to state and federal governments.

Stay informed! Here’s where you can find updates on what your elected officials are working on: Councilperson Strassburger: pittsburghpa.gov/council/d8 Councilperson O’Connor: pittsburghpa.gov/council/d5 State Representative Frankel: pahouse.com/Frankel/ State Senator Costa: senatorcosta.com Mayor Peduto: pittsburghpa.gov/mayor/

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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.

COMMUNIT Y CHAMPIONS

The Squirrel Hill

Business District

MAIN STREETS ARE THE HEARTBEAT of any thriving neighborhood. Stores, restaurants, and brick and mortar service providers—nearly all of them very small businesses—provide the backdrop in which a community gathers. In our own neighborhood, the places along the Forbes and Murray corridors are where we meet with friends, stroll and window shop, and enjoy dessert on the sidewalk with our kids.

But the merchants of the Squirrel Hill Business District have faced overwhelming challenges over the past three months. With little notice, many were required to shut down their businesses entirely.

Some were left with little choice but to furlough beloved employees, and with them confronted much uncertainty about when they would be back to work.

Through it all, we witnessed the creativity and resilience of our merchants in adapting to the uncertainty they faced which is why we are recognizing them as the community champions they are. Many pivoted to online sales or offered free local delivery. Restaurants who never delivered before started providing that service. Others figured

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out how to provide curbside pickup to keep their businesses going while ensuring customers stayed safe.

Still, some merchants couldn’t pivot to an online presence or provide delivery simply because of the nature of their businesses. Though many restaurants were allowed to remain open for takeout, retail stores, hair salons, service providers, and bars were hit especially hard by the shutdown.

It is our hope that you, the community, will patronize these businesses more than ever or find a new business to support. We encourage you, right now, to find a business here you can patronize today. Pick one you’ve never been to or an old favorite you haven’t visited in a while. You can find a full listing of these businesses’ info and websites online at www.bit.ly/SQHILLOPEN. As our merchants begin again after an unprecedented interruption—let’s help keep the Main Street we love so it’s there long after the pandemic is over.

61C Cafe A Child's Wardrobe & Adults Too Acoustic Music Works Aiello's Pizza Aladdin's Allegro Hearth Bakery Amazing Books Andy's Tailoring Artists & Craftsmen AT&T Store Avalon Exchange Bagel Factory Balloonatics Berry Fresh Biketek Blue Monkey Tea Company Bull River Taco Chaya Japanese Cuisine Cheeks & GW Chengdu Gourmet Chocolate Moose Citizens Bank Classic Lines Coffee Tree Roaster Cold Stone Creamery Commonplace Coffee Cricket Wireless CVS Pharmacy D&M Nails Diners 2 + 1 Sushi Distilo Tailoring Dobra Tea Dollar Bank Dunkin' Eartique Eat n Park Eighteen - The Cafe at Pinsker's European Wax Center Evelyn James Interiors Everyday Noodles Eyetique First Commonwealth Bank Five Points Artisan Bake Shop Footers Dry Cleaners and Tailors

Four Seasons Dry Cleaners Frankie Bunz Frick Market Gaby et Jules Galaxie Electronics Games Unlimited Gino’s Hair Salon Global Market Retail Gluuteny Bakery Green Light Juice Green Pepper How Lee Chinese Restaurant I am Yoga It's Dogg'n It Independent Brewing Company & Hidden Harbor Invitations Plus INSTYLE Hair Studio Jerry's Records JCC of Greater Pittsburgh Ka Mei Chinese Restaurant KeyBank KIIN Lao & Thai Eatery/Bangkok Balcony Little's Shoes Manor Theatre Mediterranean Grill Milky Way Kosher - Dairy & Vegetarian Restaurant Mineo's Pizza Murray Avenue Grill Murray Avenue Kosher Mart Murray Avenue Locksmith Nails Club II Napoli Pizzeria New Dumpling & Sushi House New Young's Oriental Grocery New York Super Subs Northeastern Kitchen Northside Carpet & Oriental Rugs Northumberland Food Shoppe NU: A Modern Jewish Bistro Orr's Jewelers Paititi

Pamela's Panda Supermarket Pastoli's Pizza & Pasta Philip Pelusi Pink Box Bakery Pino's Contemporary Italian Kitchen Pinskers Judaica Pittsburgh Honey Pizza Bellino Premier Hair Designs Pro Bike + Run Rainbow Nails Ramen Bar Rewind Memories Rita's Ice - Sq Hill location Rite Aid Rose Tea Cafe Ruby's Cleaners Sakura Teppanyaki & Sushi Shear Visions Sichuan Gourmet Silk Elephant Thai & Tapas Restaurant Solevo Wellness Squirrel Hill Flower Shop Squirrel Hill Newsstand Starbucks Shady and Forbes Sumi's Cakery Sunburst School of Music SW Randall Taiwainese Bistro 33 Tan Lac Vien Vietnamese Bistro Té Café Ten Thousand Villages Thai & Noodle Outlet Took Took 98 Thai Street Food T-Swirl Crepes Tula Organic Salon & Spa Turkish Kebab House Uncle Sam's Submarines Ursuline Support Services USA Professional Karate Waffalonia Yukiyama Japanese Restaurant Summer 2020 | 11

Pittsburgh’s Sister City: Karmiel

By Jeff Pollock, Esq.

PITTSBURGH HAS HAD A “SISTER CITY” in Israel since 1995. The Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh created this ongoing relationship with Karmiel and its surrounding Misgav region through a program called Partnership2Gether. After being a guest in Karmiel, I was honored to attend the City Council Chambers’ Proclamation Ceremony to formalize the recognition. The relationship has sparked many exchanges between Israelis and Pittsburgh’s Jewish community, as well as Pittsburgh generally.

Relationship-building occurs via Israeli delegation school visits, twinning, and other programs.

The program was originally started in the 1990s by the Jewish Federation of Pittsburgh and named Partnership 2000 or P2K. In 2010, it evolved into P2G, better known as Partnership2Gether. For tourism, education, networking, and other symbiotic purposes, an effort of numerous reciprocal events has paid dividends to the citizenry of both Pittsburgh and Karmiel since. More recently, the rapport was significant when our Israeli “brethren” supported our community throughout the killings that occurred at Tree of Life in 2018.

The municipality of Karmiel and Misgav regional council are located in the heart of Galilee, an area also significant in Christian tradition. Most recently, in a move to expand the Partnership’s reach more globally,

Warsaw, Poland was added to the Pittsburgh-Karmiel/ Misgav relationship, bringing more opportunities for international exchanges.

The Partnership remains mutually beneficial because we support each other. Even now, amidst the COVID-19 crisis, the Jewish Federation is not only helping local agencies and individuals navigate this pandemic but is also aiding organizations in Israel that have overwhelming needs. And the support goes both ways. The Israel Trauma Coalition came to Pittsburgh after the Tree of Life massacre to provide support, and it still assists human service providers here responding to individuals and families in need. Unfortunately, a sign outside of the CityCounty building on Forbes Avenue recognizes all the Pittsburgh sister cities except Karmiel/Misgav. With all that the relationship has brought to Pittsburgh, I hope and encourage the Mayor’s office and City Council to add Karmiel/Misgav and Warsaw to the sign.

It is an honor for the local Jewish community, a group long concentrated in Squirrel Hill, that a town from the Jewish nation-state is a Steel City sibling. For readers who want to learn more about this topic, you may reach out to Kathy Risko, the new Executive Director of the Sister Cities Association of Pittsburgh, at kathy@sistercitiespgh.org.

A photo of the Karmiel/Misgav area, Pittsburgh’s Sister City in Israel

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HOW WE ENGAGE In a social justice class, Senior School students produce investigatory podcasts that share the stories of Pittsburgh residents affected by issues such as neighborhood gentrification and submit them to a national NPR contest.

How will you give your child the opportunity to engage with real-world issues?

BECAUSE “HOW” MATTERS PK-12 • Four Campuses

SHADYSIDEACADEMY.ORG/ADMISSIONS

FINDING A CAREER

PATH

DURING COVID-19 A Conversation with Sarah Welch, Director of the Career Development Center at Jewish Family & Children’s Services

FOR THIS ISSUE, WE SAT DOWN WITH SARAH WELCH, Director of the Career Development Center at Jewish Family & Children’s Services (JFCS) in Squirrel Hill which has been operating for 35 years serving un- and under-employed people in Allegheny County. Along with a team of 20+ career counselors, Sarah helps people find work that is commensurate with their skills, secure family-sustaining jobs, access employment benefits, and move into the middle class.

The Career Development Center partners with 13 other non-profits in sites across the county.

As a career counselor, what have you been seeing and hearing from people during this time?

When COVID-19 hit, everything shut down immediately, and what we saw most were people who really didn’t know what their next move was.

We have clients who are furloughed, laid off, or were terminated. They don’t understand the difference between those terms and what it means for them: is their job coming back? Should they wait to find a job?

We’ve also seen people struggle with the fact that even if they could go back to work, they now have kids at home that need to be educated. But we tell our clients: even if you can’t go back to work, don’t put off your job search, because a search takes time.

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Can you tell us about some of the services the JFCS Career Development Center is providing to help people search?

We do individualized career counseling and an assessment of where clients are in their job searches, and we stay by their side through the entire process. We offer workshops that people can participate in virtually. We’ve also pivoted our services to help people who have filed for unemployment compensation, especially those who may have been lost in the system. We can meet with clients by video or by telephone, and eventually face-to-face when we open back up.

What we are really stressing to people is not to wait for unemployment to run out before they start a job search. We want people to start thinking long-term about what they want in a career pathway. There’s so much leg work that can be done right now, and it goes beyond resumes and cover letters. It could be considering an industry you’ve never worked in, or a new company, or doing some information-gathering. Our career counselors are here to help with that process.

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What types of clients do your career counselors work with?

We will work with anyone in Allegheny County who needs employment assistance. We work with immigrants and new arrivals, parents who are reentering the workforce, recent college graduates, and individuals with mental health challenges. We’re able to provide services to a wide variety of clients.

we recommend they contact 2-1-1 which is run by the United Way, and will connect them to us to someone who can help. When they call 2-1-1, they’ll be connected to a real, live person who can talk them through the services that are available.

That’s great. One last thing: if you had to give one piece of advice to someone who has become unemployed due to COVID-19, what would you tell them?

Don’t put off looking for a job and don’t wait for the market to improve. Meet with one of our career counselors now so we can help you figure out a plan of action. You’re not committing to starting a new job just because you start a search. But you’ll be ready when the opportunity arises.

For more information on JFCS’s Career Development Center workshops and services, visit jfcspgh.org/CDC or call 412-422-5627.

Welcome Summer!

Do you work with employers as well?

We do. If an employer knows they have to do layoffs, we can help them do that in a way that ensures their affected employees know where they can find services and support. We’re also finding many employers to be future-focused, still looking for qualified people. Even if they aren’t hiring immediately, we have relationships with employers we can tap into when they’re ready to hire again.

Paid for by Friends of Corey O’Connor

Beyond career assistance, are there other services that JFCS provides for those who have lost income?

For those who are food insecure, the Squirrel Hill Food Pantry has been open every single day since COVID-10 started. If people have critical needs,

Summer 2020 | 15

Finding Beauty in Squirrel Hill: Art and Architecture

Raphael Eisenberg and Lou Astorino | Edited by Natalie Kovacic WHEN WE FIRST DEVELOPED THE THEME for the Summer 2020 issue, we wished to showcase some of the art and architecture you can find in Squirrel Hill.

That proved to be a tall order: Squirrel Hill is filled with some of the most gorgeous structures and landscapes in the City and is home to many talented artists whose works we would need dozens of magazines to adequately represent. Here, we highlight the paintings of Raphael Eisenberg, a local artist, and photos from Lou Astorino, an architect, who shared his thoughts about the architecture that makes Squirrel Hill so unique.

Untitled [Phillips Ave. houses, looking toward Schenley Park] oil on canvas (2019)

Alani, oil on canvas (2019)

RAPHAEL EISENBERG Artist & Painter Raphael Eisenberg, a classically trained artist born and raised in the Bronx, received his BFA from the Cooper Union in 1967. When Raphael invited me to see his artwork for this issue, I was struck: surely these paintings belonged in an art museum! Not only does he create stunning textures with his technique (as you can see in the oil paintings on this page), but the depth of the expressions in his portraits are also quite beautiful. Here are some of his best paintings of the people and places of Squirrel Hill, each of which are available for purchase from Raphael directly.

Untitled [a view of Footers Cleaners on Forward Ave.], oil on canvas (2019)

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Raphael can be reached by emailing eisenbergart@gmail. com or you can follow him on Instagram @eisenbergraphael.

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LOU ASTORINO Architect Lou Astorino is a retired architect who has lived in Squirrel HIll for 15 years. Astorino’s firm has designed buildings both in Pittsburgh and throughout the world, including a UPMC Transplant Hospital in Sicily and a chapel at the Vatican in which the Pope says daily mass. Lou shared his photos and his thoughts on the architectural aspects of Squirrel Hill and what makes our neighborhood so unique.

a particularly important role in Squirrel Hill’s setting.

Another important aspect is the street set-back of all the homes. This allows the architecture to be observed from a distance so that it is all encompassing.

Another interesting aspect of the neighborhood is there is no particular “style of architecture.” This helps to add to a fact that you are never bored when walking or driving through the neighborhood.

First, he says Squirrel Hill is largely a “very walkable” community.

Many residential areas in Pittsburgh are also walkable but, in his opinion, none have the quality and diversity of Squirrel Hill. There are so many different architectural styles that work together to create such a visually unique neighborhood. “The architecture,” he says, “is never boring or repetitive!”

The building materials as well as shapes and sizes of the structures play

Lou also shared his favorite photos of the natural and planned landscapes in the neighborhood.

“We really get to appreciate the landscaping at this time of the year!” he said.

“It’s a neighborhood that makes you look forward to what is next,” Lou told us. “Whenever you walk or drive through it, there’s a sense that the best is yet to come.

That is what makes it such a wonderful neighborhood; it has a variety of architecture to enjoy.”

Summer 2020 | 17

One of Pittsburgh’s most beloved neighbors told us to look for the helpers in difficult times.

Here at UPMC Senior Communities, we don’t have far to look.

The commitment, creativity, and compassion of our Senior Communities employees in meeting the COVID-19 crisis head-on is making all the difference in the well-being of more than 2,900 older adults in our care every day.

Thank you to our extraordinary staff for standing in on behalf of children and grandchildren, brothers and sisters, nieces and nephews, near and far.

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Pittsburgh Linden On Track To Become International Baccalaureate School

By Derek Fuchs, Coordinator International Baccalaureate Primary Years Programme at Pittsburgh Linden K-5 WALK INTO ANY CLASSROOM at Pittsburgh Linden Pre K-5, and you’ll see the same words, in two languages. Principled. Inquirer. Open-Minded.

In total, there are nine attributes, part of something called the International Baccalaureate Learner Profile – Linden’s new culture. These words - written in English and Mandarin Chinese - embody what every student should aspire to be. “My strong belief and philosophy towards education, is that we must commit to educating our children from early childhood through higher education,” said Anita Walker, Linden’s principal. “I believe that there is true merit in building a strong educational foundation and solid family structure for all children.”

Linden is rebuilding its historic reputation. In recent years, it became the first elementary school in Pittsburgh Public Schools to offer all its incoming students several classes per week in Mandarin. Now, it’s deep in the candidacy phase to become the city’s only International Baccalaureate (IB) elementary school.

Schools both private and public in 156 different countries are part of the International Baccalaureate Organization, which isn’t as much a curriculum as it is a philosophy and culture. While many people in Pittsburgh are familiar with Pittsburgh Obama’s IB Middle Years and Diploma programs, Linden is currently working to meet the requirements of the Primary Years Programme (PYP).

IB schools only become authorized by meeting rigorous standards for learner agency (when a student is actively involved in setting learning goals), high levels of teacher collaboration, community involvement, and school culture. All IB schools share the culture, but the PYP differs from the other IB programs because of something called Transdisciplinary themes. Teachers in every subject collaborate on a theme – six in all - so students explore a central idea through art, language, music, science, and more.

The IB also has a focus on international mindedness.

That makes it a perfect fit for Linden, whose student body eats Moon cakes and makes lanterns for the Chinese New Year, and the German students still share songs, pretzels and juice for Fasching Fest.

All new Linden students take Mandarin; German instruction isn’t offered to incoming students anymore, but older students still take classes.

At 117 years strong, Linden continues to be a cultural landmark for the neighborhood.

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GOOD NEWS FROM OUR SCHOOLS

Linden is currently working to meet the requirements of the International Baccalaureate (IB) Primary Years Programme making it the City’s only school to offer an IB program at the elementary level.

School parents initiated the IB plan. “When we looked at [it], I felt it would give coherence to the good work Linden was already doing offering world languages, and provide opportunities for growth in areas like problem solving and empathy in an inclusive setting,” said Dr. Ali Patterson, a longtime member of the school’s ParentTeacher Association. “It’s an outstanding and rare opportunity in an urban district and I’m very proud to be a Linden parent as we work towards IB accreditation.” Patterson and Dr. Kathy Newman, a former PTA member, presented the concept to Superintendent Anthony Hamlet 2 years ago.

GOOD NEWS FROM OUR SCHOOLS

of middle school students, and relationship-based approach to education. Through an inclusive assessment process that enabled faculty, students, and parents to connect with Mr. Gassaway during his visit to St. Edmund’s Academy, there was unanimous support for his candidacy.

In sharing his experience and interest in joining St. Edmund’s Academy, Mr. Gassaway reflected: “I believe in the importance of having values serve as powerful anchors for character development and am pleased to see that reflected in St. Edmund’s approach. Middle school students are my passion.

I have taught each of the grades in some capacity and appreciate why these years are critical for children’s development into capable adults and responsible citizens.”

Mr. Ryan Gassaway will join St. Edmund’s Academy as Director of Upper School on July 1, 2020.

The St. Edmund’s Academy community looks forward to welcoming Mr. Gassaway on July 1, 2020.

St. Edmund’s Academy Announces New Director of Upper School

Learning Continues at Community Day School through the CDS@home Platform

ST. EDMUND’S ACADEMY HAS APPOINTED Mr. Ryan Gassaway as Director of Upper School.

Mr. Gassaway joins St. Edmund’s Academy from the KIPP Foundation where he served as Director of Instructional Leadership, training and empowering regional and school level instructional leaders. Prior to his time at KIPP, Mr. Gassaway served as a founding faculty member, Dean of Student Culture, and ultimately Principal of Coney Island Preparatory Public Charter School. He served 360 students in grades five through eight and led 51 teachers and staff.

He received his M.A. in Education Leadership from Columbia University.

Through a nationwide search that included candidates from 11 different states, Mr. Gassaway rose to the top due to his distinctive leadership style, understanding

NO DISTANCE LEARNING PROGRAM can truly replicate the unique CDS experience that is built on the strength of its community but in its transition to online learning spaces during the COVID-19 crisis, CDS@home has provided students and their families with structure, connection, joy, and meaning.

Each day students in Early Childhood and Lower School receive two hours of online learning experiences, including both live and prerecorded lessons and activities. In Intermediate School and Middle School, students follow a daily schedule, cycling through their academic subjects with built-in time for movement breaks, morning prayer, and lunch and recess.

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CDS uses technology to simulate an interactive class setting; move forward individual student and class learning goals; and support faculty, students, and families during this challenging time. They have also created opportunities for virtual community-building through events such as full-school Shabbat services, Field Day, and Grandparent and Special Friend Day via Zoom, a student-led Holocaust Remembrance Day commemoration, and an online celebration of the CDS Class of 2020.

Visit the CDS@home platform, where you can find activity ideas, videos, updates, and more at comday.org/cdsathome.

The first-ever Virtual Fourth Grade Greek Museum website features a gallery of photos of each student dressed as a Greek mythological figure. Visitors can click a photo to watch a video of the Greek “statue” coming to life and giving a speech about his or her personal history. Normally, the museum is staged throughout the school’s second floor, with fourth graders posing on decorated pedestals (desks) as if they were statues, and guests push a makeshift button on each pedestal to make the statue come to life.

The Greek Museum is an annual interdisciplinary class project that integrates literature, writing, history, costume design and public speaking. You can visit the Virtual Greek Museum at bit.ly/SSAGreek.

Shady Side Academy’s Fourth Grade Greek Museum Goes Virtual EVEN A GLOBAL PANDEMIC could not keep the Greek gods and goddesses from coming to life at Shady Side Academy Junior School’s 22nd Annual Fourth Grade Greek Museum. With the school building closed and distance learning in place for the rest of the school year due to COVID-19, this beloved annual tradition and rite of passage for Junior School students was reimagined in an online format.

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GOOD NEWS FROM OUR SCHOOLS

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DEAR FRIENDS OF SHUC, First, we want to thank our neighbors, merchants, and many supporters over the years whose contributions have kept our community organization running. We hope you know how much we appreciate your past donations. After all, it is your contributions that make up 90% of our annual budget, which supports our many initiatives, projects. and community activities.

As you can imagine, this is an uncertain time for all nonprofits that rely on fundraising from supporters to meet their budgetary requirements—and SHUC is no different.

Thankfully, SHUC has taken advantage of the opportunity to apply for the SBA funding provided by the CARES Act. If approved, this will make up for some of our loss over the past few months. We hope to be successful!

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We know that this time is uncertain for you, too. When the time is right, we will again come back to our neighbors for support. While we are planning for our annual fundraiser, the Treasure Dinner scheduled for November 5, 2020 at the Pittsburgh Golf Club, we recognize that an alternative celebration of our Squirrel Hill Treasures may be necessary. We will update you through our website and social media when the format is decided.

IIn the meantime, for those who have asked how contribute, you can always go to shuc.org/donate or contact Maria Cohen at 412-656-6902 to donate by credit card.

We hope you have been able to remain safe and stay well as Allegheny County goes in to the “Green” reopening phase. We look forward to seeing you in-person on the streets of Squirrel Hill – wearing a mask and social distancing!

Who’s Behind the Mask?

As the CDC continues to recommend wearing a mask to protect ourselves and our neighbors, we asked some of our community members to share photos of themselves in action! Can you guess who’s behind the masks below? (You can find the answers on page 25.)

Summer 2020 | 23

NEIGHBORHOOD NOTES tests will be offered at no charge, and patients do not need a doctor’s referral. Anyone experiencing symptoms of COVID-19 should get tested.

Symptoms include: cough, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, fever, chills, muscle pain, sore throat and new loss of taste or smell. Other less common symptoms have been reported, including gastrointestinal symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea.

City Announces Spray Parks and Playgrounds to Reopen, Gatherings to Resume THE CITY OF PITTSBURGH ANNOUNCED playgrounds, basketball courts, spray parks and ballfields will start reopening on a rolling basis, with most having been reopened by June 15. Organized sports will be allowed to resume and permits will be accepted for rental of ballfields and open-air park shelters. Permits for block parties and special outdoor events will be allowed for groups of up to 250 attendees. Restrooms, water fountains, swimming pools, recreation centers and senior centers will remain closed until further notice.

Free Testing for COVID-19 Now Available TESTING FOR COVID-19 IS NOW AVAILABLE at federally qualified health centers, including Squirrel Hill Health Center located at 4516 Browns Hill Road. The

JCC of Greater Pittsburgh Provides Support and Services to Our Community

A volunteer with the JCC AgeWell program serves a Meal-to-Go to a senior center member.

WITH THE UNPRECEDENTED CHALLENGES presented by COVID-19, the Jewish Community Center of Greater Pittsburgh (JCC) continues to provide life-sustaining support and services that keep our community whole. Following the mid-March closing of the JCC’s buildings, the JCC moved quickly to launch ways to continue providing critical services, programs, classes and ways to connect. These include: CONTINUED on page 25

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NEIGHBORHOOD NOTES CONTINUED from page 24

•

•

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•

•

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80+ LIVE classes, including group exercise, SilverSneakers, dance and sports, and educational classes are offered each week as part of the #JCCPGHVirtual initiative. 40 pre-recorded or virtual activities are hosted each week on our digital platforms and include meetups and events for children, teens and adults.

Thanks to an anonymous donor, the JCC has distributed 7,500 masks to our AgeWell senior community, 412 Food Rescue, Zone 4 Police, the Jewish Association on Aging, and the Children’s Home of Pittsburgh.

The JCC with Vitalant (formerly Central Blood Bank) hosted 15 blood drives at the JCC Squirrel Hill and South Hills facilities.

AgeWell provided more than 3,000 Meals-toGo for participants registered in our Senior Center program, and this life-sustaining program continues.

JCC volunteers have made more than 2,000 wellness checks to isolated senior adults.

Many of the JCC’s programs are being offered to both members and non-members. Go to JCCPGH.org/ jccpghvirtual-beyond-our-walls for more info.

City of Pittsburgh Office of Special Events

Squirrel Hill Farmers Market Reopened THE SQUIRREL HILL FARMERS MARKET reopened on Sunday, June 7, and will be open every Sunday from 9:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. through October, with enhanced health and safety procedures for shoppers and vendors. The market will accept food stamps (SNAP), credit and debit cards, as usual. The new safety procedures require shoppers to wear a face covering, maintain social distance of at least 6 feet, pay with card or cash in the exact amount, and pets are not permitted. Many vendors are also now accepting advance orders and payment online.

1. CHAD TANAKA PACK, Squirrel Hill resident 2. SELMA F. WITCHEL, MD, Pediatric Endocrinologist, UPMC 3. City Councilperson COREY O’CONNOR 4. Fr. MICHAEL FOLEY, Church of the Redeemer

ANSWER KEY

5. LYNETTE LEDERMAN, Assistant to Councilperson Corey O’Connor 6. BILL ISLER, JCC Board Member

for Who’s Behind the Mask?

7. Pittsburgh Police Chief SCOTT SCHUBERT

See page 23 to guess who’s behind

9. City Councilperson ERIKA STRASSBURGER and her son, Evan

the mask first. No peeking!

10. ARADHNA OLPIHANT, President, Leadership Pittsburgh

8. LISA STEINDEL, former Executive Director, American Jewish Committee Pittsburgh

11. Dr. KAREN WOLK FEINSTEIN, President, Jewish Healthcare Foundation 12. JOANNE ROGERS, with Joanne Rogers The Dog 13. PATRICK BECK, Sestili’s Nursery 14. EVELINE YOUNG, SHUC Board Member 15. JUDY O’CONNOR 16. RAY BAUM, SHUC Board Member

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shuc snapshots NOTES FROM YOUR SQUIRREL HILL URBAN COALITION STAFF

Update from SHUC Executive Director, Maria Cohen AS SUMMER APPROACHES, APPROACHES, we are all adjusting to the many changes in our world brought on by the pandemic. Many of us are witnessing the pain our Black community members are experiencing and the racism that still sadly affects them in 2020. But the foundation of our Squirrel Hill community is built upon love, strength, kindness, compassion, and most of all, resilience.

We hope to gain true understanding of, compassion for, and collaboration with one another as we move forward.

We see our resilient community members stepping up to take the lead and show gratitude to those who are supporting us as essential workers. We see our neighbors supporting our Black community members by participating in peaceful demonstrations and dialogues throughout the community. Through it all, we hope to gain true understanding of, compassion for, and collaboration with one another as we move forward.

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At the June 8 Porch Party, neighbors and families play Cartographers with Games Unlimited

We are also grateful for our neighbors who have stepped up in the past few months: •

First, we thank Lori Fitzgerald, who helped spearhead our recent Kindness is Contagious Campaign and Social Distancing Porch Parties.

Jacquelyn Cynkar assisted SHUC with assembling profiles for our neighbors. You can access our highlighted profiles on the SHUC website under Projects - Kindness is Contagious.

•

Our neighbor Evelyn Castillo from Mt. Royal was instrumental in the #lovefrompgh Illumination Ovation for our health care professionals and frontline workers.

•

Tim Joyce has been actively updating and connecting neighbors to each other and put together a neighborhood contact list.

•

Jan Steckel Piacentini started a neighborhood collection for the family of Frank J. Wadley Sr., a City of Pittsburgh Environmental Service worker who lost his live to COVID-19.

•

Summerset of Frick Park neighbors started a Neighborhood Helpers Group spearheaded by Amy Mann and Jen Tepe to collect donations for those in need and our local community food banks. Paula Cerrone Stern and Illene DiSilvio have also been instrumental in supporting the Helper group with additional collections.

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•

Our Solway neighbors Jacquelyn Cynkar, Beth Powers, Tammy Murdoch and Stefani Pashman, have been hugely helpful in spreading the word about Sunday Social Distancing Porch Parties, collections for the community, acknowledging our front line workers and much, much more.

A critical mission for SHUC is supporting the merchants and restaurants in the Squirrel Hill Business District. Community leaders City Councilperson Erika Strassburger, Leah Lizarando of 412 Food Rescue, and Heather Graham of Uncover Squirrel Hill have stepped up to help sustain our local restaurants while supporting the food insecure. SHUC and Uncover Squirrel Hill are continuously trying to find ways to support our merchants, including a What’s Open – Squirrel Hill Hil spreadsheet which we shared with our community. We will have a Squirrel Hill loyalty program up and running in the Fall. We look to you, our neighbors and community, to continue to support the local businesses we love.

We also have two very exciting upcoming aesthetic improvements to our neighborhood: O’Connor’s Corner and the Squirrel Hill Mural Project. We expect those to be completed by the Fall 2020, circumstances permitting. Read on for more information.

SHUC hasn’t stopped working and we know you haven’t either. This is a strange and challenging time for all of us. But we are uplifted by the various ways our community members have stepped up during this time. Please reach out to share what you would like the Squirrel Hill Urban Coalition to continue, feedback about changes that you would like to see in our Squirrel Hill community, and your ideas to help support us in preserving, improving and celebrating the quality of life in our vibrant Squirrel Hill community.

You can connect with Maria Cohen, SHUC Executive Director, at mcohen@shuc.org.

Update on O’Connor’s Corner YOU MAY REMEMBER THAT O’CONNOR’S CORNER was first proposed in 2009 after a series of community meetings held to determine what amenities residents wanted to improve the Squirrel Hill Gateway entrance and streetscape.

Over the past few months, SHUC has made considerable progress toward that goal. In March and April, the first PPG advertisement requesting bids for O’Connor’s Corner hit the press just before the state and county began measures to mitigate COVID-19.

We developed ways to handle bids electronically and held a scope-of-work session with potential bidders.

The bid opening took place in April via Zoom meeting with Maria Cohen, our Executive Director, following a process to open the sealed bids.

Though it’s been a challenging journey, the SHUC Gateway Committee evaluated the bids and selected Baiano Construction to commence this important project. We are hopeful to begin the project in June and will post updates on our website at www.shuc.org.

Bike-Pedestrian Committee AS THE WEATHER WARMS, WARMS, the SHUC BikePedestrian Committee is creating new bike routes for you and your family to explore! You can join their new Facebook group online at bit.ly/bikepedgroup or visit shuc.org/bikeped for updates.

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Socially Distant Neighborhood Cleanup with SHUC Litter Patrol JOIN MOISHE HOUSE PGH and the Squirrel Hill Urban Coalition Litter Patrol for a neighborhood cleanup on Sunday, June 28 from 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. Head down to the business district to help out or clean your own neighborhood! SHUC will provide gloves and trash bags to participants in Squirrel Hill who sign up in advance at www.bit.ly/SQHcleanup.

One of the locations for the Squirrel Hill Mural Project is planned for the Squirrel Hill Carnegie Library Garage on the corner of Forbes and Murray.

Squirrel Hill Mural Project THE SQUIRREL HILL URBAN COALITION is thrilled to announce a Squirrel Hill Mural project made possible through a grant from a generous, anonymous private foundation. We are grateful for such an incredible gift for our community at this crucial time.

The project is expected to be completed in phases.

One site includes the parking garage walls under the Squirrel Hill Library on the corner of Forbes and Murray in partnership with the Pittsburgh Parking Authority (PPA.) Another site is on Murray Avenue near Phillips on the side of the soon to be opened taco place in the building owned by Mineos. It is hoped that a final phase will create a crosswalk mural.

Artist submissions and selection for the first Phase is underway. It is hoped that preparation of the walls can begin this summer. SHUC is delighted to share this wonderful news and to bring to you a project to enhance our vibrant business district. We cannot wait to celebrate with our community in an appropriate way upon completion of our first Magical Mural.

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Tree Planting in Squirrel Hill IT WAS A HAPPY DAY IN MAY to see a tree planting at 6th Presbyterian Church in Squirrel Hill as a belated commemoration of the 50th Anniversary of Earth Day. Danielle Crumine, Executive Director of Tree Pittsburgh, and Gregory Winner, church volunteer, maintained social distancing guidelines while planting a Chinkapin Oak, a beautiful specimen for larger lawns with dark green leaves in summer turning yellow-orange to orangish-brown in fall. Thank you to Tree Pittsburgh for the great work they do to keep Squirrel Hill beautiful!

Kindness is Contagious: Meet your Squirrel Hill Neighbors

By Maria Cohen, SHUC Executive Director

WHEN THE SHUTDOWN BEGAN IN MARCH, we sorely missed the opportunity to interact with each other and our beloved community members. That’s why we started the Kindness Is Contagious initiative, a campaign to highlight our residents and keep our community connected online. We’re grateful to Jacquelyn Cynkar for helping gather photographs and interviews of our neighbors!

We met with Mamar Gelaye, Squirrel Hill resident and CIO of Raytheon Technologies. You find many more of our Kindness Is Contagious profiles on our website at shuc.org or on Instagram @squirrelhillurbancoalition.

a woman born in Ethiopia, Mamar embraces her African-American heritage as well as her Squirrel Hill community in Pittsburgh. She is a mentor, a friend, a community supporter, and more. Where does she find the time? Learn more about your neighbor Mamar below: What do you love about Squirrel Hill?

I love that it’s in the city but feels quiet, cozy, and approachable.

How long have you lived in Squirrel Hill?

I moved here about 5 years ago or so and it’s been great.

What do you like best about your job or neighborhood?

I often work from home in the peace, quiet, and convenience of my neighborhood, which makes for a nice telework setting.

What do you miss about your neighbors right now?

I am mostly hoping everyone is managing well and getting some nice moments with their loved ones as we all adjust.

What is the kindest thing anyone has ever done for you?

My immediate neighbors on both sides are lovely. We share, care, and converse openly and freely. It’s nice to share ground with people who brighten your day.

What makes you laugh?

Mamar Gelaye is a resident of Squirrel Hill and currently Vice President and CIO at Raytheon Technologies. In addition to mentoring and collaborating with her team at work, Mamar is also the mother of two smart and kind children. As

I’m lighthearted, so much of life makes me laugh.

Children are so funny and honest. I could listen to my son’s online class discussions nonstop. Hats off to all the early childhood and elementary school teachers during this time!

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Choose

UPMC Senior Communities as Your Workplace Heritage Place, part of UPMC Senior Communities, is a skilled nursing and rehabilitation facility now hiring Full Time and Casual nursing positions.

UPMC Senior Communities offers: • Competitive pay • Sign-on bonus to those who qualify • Extensive benefits package Please visit our careers website (careers.upmc.com) and use Job ID 04339607 to view and apply for available LPN roles and Job ID 19238918 to view and apply for available RN roles.

Please contact Kevin Mitchell at 412-402-1655 with any questions.

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Coordinated Care Helping Seniors Stay Healthy at Home

Squirrel Hill Magazine reaches 13.000 households in the 15217 zip code every quarter and thousands more online.

The UPMC Living-at-Home Program is a geriatric care management program that provides peace of mind for seniors and their loved ones.

Support the important work of your local neighborhood organization and get noticed!

• Comprehensive in-home assessment • Free to eligible seniors 70 or older who live in one of 23 surrounding Pittsburgh neighborhoods For more information, call 412-723-6200 or visit UPMC.com/livingathome.

UPMC LIVING-AT-HOME PROGRAM

Reach out to marketing@shuc.org for our 2020 Media Kit.

Affiliated with the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, UPMC Presbyterian Shadyside is ranked among America’s Best Hospitals by U.S. News & World Report.

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1/24/20 2:36 PM

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PET POINTS

VIRUSES

IN CATS AND DOGS

By Dr. Lawrence Gerson, V.M.D.

WITH THE CORONAVIRUS EPIDEMIC affecting the entire world, veterinarians have seen similar mutations in animals that every pet owner needs to be aware of for their own.

Most viruses in animals are species-specific. They usually infect one species and do not spread to other types of animals. One exception is rabies that is transmitted to multiple species including humans and is fatal without treatment.

The common respiratory viruses of cats require vaccinations as a kitten and throughout their adult lives. With the feline distemper vaccine (panleukopenia), vaccinations are also given for calicivirus. Recently, a more virulent form of calicivirus mutated and is referred to as hemorrhagic calicivirus.

Although this calicivirus is rare, there have been outbreaks in some colony cats and shelters. This mutation is highly contagious and rapidly fatal.

In the 1980s, a “new” disease called parvovirus emerged in dogs that was highly pathogenic and potentially fatal. Similar to the feline panleukemia virus, this mutation quickly became a major problem causing severe vomiting and diarrhea in puppies and dogs. Forty years later, we still see parvo as a deadly disease. All puppies must be vaccinated according to a strict schedule until they are 16 to 18 weeks of age.

Without proper vaccinations, dogs are susceptible to

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this catastrophic disease that is expensive to treat and many pets will not survive it, even with intensive care.

Canine influenza was first recognized as a mutation of the equine flu in 2005. Originally seen in Greyhound tracks, it quickly spread, and in 2015, a second mutation found in birds at a live market, infected dogs.

Some infected dogs were unknowingly brought into Chicago and this new canine influenza infection spread across the U.S. Because this is a novel virus, dogs have little immunity and the disease can be fatal. Vaccines for both strains of canine flu are now recommended for all social dogs, as it can be contracted through casual contact. Many kennels and canine daycares require a vaccine for this and other contagious respiratory illnesses like Bordetella.

Following the advice of your veterinarian is important to keep pets free from severe but preventable disease.

Be sure to keep to your pets’ vaccinations up-todate. If you need assistance with caring or feeding your pet during COVID-19, reach out to the Humane Animal Rescue Helpline at 412-345-0348 or visit www. humaneanimalrescue.org/covid-19. Animal Friends also offers telemedicine appointments; more info at www. thinkingoutsidethecage.org.

Lawrence Gerson, V.M.D. founded the Point Breeze Veterinary Clinic as a family veterinary practice in 1977.

REDEEMER

Faith and Inquiry, Service

and Celebration

By Helen Wilson, Vice-President, Squirrel Hill Historical Society Church of the Redeemer today (photo credit: Helen Wilson)

THE REVEREND MICHAEL FOLEY, Rector of the Church of the Redeemer, gestured around the sanctuary of the church. “I think the back of the altar of the original 1913 church was this wall,” he said, pointing to the side of the altar area. “The building was turned 90 degrees when it was renovated in 1936. A surviving blueprint of the structural design supports the incorporation of the 1913 church in the space known as the chancel and altar.”

chapel near the corner of Woodmont and Wightman Streets. The building is marked on a 1903 plat map on the Pittsburgh Historic Maps website.

Church of the Redeemer, located at 5700 Forbes Avenue, exemplifies the idea that the history of a building can be read in its architecture. The stately Episcopalian church sits back from Forbes, so it is barely noticed by people driving past, yet it has one of the most interesting histories of all the buildings in Squirrel Hill. It has been in a continual process of growth and renewal for more than a hundred years.

Work soon began on the church building on Forbes Avenue. It looked very different from the one that stands there today because the building underwent extensive renovations from 1936 to 1938. The architect was E. Donald Robb of the Boston architectural firm Frohman, Robb and Little, which had previously taken over the design of the Washington National Cathedral from Henry Vaughan. Both churches reflect early English Gothic architecture. Church of the Redeemer was set on new foundations, extended, repositioned, and encased in white Indiana limestone. A stone bell tower was added, and extensive improvements were made to the interior.

A written history of the church relates that in 1900, Mrs. Charles P. Smith opened a Sunday school for her three children at her home on Wightman Street. She invited other children to attend and then hosted the first formal church services for a group of Episcopalian families. They joined together to organize a parish and set up a building fund. In 1903, they acquired the property at 5700 Forbes Avenue.

In the meantime, they erected a temporary wooden

Also in 1938, a parish house designed by Lamont Button was built on a lot purchased on Darlington Road adjacent to the church. It is still in use as the church’s rectory. The next major renovation took place in 2002, a year before the church’s 2003 centennial, when new multi-use meeting and educational spaces were added. The church has been designated as a Historic Landmark by the Pittsburgh History & Landmarks Foundation.

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SQUIRREL HILL HISTORY

CHURCH OF THE

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boarded-up windows. Time is not kind to stained glass windows, and the deterioration of the Redeemer windows necessitated their cleaning and restoration. Local stained-glass company Kelly Art Glass was given the task, and the windows are resplendent again.

Howard Gilmann Wilbert (1891-1966) (The Stained Glass Windows of The Church of the Redeemer, Pittsburgh, Hugh S. Clark)

One of the highlights of the church is its glorious stained-glass windows. Father Foley has studied them extensively. He said they were designed and constructed from 1938 to 1962 by parishioner Howard Gilmann Wilbert, an artist and scholar who had studied under famed stained-glass designer Charles J. Connick, well known for his windows at Heinz Chapel on the University of Pittsburgh campus. One source says that Redeemer’s windows “are believed to represent the finest stained-glass technique in the true medieval tradition to be seen in this country.”

Stained glass windows were meant to be picture books for the faithful to “read.” According to Father Foley, the nave windows in the church speak to the Episcopal Church’s particular roots in Anglican theology. They depict Biblical figures such as Saint John the Evangelist and St. Joseph of Arimathea and saints of the British Isles. The windows in the altar area portray Christ as Redeemer and King. The stained-glass panels in the narthex screen in the rear of the church depict major reformers of the Christian faith: Saint Francis of Assisi, George Fox, John Knox, John Wesley, and Emmanuel Swedenborg.

If you walked past Church of the Redeemer in the last few years, you might have noticed some

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Church of the Redeemer has long been committed to its mission of compassion and building bridges through faith and inquiry, service and celebration.

The church boasts a history of social justice and outreach ministries. Two examples of the church’s mission stand out. In the 1950s, Redeemer offered space in its parish hall for a small school called Ascension Academy. Ms. Pauline Mudge, a member of Redeemer, acquired the land next door and gave the deed to the newly established independent school for a new school building, which was renamed Saint Edmund’s Academy in memory of her husband and steel manufacturer, Edmund Mudge. In 1946, Redeemer offered space to the new Temple Sinai congregation before it purchased the Worthington Mansion farther down Forbes Avenue.

Church of the Redeemer before its renovation in 1936

The church also provides space for many local groups to meet, including where the Squirrel Hill Historical Society’s hosts their monthly programs, which will hopefully resume in a few months.

Although the Squirrel Hill Historical Society (SHHS) has suspended its programs temporarily, anyone interested in learning more about Squirrel Hill’s history is invited to join the SHHS. Members receive a monthly newsletter. Visit the SHHS’s website, sqhillhistory.org, for more information.