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:
Detail from Stevo Sadvary’s Sunbeams for All, a mosaic installation in the Post Office Parklet. Photo by Melissa Eppihimer.
FOR ADVERTISING INQUIRIES
Contact marketing@shuc.org. All other communications can be directed to editor@shuc.org or (412) 422-7666.
In this issue, we turn our attention to the volunteers, businesses, and community members whose work, whether highly public like a decorated house or more private like a medical interpreter, does so much for our city and neighborhood.
These “hidden gems” are worthy of our attention. Maybe they’ll inspire you to get out into the community and try something new.
Thank you to those who nominated individuals for our “Hidden Gems” feature. We always want to hear from readers about the magazine and about the neighborhood, so please reach out to us!
MELISSA EPPIHIMER
Editor, Squirrel Hill Magazine
SQUIRREL HILL URBAN COALITION OFFICERS
PRESIDENT Dalia Belinkoff
VICE PRESIDENT Lisa Murphy
VICE PRESIDENT Erik Wagner
SECRETARY Raymond N. Baum
TREASURER Jeremy Kazzaz
IMMEDIATE PAST PRESIDENT Mardi Isler
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Justin Berk, Guy Costa, Lori Fitzgerald, Marshall Hershberg, Melissa Hiller, Martha Isler, Rachel Lecrone, Vida Passero, Jon Prince, Mary Shaw, Lisa Steindel, David Vatz
The Squirrel Hill Magazine is a publication produced by the Squirrel Hill Urban Coalition (SHUC), a nonprofit organization. As a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization, donations to SHUC are tax-exempt, and SHUC complies with all 501(c)(3) rules and regulations.
CONTRIBUTORS
Dalia Belinkoff, Maria Cohen, Melissa Eppihimer, Lawrence Gerson, Kimberly Kweder, Jim Rogal, Nikhil Saxena, Helen Wilson
EDITOR Melissa Eppihimer
DESIGNER Karen A. DeTurck
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Maria H. Cohen
Squirrel Hill Magazine, Vol. 23, Issue 1, is provided by the Squirrel Hill Urban Coalition as a free publication for 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.
Belinkoff
Greetings from the SHUC President
By Dalia Belinkoff, SHUC Board President
As you flip through this magazine’s pages, you might notice that there is an “unsung” theme going on. Once you start looking, it quickly becomes apparent that Squirrel Hill has interesting and unique people, places, and things that are just a little under the radar.
For example, we are all aware of the main business district encompassing Forbes from Murray to Shady and Murray from Forbes to Forward. But there are smaller business areas all around our neighborhood. Knowing where they are and what’s available in those locations stitches us together and creates a greater whole. You’ll find some of the pockets detailed inside, but let’s pick one area right now: Northumberland Street near Shady Ave.
What’s in it for you? You’re probably familiar with the Food Shoppe—a much-loved sandwich and take-out shop that also occasionally grills food on the front patio during the warmer months. There’s a convenient dry cleaner and a gym on Northumberland as well. Food, clothing, health, all in one block.
Not too far away, on Negley near Solway, is another small strip of businesses. Here you can find a hair salon (Bangs), a health/wellness/fitness studio (Hydration
Health and Fitness), and Invitations Plus, a boutique stationery store specializing in custom invitations for all occasions.
Take a walk around your neighborhood—you might be surprised at what you find!
Here’s a little quiz for you:
• Would you like more small shopping areas in the mini-neighborhoods of Squirrel Hill?
• What kinds of shops and/or services would you like in these areas?
• If this isn’t a good idea in your opinion, why not?
There are no right or wrong answers here; we’d love to hear all of your ideas. Share them with us by responding to our online survey. (Scan the QR code to access the survey.)
These questions are just the tip of the iceberg in connection with our Neighborhood Plan. Our work towards this long-term community vision for Squirrel Hill is just getting underway. We hope to soon start assembling focus groups of Squirrel Hill residents to tell our committee where to focus, how to proceed, and what’s important to you with respect to making
Squirrel Hill an even better place to live, shop, learn, and enjoy a community of neighbors.
Looking ahead in another direction, SHUC will be sponsoring a community meeting to discuss the Commercial Street Bridge Replacement, the timeline for the project, road and Parkway closures, detours, and the like. Please look for details in an upcoming edition of the SHUC newsletter “In a Nutshell.”
If you would like to start receiving this digital newsletter, drop us an email here: info@shuc.org
This edition of Squirrel Hill Magazine recaps our 2024 Squirrel Hill Treasure Awards Dinner and gives you another opportunity to enjoy pictures and learn about our Treasures.
While we can’t all be officially named “Treasures,” Squirrel Hill is home to many people who are hidden
gems. These folks go about their work and find time to do extraordinary ordinary things.
Who among us are they? Read on in this issue to find out, although you may already know one of our Hidden Gems—or at least recognize the amazing Halloween decorations he creates.
Another of our Hidden Gems helped with the very first Lunar New Year Parade. This year, the parade was set to return to Murray Avenue on February 16 to welcome the Year of the Snake—until the weather decided otherwise. We were still able to enjoy performances of the Lion Dance and Thai dancers indoors at the JCC.
Take this opportunity to get to know some of the people that make Squirrel Hill the special place that it is.
Scenes from SHUC’s 2024 Treasure
Thank you to all who
November 7, 2024
who helped make the dinner a fun and memorable evening!
COMMUNITY CHAMPION: KELLY ANDERSON
By Jim Rogal
WE’VE ALL DONE IT. OUR PLATE IS TOO FULL. OUR TIME IS TOO SHORT. OUR OBLIGATIONS ARE TOO MANY. And all of these are in addition to our professional responsibilities. And then, wouldn’t you know it, we’re asked to take on yet another commitment, a pretty big one, and…we say yes. Or at least, Kelly Anderson does.
Kelly lives in Squirrel Hill and is President of the Colfax School Parent Teacher Organization, PTO for short. She was born and raised in Wexford, attended North Allegheny High School, and went off to college at the University of Maryland.
“I had no concept of the East End,” she said. And now, of course, she’s immersed in it. “There’s just so much to do here. My friends tell me my Instagram posts are a walking ad for Pittsburgh.” And especially for Squirrel Hill.
“Squirrel Hill is so different from growing up in Wexford,” Kelly said. “There’s such a diverse group of
people. And I love seeing so many of the same people wherever I go here—the Giant Eagle, the library, just being out in the community.”
And another thing she likes—“If you have any ideas about how to make your school and community better, there’s a place you can take it to”—an organization, a committee, an advocacy group, etc., she said.
Kelly’s journey from Wexford to Maryland to Squirrel Hill was just like so many others who are now part of the community. She met her husband, Phil, in college. She worked as a financial analyst, he in hitech. They moved back to Pittsburgh in 2008 and bought a house in the neighborhood because Phil applied for and received a job in the heart of the Squirrel Hill commercial district. They wanted a family, and eventually, along came Christopher, now 9, and Elizabeth, 7.
“Having kids changed everything,” Kelly said. “Time is so tight when you have kids.” Her children are now involved in Cub Scouts and Girl Scouts, their friends live within three or four blocks of each other, “and you can walk pretty much everywhere.” Her husband can walk to his work, and her kids can walk to school.
Ah yes, Colfax School, where Kelly was invited to take on that other responsibility, which is how her more serious engagement with Squirrel Hill began. “A friend asked me to join her on the Board of the PTO as cohead of fundraising,” she said. That effort drew her even deeper into Squirrel Hill, primarily with Colfax parents but also with the community at large.
The next step was when she was asked to become Chair of the PTO Board by the outgoing Chair. And that is where she remains. Inevitably, the job has led Kelly and Colfax into deeper connections with community organizations—mentoring Big Brothers and Big Sisters, partnering with Park Rangers for meet-ups to explore the local parks, field trips to the Frick Museum and to the Frick Environmental Center—all strengthening Kelly’s and Colfax’s ties to Squirrel Hill, and thereby the community’s ties to Colfax and the school’s parents, Kelly first among them.
“I’m now a Squirrel Hill girl,” she said, “and the older I get, the deeper my roots.”
Anderson represents Colfax PTO at community events.
State and City Council Corner
State and City Council Corner shares reports submitted by the elected members of Pittsburgh City Council and the Pennsylvania Legislature that represent Squirrel Hill.
FROM STATE SENATOR JAY COSTA
Senator Costa is working on four critical priorities for the 2025-26 legislative session. First is transportation. From buses and trains to roads and bridges, everyone must be able to get where they are going safely, affordably, and efficiently. Second is fully funding our public education systems here in PA. This commonwealth’s students, educators, taxpayers, and parents are relying on the legislature to continue the incredible work of delivering an excellent education to every Pennsylvanian. Third, families must be able to afford their energy bills. Legislation like PACER, PRESS, and EDGE will help ensure that consumers are safe from extreme rate hikes in the coming years. Finally, everyone must be able to get the care they need when they are sick, injured, or disabled. From protecting the Affordable Care Act to erasing medical debt to supporting our senior living facilities, Senate Democrats look forward to fighting for every Pennsylvanian.
FROM STATE REPRESENTATIVE DAN FRANKEL
Rep. Dan Frankel is dedicated to tackling the rising costs of prescription drugs, a critical issue affecting Pennsylvanians’ health and financial well-being. Nearly 30% of Americans have skipped medications due to cost, and over 80% believe drug prices are unreasonable. Recognizing that prescription medications are essential, Frankel plans to reintroduce legislation to establish a Prescription Drug Affordability Board.
This board would review drug costs, assess financial impacts, and set upper payment limits for excessively priced medications, following Medicare’s “maximum fair price” model. By making essential medications more affordable, this initiative aims to ensure no Pennsylvanian has to choose between their health and their financial survival. Rep. Frankel believes Pennsylvania can lead the way in addressing this issue and calls for collective support to turn this vision into reality.
FROM CITY COUNCILPERSON ERIKA STRASSBURGER
From Top to Bottom:
State Senator Jay Costa; State Representative Dan Frankel; City Councilperson Erika Strassburger; City Councilperson Barb Warwick.
The Pittsburgh Citywide Employee Ownership Taskforce, co-chaired by Councilperson Strassburger, recently concluded following five years of dedicated work to advance employee ownership as a pathway to economic growth and equity. With collaboration from local government, business leaders, and organizations like the Pennsylvania Center for Employee Ownership (PaCEO), the Taskforce focused on raising awareness about the advantages of Employee
Stock Ownership Plans (ESOPs) and other worker cooperatives. These models empower employees with a stake in their companies, fostering community stability and building long-term financial security for workers.
Throughout its work, the Taskforce led outreach efforts to educate stakeholders, provided technical assistance to businesses exploring ownership transitions, and connected business owners with succession planning experts. By championing these proven strategies, the Taskforce laid a strong foundation for expanding employee ownership citywide—a sustainable approach to preserving businesses, protecting jobs, and supporting workers across Pittsburgh.
FROM CITY COUNCILMEMBER BARB WARWICK
In late 2024, Councilmember Warwick was proud to vote to approve the City of Pittsburgh’s 2025 budget. The budget continues to fund our commitment to being a Vision Zero City, after the passage of legislation in March 2024 which formally adopted the goal of reducing traffic fatalities and injuries in the city to zero.
Last year, District 5 saw long-awaited traffic calming projects implemented along Hazelwood Ave. and Greenfield Ave. These investments are helping to reverse a trend: 2024 recorded the fewest fatal crashes in Pittsburgh since 2019.
This year, Councilmember Warwick looks forward to more work in District 5 that will move us closer to our Vision Zero goals, including improvements to the dangerous intersection of Forbes and Denniston, signal upgrades along Second Avenue, and traffic calming measures along Glenwood Ave. near Propel Hazelwood K-8.
BETH SHALOM EARLY LEARNING CENTER
At Beth Shalom Early Learning Center, we recognize the importance of the early years in a child’s development and acknowledge the impact that a quality early education experience can have on a child’s future success. We believe that each child is a unique individual, who is continually shaped by their social and cultural environments.
MONDAY- FRIDAY 8AM TO 5PM
hidden gems
The People in Your Neighborhood
By Melissa Eppihimer and Kimberly Kweder
MORE THAN 20,000 PEOPLE LIVE IN THE 15217 ZIP CODE, EACH WITH A PERSONAL STORY WORTH KNOWING.
While we can’t introduce you to everyone—visit the Night Market, Farmers Market, or another community
CAROLINE BOYCE
Sometimes things line up just the way they are supposed to. That seems to be the case with Caroline Boyce and the house on S. Negley Avenue she purchased in 2021.
“I walked into the house and that was it. In less than five minutes, I knew that I had to have this house,” said Boyce.
As it turns out, the house needed her too.
The house was built in 1966 for Henry Koerner, an Austrian-American painter who lived and worked in Squirrel Hill. The house’s interior was designed to
event to get started on that mission—here are six Squirrel Hill people you ought to know.
They are some of the “hidden gems” that through their dedication and generosity of spirit have made a positive impact on our neighborhood and city.
provide studio and gallery space for Koerner’s art, while its exterior recalled the architecture of Vienna, where he was born.
Boyce remembers noticing the home on trips up and down Negley during her childhood—and that she wasn’t particularly fond of it.
“I always thought it was a peculiar house,” she said. Her opinion changed, however, once she stepped inside, and her love for the house continued to grow as she learned more about its original residents.
“The more information I gathered, the more information I wanted,” she said.
It’s no surprise that the house’s historical significance captured Boyce’s attention; her career includes years spent working in historic preservation. Now, as the
steward of the Koerner House, she’s made it her mission to maintain the home and build awareness of Koerner’s legacy. This included gaining recognition for the house from the Pittsburgh History & Landmarks Foundation and the National Register of Historic Places.
Boyce is now writing a book connecting Koerner’s life and her experiences with the house. She notes that people often come up to her while she’s out gardening and share their memories of Koerner.
“I hope that what I’m doing will spark some of those memories that seem to be joyful,” said Boyce.
ELIOT KENNEDY
When Eliot Kennedy moved to Pittsburgh in 2001, she didn’t immediately feel at home. She wondered, “How do I fit in here?” It wasn’t until she built connections with Pittsburgh’s diverse communities and its distinct history that she finally came to appreciate the city and her place in it. Together with her husband Bob Clark (an attorney for the United Steelworkers) and their twins Allen and Maria, Kennedy has made a home here and is working to help others do the same.
Born and raised in Spain with American parents and two sisters, Kennedy had an unusual childhood. Her father was editor for the International Herald Tribune, and her mother worked as a journalist while helping run the avocado farm on which they lived in rural Spain. They also lived for some time in Paris.
Being Spanish by birth and an American via her parents, Kennedy has long recognized the richness of different cultures.
“It makes all of us who we are,” she said, recognizing that her mother’s curiosity about the world helped her
develop her connection to Spain even though she had American parents.
Kennedy puts her multiculturalism and multilingualism (she speaks English, Spanish, and French) to good use as a medical interpreter, which requires her to speak from the perspective of those for whom she is interpreting. Through this work she’s made friends from all around the world, showing just how many languages are spoken in Pittsburgh.
Kennedy also contributes to the Carnegie Museums’ “Neighborhood Museum” initiative as a docent. While giving tours of the museum to refugees who have recently settled in Pittsburgh, Kennedy helps them build a connection to the city like she herself once did.
“You can feel more part of a place when you know its history,” she said. “I hope that this is a place where they can build positive memories apart from their trauma.”
“When I give tours in Spanish or French,” she added, “all my worlds come together.”
RON LEVICK
On Halloween night, Ron Levick is “the bubble guy.” At least that’s what some of the many children visiting his elaborately decorated house call him.
Halloween has always been important to Ron—it’s his birthday. However, when the sellers of the house he was buying on the corner of Murray and Aylesboro asked if he could carry on their tradition of decorating the house for Halloween, the date became even more important.
Now, Levick spends much of October assembling scenes on his lawn and porch that are inspired by comedy as much as by Halloween horror. From a boat with a “skeleton crew” to a boxing ring, Levick invents a new tableau each year.
hidden gems The People in Your Neighborhood
Last Halloween, Levick estimates, some 750 children (and their adult companions) stopped by, joining the 25 to 30 friends and family that were at the house to celebrate.
“People sometimes think that it’s a house party and wander right in,” Levick said, showing just how popular a visit to the Halloween house is.
Of course, it’s the outside of the house that’s the attraction. A giant ghoul might loom over skeletons in humorous costumes and gory mannequins dressed like ballerinas. The latter were inspired by the interests of Levick’s nieces, who were part of the crew that helped decorate and dress the original components of the display.
Levick acquires props from different sources, including Goodwill and Craigslist, but the bubble machine that fills the lawn with foam—and gives Levick his Halloween nickname—comes from his previous career as a club owner in Oakland.
Recently retired, Levick looks forward each year to creating his Halloween masterpiece for the benefit of his neighbors, many of whom he’s gotten to know thanks to his efforts.
“It’s a great way of bringing the community together,” he said.
EMELEE MIHALICK
Emelee Mihalick and her 5-year-old Husky German Shepherd mix Leroy bring warmth and joy to veterans at the Southwestern Veterans Center on Highland Drive.
“Watching these huge men turn to mush with him—it’s fabulous,” she said.
Leroy is a natural-born therapy dog who bonded quickly with Mihalick’s three other dogs on his first day at the house, she said. Although he was rescued and severely malnourished, Emelee knew fostering was turning into something very special and felt lucky for full ownership.
Mihalick recalled many occasions where she witnessed Leroy’s affection uplifting visitors’ moods at the veterans’ center and the other places they travel to, including Magee Women’s Hospital, Shadyside Hospital, UPMC nursing schools, Hillel at the University of Pittsburgh, and other schools and universities in the city.
“As much as I love it, Leroy loves it,” she said. “He’s so huge, but he’s a big baby!” she added.
Leroy is Therapet-certified through Animal Friends. He had a temperament screening, and after he passed, Mihalick completed a 6-week class to learn about the programs. Her neighbor also has a therapy dog, and they sometimes tag-team to locations in need—reaching 50 or more people at the various places they visit.
Mihalick’s been a volunteer with Leroy a little over two years and loves it. She averages about 40 hours of volunteering per year.
“I’m very much a dog person…anything with dogs, sign me up! I love being able to support the community. It’s a healing connection somehow. Animals are special. I love being able to get out with Leroy and support as much as we can.”
EVELINE YOUNG
Eveline Young is a community organizer at heart, and she shines in Squirrel Hill for her wealth of cultural and educational activities during her over 15 years of outreach.
One of her proudest memories is helping launch the Chinese Lunar New Year celebration in Squirrel Hill, where she assisted with the dragon dance in its early years before professionals got involved.
hidden gems The People in Your Neighborhood
“I’m really proud of the Lunar New Year parade. People first thought it would impede business,” she said. However, “because of the parade, we [SHUC] brought a lot of business to the community and exposure to the Chinese culture.”
Young’s community service has deep roots in Pittsburgh. When her husband was appointed to the University of Pittsburgh in 1974, they moved here from Chicago.
“I really wanted to be active in the community and make a difference,” she said.
As a former licensed teacher, Young continues to stay active with school field trips and Lunar New Year activities with the students at St. Edmund’s. She also is a volunteer facilitator of free income-tax return preparation at the Squirrel Hill Library for elderly and other community members needing assistance. Previously, she was a member of the Squirrel Hill Urban Coalition Board and Treasurer of the Squirrel Hill Historical Society, where she remains on the Board.
Young, who is a University of Chicago graduate with a Master of Arts in social work, is also involved in international outreach. She cares about the needs of faculty spouses for whom English may not be their first language. She is Co-Chair of the International Women’s Association of Pittsburgh, where she encourages members to discuss, ask questions, and find resources. Every year she also puts on her chef hat and holds a barbeque meal for the women.
STEVEN ZELICOFF
Steven Zelicoff, a longtime Squirrel Hill resident, finds volunteering as a tour guide, or docent, at the Carnegie
Museum of Art a gateway to conversations about current affairs and a healthy space for healing from a head injury.
“What comes to mind immediately is that even though art has historical context, it can be applied today. We live in a time of so much controversy,” he said.
“I like the access to a new way of looking at all issues we face,” he added.
Zelicoff recovered from a head injury a while ago and found volunteering at the museum a great way to help regain cognitive abilities. He’s been volunteering for 12 years.
While at the museum he’s attending weekly lectures led by an artist, curator, or art educator, and he also has to study up on any new exhibition coming to the museum.
As an avid collector of paintings, photography, sculptures, and mid-century modern furniture, it’s been a natural fit for Steven to get involved at the museum.
Zelicoff also said Squirrel Hill is a great place to live. He’s lived here since the 1990s.
“It’s nice to say hello to people with the location of my house being near restaurants, the Manor Theatre, and Schenley Park. My office is easy to get to in Shadyside riding my bicycle,” he said.
“Pittsburgh has an amazing amount of cultural opportunities,” he added. His contributions to the Carnegie Museum of Art make sure that others can enjoy those opportunities.
Breaking Down the Walls 2025
A Fundraiser for The Branch: Celebrating 25 years of the Sally and Howard Levin Clubhouse and the 10-year anniversary of the Dr. Solomon and Sarah Goldberg House
Join us as we honor EJ Strassburger with the inaugural Corinne and Seymoure Krause Award for outstanding support of The Branch, its people and programs, and present the first Wendell Hogan Leadership Award to an outstanding Clubhouse member.
Lead Sponsors: Robert Levin and Kerry Bron, M.D. Co-chairs: Leonard D. Silk and Phyllis Wechsler
May 8, 2025
VIP and Sponsor Reception 5 p.m.
Doors Open 6 p.m. Kosher options available.
Pittsburgh’s Energy Innovation Center 1435 Bedford Avenue Pittsburgh, PA 15219
Become a Sponsor!
For sponsorship or other information: thebranchpgh.org or Karen Oosterhous KOosterhous@thebranchpgh.org
hidden gems:
Business Spots Across Squirrel Hill
By Melissa Eppihimer
THE WALKABLE MAIN BUSINESS DISTRICT IS A CORNERSTONE OF SQUIRREL HILL. Filled with restaurants, shops, and amenities to delight all visitors, the Forbes and Murray corridor deserves its praise as a retail and dining destination.
A short stroll in any direction leads to other, smaller “business districts” sprinkled throughout Squirrel Hill. These pockets of commercial activity provide essential
services and goods to their immediate neighbors and are destinations worthy of a planned visit.
How did these pint-sized business zones far from the hustle and bustle of Forbes and Murray come to be?
Each has a reason why bread is baked on one corner and candy is sold on another. Visit them to discover some of Squirrel Hill’s more-than-a-century-old business locations.
A quiet moment on Forward Avenue.
A Block of Forward Avenue
At the southern edge of the Forbes and Murray business district, businesses line both sides of the 5800 block of Forward Avenue. The GetGo gas station at the corner is a reminder of the area’s proximity to the Parkway. Long ago, this block of Forward Avenue housed a variety of car dealers and service garages, establishing it as a commercial space.
Now, its businesses reflect the diversity of Squirrel Hill, with Chengdu Gourmet serving Sichuan cuisine and Young’s Oriental Grocery selling Korean snacks and ingredients. A blend of old and new characterizes the block today. Ianni’s Tailoring, in business since 1979, is among the old; among the new is Squirrel Hill Sports Bar, open since 2014, and iShip&Pack, open since 2020. The Traditional Cigar & Pipe Shop is something new that’s trying to bring back an “old-school” experience.
Shops in the Morrowfield
Around the corner, the first-floor storefronts of the Morrowfield apartment building (2100 block of Murray Avenue) were designed to meet the retail and service needs of the neighborhood. When the Morrowfield opened in 1924, it combined hotel amenities like an inhouse beauty salon and barber with modern (for their time) apartment homes.
There’s still a barbershop here—RoyalCuts—and salons of various kinds, including Tula Organic Salon and Spa, D & M Nails, and Keeta’s Pet Salon. This much hasn’t changed. Places like Lipstyck Lab, Win-Win Kung Fu, Levity Float Studio, and Dog Bird Pilates, however, are modern additions to the Morrowfield’s ground-level business lineup.
Photo by Helen Wilson, 2016
The Morrowfield, home to apartments and a row of businesses.
hidden gems: Business Spots Across Squirrel Hill
Apartment Buildings and Garages
Like the Morrowfield shops, Artist & Craftsman Supply occupies the ground floor of an apartment building (at Wightman and Hobart streets in Squirrel Hill South). Pigeon Bagels next door is its only retail neighbor. The apartment building once housed a pharmacy and food shop to serve its tenants and nearby residents.
The location of Five Points Artisan Bakeshop in Squirrel Hill North is another instance of a retail space beneath an apartment complex; for most of its life it housed a drug store, walkable to those who lived in this area or went to the nearby Linden School. Now, neighbors walk here to savor fresh bread and baked goods.
The “five points” intersection where Wilkins, Linden, and Beechwood meet is home to a professional office building occupied by therapists, counselors, financial advisors, and tax consultants. This triangular lot was originally the Beechwood Garage, one of several spots along Wilkins Avenue catering to motorists. (Another garage occupied the building where the CVS is now.)
Above left: Apartments, art supplies, and bagels all in one spot.
Above right: Five Points Artisan Bakeshop beneath apartments.
Right: At the “five points” intersection of Linden, Wilkins, and Beechwood.
The Linden, Wilkins, and Beechwood intersection in 1931, featuring the Beechwood Garage.
Credit: “Wilkins Avenue,” Pittsburgh City Photographer Collection, 1901-2000. Archives & Special Collections, University of Pittsburgh Library System.
hidden gems: Business Spots Across Squirrel Hill
Schools and Stations
Other “mini” business districts thrive near community buildings like schools and fire and police stations.
Shape Shifters Fitness, Ruby’s Cleaners, and the Food Shoppe are clustered together on Northumberland Street near the fire and police stations. The origins of this small business district are likely rooted in the construction of the fire station in the early 20th century. Since then, the row has housed a meat shop, a shoe repair shop, a beauty salon, an art gallery, and more.
The stand of businesses on South Negley (which now includes Hydration Health & Fitness, Invitations Plus, and Bang Salon) near the Wightman Playground has similarly been aiding nearby residents for nearly a century. Built when the Wightman School was still in use, South Negley’s original drugstore and market would have attracted schoolchildren.
Likewise, The Blue Slide Market opposite Colfax school (next to DK Beauty Salon) is the latest of many minimarts and candy shops situated at the corner of Phillips and Beechwood since Colfax opened in 1911, an enduring stopping point for children after school.
Northumberland Street shops by the fire station.
South Negley Street businesses.
Across Beechwood from Colfax.
SPRING CLEANING
— said no one ever.
Trade-in doing chores and washing floors with playing cards and games of shu eboard.
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BUSINESS NOTICE
EBISU LIFE STORE (5846 FORBES AVE.)
Shoppers in Squirrel Hill are toting around a new statement accessory: the red and white bag from Ebisu Life Store. This bright and eclectic store features a never-ending variety of Japanese and other East Asian snacks, beauty products, household goods, and toys.
Store Manager Erica Jiang notes that new items arrive every week, while beloved favorites are brought back to meet customer demand. Popular right now are buldak, a spicy Korean noodle with some ten different flavors on offer, and chips and sweets you won’t find in the aisles of an American grocery store. Would you like to try wasabi Kit-Kats? Kobe beef chips?
Re-ment blind boxes are also a hit. These provide a special connection to Japanese culture that you can display at home or in the office. Each box contains a figurine, but you won’t know what’s inside until you open it. “It’s an exciting surprise,” said Jiang.
If you want a little more control over which toy you get, you can try your hand at the claw machines filled with plush toys. This interactive experience, plus the many colorful, adorable characters on pens, cups, and plates, makes Ebisu Life Store a great place for families and anyone looking for a fun shopping experience.
Even Jiang regularly finds new things to try while she’s working.
With several stores already in the New York metropolitan area, Ebisu Life Store on Forbes is the first of its kind in Pittsburgh. In choosing Squirrel Hill for its Pittsburgh location, they are helping grow the neighborhood’s collection of Asian shops and restaurants, adding a taste of Japanese shopping culture to the mix.
CLP-SQUIRREL HILL MANAGER RETIRES
Congratulations are due to Jody Bell, who recently retired after 11 years as Library Services Manager at Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh–Squirrel Hill.
Bell first decided to work in libraries in response to a simple question: “What makes you happy?” “Libraries” was her easy answer.
Bell has spent a happy second career improving the experiences of library patrons in Squirrel Hill, who she said “really do value” their neighborhood library. More than 21,000 monthly visitors check out over 46,000 items a month from the Squirrel Hill library, making it the second busiest location in the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh (CLP) system.
During her tenure, Bell oversaw a reorganization of the library’s space—a happy by-product of the COVID-19
pandemic. The “zoning” plan improved its functionality for the many groups that use it, from people studying by the front windows to toddlers playing in the back. Now, library staff are positioned where they are needed most.
Bell is especially proud of those staff members. “We’ve built a good team that works well together,” she said. Since taking on the role of Library Services Manager, Bell has seen four staff members receive CLP scholarships to further their education in library science.
Recalling that the Squirrel Hill branch came about because of community interest more than 50 years ago, Bell is not surprised that it remains such a beloved and heavily used place.
“Everybody loves it as much as we do,” she said. “Thank you to Squirrel Hill for making it what it is.”
The new Library Services Manager is Taylor Lee, who comes to CLP–Squirrel Hill from the Downtown branch.
SHEAR VISIONS CELEBRATES 35 YEARS
Murray Avenue has changed a lot since 1990, but clients at Shear Visions continue to enjoy high-quality hair and nail care during their visits to the salon. 2025 marks Shear Visions’ 35th anniversary and Valentina Modne-Birman’s 25th year as its owner.
Valentina, as she is known by her clients, leads a small, dedicated team that, combined, has more than 70 years of experience. Coming from Kiev, Ukraine (Valentina), Paris, France
NEIGHBORHOOD NOTES
(Arnaud), and Moscow, Russia (Lana), the staff at Shear Visions brings international training and a cosmopolitan style to hair and nails. The full-service salon welcomes both men and women to the intimate, relaxed space across from the former Squirrel Hill Eat’n Park.
It’s common to hear multiple languages in the salon at any given moment. It is also common to see familiar faces. Some clients have been coming since the day Shear Visions opened. “We’re one big family,” said Modne-Birman. “And we’re always excited to get a new member of our family!”
This kind of longevity in the Squirrel Hill community is one reason Modne-Birman loves working and living here. She recalls a time when a client thought she recognized another woman in the salon. After discreetly asking Valentina for her name, the client recognized the woman as someone she baby-sat many decades ago.
“It’s heartwarming when people see each other here,” said Modne-Birman, noting that the return to in-person work after a pandemic pause in 2020 meant a busy schedule and great happiness.
“For me, it’s not just a job; it’s a passion,” she said. “I can’t imagine myself retired.” True to her word, Modne-Birman regularly participates in continuing education programs to ensure that she continues to provide the level of excellence that she insists upon for her clients.
Celebrations of Shear Visions’ anniversary are in the works. One upcoming event is an annual sale on products during the month of April coinciding with the month Modne-Birman purchased the salon in 2000. Each year, the percentage off matches the number of years Shear Visions has been open. This year, it’s 35%!
NEIGHBORHOOD NOTES
CELEBRATE ARBOR DAY IN MELLON
Friends of Mellon Park, an all-volunteer organization, is once again hosting the annual Arbor Day Celebration in Mellon Park. On Saturday, April 26, from 11:00 am to 2:00 pm, join dozens of community organizations on the south side of the park for an outdoor family celebration where all are welcome. Visit the oval, just uphill from the corner of Beechwood and Fifth Avenues, for art and nature activities for children, music, food trucks, a Pittsburgh fire truck, and much, much more.
Western Pennsylvania Unit of the Herb Society of America, which created and maintains the Elizabethan Herb Garden in Mellon Park’s Terraced Garden, will be this year’s honoree. Events will recognize the group’s 45 years of dedication to educating the public and providing the community with a unique horticultural treasure.
PARK
If you have questions or would like to participate in Arbor Day, contact Friends of Mellon Park at info@ friendsofmellonpark.org.
THURSDAY MAY 1
6:15 PM MARCH BEGINS
March from Beth Shalom to JCC 5915 Beacon St. Pittsburgh, PA 15217
Concert at JCC Squirrel Hill (after the march) 5738 Forbes Ave. Pittsburgh, PA 15217
• Festive Solidarity March
• Hashayara Israeli Band Live Concert
• Israeli-Themed Activities Before the March
• Light Refreshments and Wine
*Times are subject to change. Use the QR code/link below for updates. Show support: wear blue and white.
Supporting Squirrel Hill’s Unhoused Population: Building Compassion While Maintaining Safety
By Maria Cohen, SHUC Executive Director
THE ISSUE OF HOMELESSNESS CONTINUES TO BE A GROWING CONCERN ACROSS MANY URBAN AREAS, INCLUDING NEIGHBORHOODS LIKE SQUIRREL HILL.
Our tight-knit community, known for its charming streets, local businesses, and vibrant cultural institutions, has also seen an increase in unhoused individuals seeking shelter in public spaces. While this can understandably raise concerns around public safety and health, it’s important to remember that at the core of this issue is the fundamental dignity of every person. Squirrel Hill’s community has a unique opportunity to address homelessness with compassion while also ensuring the safety and comfort of all its residents and visitors.
Understanding the Problem
Homelessness, especially in neighborhoods with pockets of affluence, like Squirrel Hill, is often more visible, which can make it feel like a new challenge. The
causes of homelessness are longstanding and complex, however. Many people find themselves on the streets due to a variety of factors, including economic hardship, mental health issues, substance abuse, and a lack of affordable housing. It’s essential to approach the issue with empathy and compassion, recognizing that every individual’s story is different.
What Can Our Community Do?
While addressing homelessness can feel overwhelming, there are a variety of ways our Squirrel Hill community can contribute to positive change. Drawing inspiration from other neighborhoods and cities that have made strides in supporting their unhoused populations while maintaining public safety, we can take meaningful action here at home. I sat down with local Zone 4 Commander Stephen Vinansky to understand how we can support our unhoused community. Here are some things we as individuals and as a community together can do.
1. Support Local Shelters and Services
Pittsburgh offers several shelter options and resources for our population facing homelessness including Second Avenue Commons and the Northside Partnership Project with overflow shelter options including commUNITY Place, Salvation Army Family Caring Center, East End Cooperative Ministry, and Light of Life Rescue Mission. These shelters provide safe spaces for those experiencing homelessness and access to crucial services like addiction recovery programs and mental health support. Our city is working to increase shelter options and resources.
BigBurgh.com is a local website that connects users with free, low-barrier resources. It is designed to help people who are struggling, especially those experiencing homelessness, access the things they need.
For mental health challenges, Steel Smiling is a well-respected Pittsburgh-based resource with a new partnership with the Center of Life in our neighboring community of Hazelwood. In Squirrel Hill, JFCS offers Upstreet for struggling teens, and The Branch offers support and work programs for adults of differing abilities.
Local resources for those experiencing food insecurity include the JFCS Squirrel Hill Pantry, Rainbow Kitchen Community Services, the Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank, and 412 Food Rescue. The JCC Center for Loving Kindness also creates care kits during the high holidays.
Our local CLP–Squirrel Hill library branch provides a range of services, partnering with the University of Pittsburgh to bring social work interns into the library. The interns can help patrons with things like accessing food stamps or receiving referrals for care during 1-on-1 consultations.
at the core of this issue is the fundamental dignity of every person
A simple and impactful way to help is by donating to our local organizations who offer resources (clothing, toiletries, and non-perishable food) or volunteering time to these organizations. Many shelters also need financial support to continue their services.
Volunteering in outreach efforts is another way Squirrel Hill residents can make a direct impact. In Pittsburgh, the East End Cooperative Ministry offers outreach services to those experiencing homelessness. Volunteers can help in distributing essentials or simply offer a compassionate ear, which can sometimes be the most valuable resource. Volunteers can also assist young people through the Homeless Children’s Educational Fund.
Supporting Squirrel
Hill’s Unhoused Population: Building Compassion While Maintaining Safety
2. Hold a Squirrel Hill Resource Fair
By the thoughtful suggestion of Commander Vinansky, Squirrel Hill is working to put together a resource fair to help support our struggling community members. This would include a free walk-in clinic, resources to address mental health needs, food, clothing, and shelter options, and other free resources. A free lunch will be provided, and we are looking into incorporating an activity like a simple yoga or sound healing session to inspire healing.
3. Invest in Affordable Housing
The lack of affordable housing is a systemic issue that drives homelessness in many cities, including Pittsburgh. In neighborhoods like Squirrel Hill, where rent and property values are rising, it’s crucial to advocate for affordable housing initiatives that provide stable living options for people on the brink of homelessness. Through our city’s comprehensive plan under development and Squirrel Hill Urban Coalition’s own upcoming Squirrel Hill Neighborhood Plan, we have an opportunity to include zoning that will allow for more affordable housing options and the potential to offer more rent subsidies or housing vouchers to help prevent more people from losing their homes in the first place.
4. Offer Transitional Housing Programs
Transitional housing offers a steppingstone between homelessness and permanent housing. Programs such as those implemented in San Francisco and Seattle have seen success in helping people move off the streets into more stable living
situations. These programs often offer supportive services like counseling, job placement assistance, and financial literacy courses. By partnering with regional housing agencies and local landlords, Squirrel Hill could advocate for or support initiatives that provide transitional housing, giving individuals the tools they need to regain stability.
5. Create Safe, Designated Spaces for Rest
One of the key issues cities like Portland and Denver have faced is ensuring that unhoused individuals have a safe place to rest without being criminalized for their existence in public spaces. Squirrel Hill could explore the creation of designated rest areas for unhoused individuals, equipped with basic amenities like benches, access to clean water, and restroom facilities. This could help manage any public concerns around safety while providing a humane option for those without shelter.
6. Foster Dialogue and Build Relationships
Another important step in addressing homelessness in Squirrel Hill is to foster communication between the unhoused population, local residents, business owners, and city officials. By creating community forums where all voices can be heard, the neighborhood can identify solutions that meet everyone’s needs. As seen in cities like Portland, community-based solutions can be effective in reducing tension and building understanding. Encouraging open dialogue can also lead to increased compassion, which in turn can help residents see beyond the surface-level frustrations and recognize the humanity of those who are struggling.
Finding Balance Between Compassion and Safety
It’s natural for neighborhood residents to have concerns about public safety, especially when large numbers of people gather in public spaces. However, it’s important to remember that safety isn’t just about preventing crimes or inconveniences—it also means ensuring that vulnerable people have the resources they need to survive and eventually thrive. Communities like Squirrel Hill must work to strike a balance between compassion for those without homes and the protection of the public’s wellbeing. Thoughtful solutions, like those mentioned above, can foster a safe environment for everyone, where both residents and the unhoused feel supported and cared for. That said, if a community member sees unsafe activities or a person in crisis, they should contact 9-1-1 immediately.
Moving Forward Together
Homelessness is a complex problem, but with a communitywide effort, positive change is possible. In Squirrel Hill, we have a strong foundation of compassionate residents, organizations, and businesses ready to help, and the best way forward is through collaboration. Whether it’s supporting local shelters, advocating for affordable housing, or volunteering in outreach programs, each small action can make a big difference. With care and dedication, we can ensure that everyone—whether housed or unhoused—can feel safe, respected, and valued in our community.
By looking to successful examples from other cities and staying rooted in our shared values of kindness and empathy, Squirrel Hill has the opportunity to set an example for how a neighborhood can support its most vulnerable residents while maintaining a sense of safety and community for all.
shuc snapshots
NOTES FROM YOUR SQUIRREL HILL URBAN COALITION STAFF
Update from SHUC Executive
Director, Maria Cohen
Coming out of a snowy winter and into the spring, we are looking forward to finding the hidden gems of the neighborhood as we re-engage in fun activities, concerts, events, our parks, and so much more. 2025 is the Year of the Snake, a symbol of intelligence, resilience, and love. Our Squirrel Hill community represents incredible strength, resilience, and love for each other. Let’s make this year a year when we really strive to be together in community!
In 2024, we faced important challenges including fallout from the Israeli–Palestinian conflict, which resulted in more antisemitic rhetoric and hate-based vandalism, and other worldwide events that resulted in divisiveness nationally and locally. Yet, Squirrel Hill, we continue to persevere!
Last year, the deer management program that SHUC helped develop went city-wide; our Squirrel Hill community volunteered for many litter patrols, cleanups, tree care events, and community events; our neighborhood’s Day of the Dead celebration was reinstated; together with our Greenfield and Hazelwood neighbors we hosted our 2nd successful Holiday Mingle and have plans for a third; we created a new healthrelated SHUC committee that will focus, among other things, on the isolation epidemic, NARCAN distribution, and a potential Blue Zones Activate program; we moved our office down the hall in the Wightman Building and converted to a Google workspace; we added more benches, planters, and trees across the neighborhood,
with plans in the works to freshen our Squirrel Hill banners; we purchased light-up snowflake decorations for the main Squirrel Hill business district; and at the request of the community we started preparations for the development of a new Squirrel Hill Neighborhood Plan.
We were busy in 2024 and worked tirelessly together to support our community. In 2025, we’re staying on this path.
Next up, we look forward to cleaning up our community together and will again host our annual community clean-up close to Earth Day with a weeklong option to make it more convenient to participate with your own individual or group clean-up. The in-person event takes place on the morning of Sunday, April 27. Visit shuc.org for details!
Our neighbors are really looking forward to our other upcoming events! We expect a full season for Bach, Beethoven and Brunch. The Mother’s Day Wine Walk is always a vibrant, well-attended event and will again be hosted Mother’s Day weekend. The Coalition and Murray the Squirrel are looking forward to participating
in the Friends of Mellon Park Arbor Day celebration next month. We are happy to be hosting three Night Market events again in 2025. Our Farmers Markets are again planning for a full season and winter market. We will also join our partners to host Squirrel Hill’s Day of the Dead celebration and the 3rd Holiday Mingle, and we will participate in Greenfield’s Pride event. Please stay tuned for details for these and more events!
Finally, our annual Treasure Awards Dinner is planned for Thursday, November 6th at the Pittsburgh Golf Club. Last year we hosted a very fun, sold-out event, and 2025’s dinner promises to be another lively evening and an opportunity to get together with our neighbors while celebrating our Squirrel Hill Treasures. Please mark your calendars!
Please reach out to share with me 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 thoughts and ideas to help support us in preserving, improving, and celebrating the quality of life in our vibrant Squirrel Hill community. You can connect with me at mcohen@shuc.org.
FALL/WINTER EVENTS RECAP
SHUC has been busy! Here are some of the events we’ve enjoyed since the last issue. We invite you to join in the fun during our upcoming spring events, like the Clean-up in April and the Mother’s Day Wine Walk in May.
Día de los Muertos
On a sunny November 2 last fall, Darlington Street by the Post Office Parklet was awash with bright colors, delicious smells, and festive music as friends and families filled the square for a Día de los Muertos/Day of the Dead celebration. Activities like face painting
and sugar cookie decorating kept the little ones busy; performers shared dances and songs on the stage; and food stalls offered traditional cuisine, including Mexican pan de muerto. SHUC was a co-sponsor of the event alongside La Escuelita Arcoiris and Riverstone Books.
Neill Log House Ribbon Cutting
The sun was still shining the next weekend when Friends of Neill Log House, for which SHUC serves as a fiduciary, held a ceremonial ribbon-cutting for the log house in Schenley Park. The occasion marked the end of a years-long restoration of the building, which dates to the late 18th century. The log house will become accessible to the public via tours this year.
Community Shopping Event at Ten Thousand Villages
Once again, Ten Thousand Villages hosted SHUC for a community shopping event for anyone ready to get a head start on their holiday shopping in the business district. On the evening of November 12, all purchases in the store (and online) contributed a portion of their proceeds to SHUC. It’s a great tradition linking local and global communities.
Holiday Mingle
Later in November, more holiday traditions were celebrated at the 2nd annual Holiday Mingle. SHUC again partnered with the Greenfield Community Association and Hazelwood Initiative to bring together our neighboring communities in one big celebration to kick off the winter holiday season. From crafts and food samples to a lively photo booth, participants had a chance to share their traditions and discover new ones.
Holiday Wine Walk
By early December, it was time to bundle up for the Holiday Wine Walk. Hosted by Uncover Squirrel Hill, this event brought guests to many businesses along the Forbes and Murray thoroughfares, sampling wine and greeting friends along the way. It was a great way to explore new drinks and get some holiday shopping ideas while admiring the newly installed LED snowflakes hanging from the lampposts.
SHUC SAYS “THANKS!”
We really appreciate what our partners, volunteers, board members, neighbors, neighboring communities, donors, and sponsors do to help make our community a vibrant, welcoming place!
A big thank you to Scott Bluman and Thomas Poepping for their continued help with tech support, including an upcoming website update. Stay tuned for more in the coming months. We are very thankful for their volunteer support.
An extra thank you to Jamison Combs who made sure that Squirrel Hill sparkled for the holidays with winter snowflakes. It was so helpful that installation was included. Thank you very much to Jamison and Mardi Isler for making our winter snowflakes possible!
Thank you to the participants, performers, dignitaries, volunteers, and event organizers (Marian Lien of OCA, Mardi Isler, and Dalia Belinkoff) who were ready for the 2025 Lunar New Year Parade until bad weather forced its cancellation. The JCC was fortunately able to host
the Lion Dance by Chris Young and his amazing Steel Dragon Kung Fu team and a group of Thai dancers from Nor Nareedokmai’s Silk Elephant restaurant. Thank you to everyone! Also, an extra thank you to Mardi for installing the lanterns and getting all of the permits for the parade, and to Ten Thousand Villages for selling and distributing the Lunar New Year t-shirts.
Thank you very much to our Day of Giving and Winter Donor Campaign donors. This year, part of the funds will be dedicated to our Squirrel Hill Neighborhood Plan. We are very appreciative of everyone who contributed and of our neighbors who still plan to give.
We have tremendous gratitude for our neighborhood partnering organizations who help make everything we do possible. A huge thank you to our sister organization Uncover Squirrel Hill, including Jamison Combs and its Board President John Katz, and the JCC, especially Melissa
Hiller, Amedeo Gonzales, Chris Herman, and their team for securing spaces for our meetings/events and Victoria Butch and Paul Hilterbrick for helping to keep our neighborhood safe. We are also thankful for our partnership with the JCC Center for Loving Kindness and for Jason Kunzman at the helm for all he does to lead his incredible team.
Finally, the Coalition would like to give well-deserved acknowledgements to our team, board members, and partners behind the scenes who made everything possible for us in 2024. An extra thanks goes out to board members who head up our important committees and volunteer efforts. Our Board works behind the scenes to better support our community. Thank you all for your support!
If you would like to be added to our list of special thanks, please reach out to volunteer or contribute to our wonderful Squirrel Hill Community. Thank you to our neighbors!
ST. EDMUND’S ACADEMY
In the spring of 2024, St. Edmund’s Academy’s Preschoolers were joined by Brandy Patterson, Early Childhood Garden Educator with Grow Pittsburgh, to plant vegetables and flowers in the SEA Playdeck flower beds. In late November, Farmer Brandy joined them for the next step: winterizing! They pulled out remaining annuals and weeds to be composted, planted some bulbs, and put down hay. The school’s partnership with Grow Pittsburgh is part of their work as a United Nations Global School, providing a commitment to learning about the United Nations 17 Sustainable Development Goals.
Last November, the SEA 1st Graders walked to visit their neighbors at the Squirrel Hill Carnegie Library! These students have had lots of practice checking out books from the school library, and this gave them a chance to try it out and learn about the city’s public libraries. Many of them got their first library card, and everyone checked out a book to take home.
The SEA 8th Grade class organized, promoted, and managed the SEA Thanksgiving Canned Food Drive, with donations going to neighbors at the East End Cooperative Ministry. Students in Preschool through 8th Grade brought in specific items to ensure families had everything but the turkey.
For more good news from our schools, read this issue’s Community Champion feature (page 8) about Kelly Anderson, Colfax PTO President, and the Youth Voices column (page 38) about the Allderdice Speech and Debate Team.
EARTH DAY INSPIRED CLEAN UP
Join the Behavioral Health (BH) Fellows Program and
make a difference.
A JOB + LOAN REPAYMENT UP TO $45,000
Join the Behavioral Health (BH) Fellows Program and make a
difference.
Join the Behavioral Health (BH) Fellows Program and make a difference.
The BH Fellows program is a new initiative sponsored by Allegheny County Department of Human Services (DHS) in partnership with - Community Care Behavioral Health, and Jewish Healthcare Foundation. The goal of the initiative is to strengthen the County’s public behavioral health system by providing educational loan repayments, competitive salaries, and career development experiences to behavioral healthcare staff.
The BH Fellows program is a new initiative sponsored by Allegheny County Department of Human Services (DHS) in partnership with - Community Care Behavioral Health, and Jewish Healthcare Foundation. The goal of the initiative is to strengthen the County’s public behavioral health system by providing educational loan repayments, competitive salaries, and career development experiences to behavioral healthcare staff.
BH Fellows is an educational loan repayment and training program for new and existing community behavioral health workers in Allegheny County.
With over $15MM in funding, this program is designed to attract and retain individuals dedicated to improving the lives of the County’s most vulnerable. After being accepted into the program, BH Fellows will be eligible to receive:
With over $15MM in funding, this program is designed to attract and retain individuals dedicated to improving the lives of the County’s most vulnerable. After being accepted into the program, BH Fellows will be eligible to receive:
The BH Fellows program is a new initiative sponsored by Allegheny County Department of Human Services (DHS) in partnership with - Community Care Behavioral Health, and Jewish Healthcare Foundation. The goal of the initiative is to strengthen the County’s public behavioral health system by providing educational loan repayments, competitive salaries, and career development experiences to behavioral healthcare staff.
Competitive pay
Competitive pay
With over $15MM in funding, this program is designed to attract and retain individuals dedicated to improving the lives of the County’s most vulnerable. After being accepted into the program, BH Fellows will be eligible to receive:
After being accepted into the program, BH Fellows will be eligible to receive: LEARN MORE:
Educational loan repayment (up to $25,000 for a bachelor’s degree or up to $45,000 for a master’s degree) or free access to an approved certificate program
Educational loan repayment (up to $25,000 for a bachelor’s degree OR up to $45,000 for a master’s degree) OR free access to an approved professional certificate program
Competitive pay
Educational loan repayment (up to $25,000 for a bachelor’s degree OR up to $45,000 for a master’s degree) OR free access to an approved professional certificate program
Competitive pay for a job at a participating employer
Paid training and leadership development experiences through a cohort model
Training and leadership development through a cohort model
Paid training and leadership development experiences through a cohort model
In return, Fellows agree to complete two years of employment in a specific behavioral health role with a program-eligible provider.*
Educational loan repayment (up to $25,000 for a bachelor’s degree OR up to $45,000 for a master’s degree) OR free access to an approved professional certificate program
bhfellows.jhf.org/apply
In return, Fellows agree to complete two years of employment in a specific behavioral health role with a program-eligible provider.*
BH Fellows will be hired into key positions in the following areas:
Paid training and leadership development experiences through a cohort model
BH Fellows will be hired into key positions in the following areas:
•Blended Service Coordination
•Family-Based Mental Health
•Blended Service Coordination
•Crisis Services
In return, Fellows agree to complete two years of employment in a specific behavioral health role with a program-eligible provider.*
•Family-Based Mental Health
•Child Diversion and Acute Stabilization
•Crisis Services
•Case Management for Substance Use Disorder
•Child Diversion and Acute Stabilization
• Integrated Dual Disorder Treatment
BH Fellows will be hired into key positions in the following areas:
•Blended Service Coordination
•Case Management for Substance Use Disorder
• Integrated Dual Disorder Treatment
•Family-Based Mental Health
•Crisis Services
Staff currently employed by a behavioral health services provider and individuals who are new to the behavioral health field are encouraged to apply.
•Child Diversion and Acute Stabilization
Staff currently employed by a behavioral health services provider and individuals who are new to the behavioral health field are encouraged to apply.
•Case Management for Substance Use Disorder
• Integrated Dual Disorder Treatment
CALL SOMEONE WHO CARES
Scan the QR code or visit acdhs.org/BH-Fellows for more information and how to apply to participate.
Scan the QR code or visit acdhs.org/BH-Fellows for more information and how to apply to participate.
*Note: Educational loan repayment will be paid once the Fellow has completed the two year service commitment.
*Note: Educational loan repayment will be paid once the Fellow has completed the two year service commitment.
LANDSCAPING – SNOW REMOVAL – CONSTRUCTION
LANDSCAPING – SNOW REMOVAL – CONSTRUCTION
Staff currently employed by a behavioral health services provider and individuals who are new to the behavioral health field are encouraged to apply.
Scan the QR code or visit acdhs.org/BH-Fellows for more information and how to apply to participate.
RETAINING WALLS – LANDSCAPE DESIGN
RETAINING WALLS – DESIGN
Landscape Design
Plant and Shrub Installation
Lawn Mowing
Lawn Maintenance
New Lawns
Reseeding
Spring and Fall Cleanups
Mulching
Retaining Walls
Pavers
Allegheny County Department of Human Services
Sidewalks
Walkways
Paver Driveways
Pond Installations
Storm Cleanups
Snow Removal
French Drains
Land Clearing
Power Washing
Overseeding
Patio Design and Installation
*Note: Educational loan repayment will be paid once the Fellow has completed the two year service commitment.
Allegheny County Department of Human Services
Allegheny County Department of Human Services
Opposing Views and Shared Success: The Allderdice Debate Team’s Journey
FOUR YEARS AGO, IF YOU HAD TOLD A MEMBER OF THE ALLDERDICE SPEECH AND DEBATE TEAM THAT THE PROGRAM TODAY WOULD CONSIST OF 40 HIGHLY DEDICATED DEBATERS—including tournament champions, eight members ranked top 50 in the state, and one team making it to the semi-finals of the state tournament (my partner and I)—they wouldn’t believe you.
By Nikhil Saxena, 12th-grader at Pittsburgh Allderdice
A little over four years ago, a few Allderdice freshmen entered the realm of debate. Coached by a junior whose knowledge of debate stemmed from a oneweek summer intensive, these freshmen faced daunting challenges, often losing to well-trained and professionally coached rivals. Nonetheless, this group persevered, attending tournaments every weekend and dedicating countless hours to research and practice for an activity they loved. Today, the team is flourishing, with upwards of a dozen debaters competing weekly.
Nikhil Saxena and his debate partner Thomas Aldous earned a 3rdplace finish at the State Championship in 2024.
…teaching me to embrace new perspectives on issues I might have once viewed narrowly.
Those former freshmen have now become mentors, coaching and educating the next generation of high school underclassmen to debate.
As Captain of the Allderdice team, I manage weekly tournament rosters, determining which students will compete and which judges will attend; lead fundraising efforts to ensure the team remains free of cost, making the program accessible to all students regardless of financial circumstances; and organize team meetings and coach members, helping refine their skills to excel in competitions.
Speech and debate tournaments, typically hosted in high schools throughout Pittsburgh and its surrounding areas, are usually all-day events on Saturdays. With tournaments held almost every weekend from November through March, students have ample opportunities to sharpen their skills. These tournaments feature between 15 and 20 events ranging from solo speech categories to duo debate formats. At Allderdice, we focus on two specific events: Public Forum Debate and Congressional Debate.
In Public Forum Debate, each round pits two teams of two debaters against each other to argue the pro or con side of a resolution selected by the National Speech and Debate Organization (NSDA). Topics, which change every one to two months, reflect current global issues. Students must prepare arguments for both sides, as their stance is determined on the day of the tournament and may switch between rounds. A typical round lasts 45 minutes to an hour and includes multiple segments of delivering pre-written arguments, proposing and responding to questions, addressing counterarguments, and presenting final statements. Except for the first segment, all speeches are developed during the round using only three minutes of allotted prep time. This demands thorough preparation and in-depth knowledge of the resolution to effectively counter opponents’ arguments and build persuasive cases.
In Congressional Debate, students draft bills (proposed laws) and resolutions (position statements), which they and their peers later debate and vote on whether to pass into law. In advance of the tournament, a docket of legislation is distributed to participating schools so that students can research and prepare themselves for the debate. Many tournaments allow students to caucus in committee(s) to determine the agenda; the students select topics that will make an even and engaging debate and share authorship of the bills and resolutions among the schools participating in the event. For each item on the docket, students choose a side to defend and must give a speech stating their arguments. If a coach submits legislation to tournaments on behalf of their school, their students have the right to an authorship speech introducing the bill or resolution to the chamber. The debate then moves between
two-minute question periods and additional speeches, including by those who are opposed to the legislation.
The Allderdice Speech and Debate Team has shown remarkable growth, tripling in size over the past four years, achieving higher placements at competitive tournaments, and fostering enthusiasm among new members. In fact, the NSDA acknowledged this tremendous growth by awarding the team the Charter School Status (one of 48 in the country chosen every year). Becoming a charter school is the highest honor for high schools in the NSDA. A school is recognized with this status after enrolling at least 50 degrees (referring to official recognition for students’ debate performances) within a three-year period of membership.
These successes are the result of countless hours spent each week extensively researching specific topics, formulating arguments, and competing in practice rounds to prepare for tournaments. Recent resolutions have addressed issues such as drug legalization, cryptocurrency regulation, Turkey’s membership in NATO, space exploration, banning single-use plastics, U.S. involvement in foreign wars, and the employment of student-athletes at their respective institutions. Through the experience of debate, students develop critical thinking, public speaking, and evidence evaluation skills while gaining confidence and an appreciation for multiple perspectives on complex issues. Most importantly, debate teaches students that every topic has numerous legitimate viewpoints, a lesson of great value in today’s polarized world.
Through my journey as a debater, I have gained invaluable skills and experiences that extend far beyond the competition floor. When my partner and I advanced to the state tournament this past March, the exhilaration of debating at that level reaffirmed why I dedicate so much to this activity. In the semifinal round, with rooms packed with spectators, we showcased the culmination of months of research, preparation, and practice. From meticulously dismantling our opponents’ arguments to crafting compelling final speeches, the round encapsulated the intellectual rigor and emotional intensity that make debate so rewarding. This process of preparing for and engaging in tournaments has transformed the way I approach the world, teaching me to embrace new perspectives on issues I might have once viewed narrowly. Debate has not only sharpened my analytical and communication skills but also instilled a lifelong openness to considering diverse viewpoints, affecting my outlook on everything from academic challenges to global issues.
Debate has profoundly shaped my high school experience. The thrill of competition, the camaraderie with teammates, and the personal growth I have experienced are unmatched. Debate is a program that challenges you to think, speak, and listen better—and I wouldn’t trade it for anything.
Members of the Allderdice Speech and Debate Team at a tournament.
Hidden Gems of the Animal World
By Lawrence Gerson, VMD
AS A SCHOOL-AGE STUDENT LIVING IN SQUIRREL HILL, I WOULD OFTEN WALK DOWN HOBART STREET TO MURRAY AVENUE. I loved shopping at the bakeries named Silberberg’s and Rosenbloom’s. Often, I would purchase a Raisin Cluster, Chocolate Magic Mountains, and of course Gems, round-top cupcakes with icing. That was 65 or so years ago.
Now, as a retired veterinarian, I see lots of real “gems” in my world. These human “gems” work tirelessly to help pets needing emergency medical care, shelter and adoption, or protection from abuse. They don’t often get the recognition they deserve.
Thirty years ago. the local veterinary association received a complaint from a pet owner who was having a hard time seeking after-hours care. Subsequently, a bold group of veterinarians funded and started the Veterinary Emergency Clinic in Shaler Township. That project eventually became Blue Pearl Pet Hospital offering specialty and emergency pet care. Additionally, we have AVETS, MedVet, and the new Veterinary Emergency Group, which is in East Liberty.
The doctors, nurses, and staff of our local emergency hospitals work nights, weekends, and holidays to provide care with compassion and dedication. When I say they are “hidden gems,” I sincerely mean it.
One year ago, a new service opened their phone lines to pet owners needing advice. Pets After Dark has local veterinarians on call to talk with owners about urgent matters concerning their pets. With evening, weekend, and even holiday hours, professional help is just a call away. If the problem is a true crisis, they will triage pets to one of the emergency services. If the problem can
The care they deliver is often hidden from the public.
Meet Gimli, one of Speak! for the Unspoken’s rescue dogs with disabilities.
Bernadette E. Kazmarski
wait until the regular veterinary practice opens, they are often able to book a next-day appointment. Many simple problems can be treated at home with advice from the doctor by phone, and this option is invaluable when all the emergency hospitals are at full capacity or short-staffed.
There is another entire universe of people helping animals in need. The employees and volunteers at local animal shelters provide love and compassion for animals. The care they deliver is often hidden from the public. These “gems” deserve our appreciation and respect for a most difficult endeavor.
The Pittsburgh area is blessed with a multitude of smaller rescues; the full list would fill this entire magazine. Homeless Cat Management Team traps feral cats. They have spay neuter clinics and place cats with the enviable goal of reducing pet overpopulation. Over in Swissvale, a group called Rescue and Relax has created a cat lounge, shelter, and resource center run by volunteers. Pittsburgh Hill District Cats is another group trying to help cats find good homes. Hello Bully works to rescue and rehabilitate pets from the cruelty of dog fighting and other forms of abuse. Other rescues include Senior Hearts Rescue and Renewal, East Coast Bulldog Rescue, Pet Friends, Bridge to Home Animal Rescue, and many others.
My current pet Wrangler came from a rescue based in Ohio that has a network of volunteers, including local Pittsburgh representatives. Speak! for the Unspoken is a 100% foster-based rescue dedicated to saving dogs and cats with special needs across the Midwest. Many of their animals are blind or deaf from poor breeding practices, while others face a range of different health problems. My dog was paralyzed when first adopted but is fully recovered now. They are truly a “gem” of a rescue.
Law enforcement also needs to be included in my list of special people helping animals. Humane agents see the worst of how people take care of their animals. Criminal behavior is reported to the district attorney for prosecution. Some stories make the news, but actually getting a conviction is very difficult in criminal court. Shelters will sometimes seek cost of care for animal abuse cases from a funding source called the Allegheny Abused Animal Relief Fund. As president of this group, I and the board of directors ask for donations from the public for care of abuse and cruelty cases.
Animals touch our hearts in so many ways. Hidden behind the scenes are a multitude of wonderful people and organizations working hard to help find homes, care for the sick or injured, and prosecute when needed to help the pets who need our care.
Forgotten Building Blocks of Squirrel Hill
By Helen Wilson, Vice-President, Squirrel Hill Historical Society
Lives of great men all remind us
We can make our lives sublime, And, departing, leave behind us
Footprints in the sands of time.
—Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
WHEN I TAUGHT AT LINDEN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL IN THE 1990S, I LOVED WATCHING THE SUNLIGHT STREAMING THROUGH THE AMBER-HUED STAINEDGLASS WINDOWS ON THE LANDING OF THE MAIN STAIRCASE. The Point Breeze school, built in 1903, was the epitome of the palaces of learning erected in Pittsburgh at that time.
The windows illuminated the school in more than one way. They were designed to inspire students. They hold a portrait of poet Henry Wadsworth Longfellow (1807–1882) and two quotations from his poems: “Assert thyself. Rise up to thy full height” and “Our todays and yesterdays are the blocks with which we build.” Pittsburgh’s schools of that era, such as Wightman on Solway Street, once had similar stained-glass windows, but almost all were removed when the buildings were renovated.
Today, the civic influence of Longfellow, who even had a school named after him on the North Side in the early 1900s, and other such “blocks with which we build” is only vaguely remembered. Although Longfellow did not himself live in the neighborhood, the history of Squirrel Hill is full of once well-known people who were building blocks of the community but are now almost forgotten except for names of roads and buildings.
An 1862 map shows some Squirrel Hill landowners whose names are now just names of streets—Brown, Douglass, Phillips, Ebdy, English, Denniston, Burchfield, and more. Property owners whose names weren’t given to streets, such as Sutch, Stewart, and Turner, have faded into obscurity, belying their importance in shaping Squirrel Hill. John Turner (1755–1840) was held in such high esteem in his community that he was called
the “Benefactor of Squirrel Hill.” He donated land from his farm for the neighborhood’s first school and the burial plot on his farm for use as a cemetery. Tiny Turner Cemetery still exists at 3424 Beechwood Boulevard and contains the remains of Turner and other early residents of Squirrel Hill.
The church that once stood next to the cemetery, Mary S. Brown Memorial Chapel, was built by Capt. Samuel S. Brown (1842–1905) and his youngest brother, W. Harry Brown (1856–1921), to honor their beloved mother. The stately church was demolished in 2020 but lives on in the parts of it, especially the beautiful windows, that were recycled to other churches and to The Abbey restaurant in Lawrenceville.
Capt. Sam’s father William Hughey Brown (1815–1875) owned most of the hillside in Squirrel Hill South from Desdemona Street to the Jewish Association on Aging and down to the Monongahela River. W. H. Brown’s miners mined coal on that slope, and his huge steamboat fleet, headquartered at the mouth of Nine Mile Run, pushed barges full of coal and coke all the way to New Orleans. Brown was one of the richest men in Squirrel Hill, yet he is almost unknown today except for the name of Browns Hill Road.
Brown’s sons added to the family’s wealth. Capt. Sam owned banks, mines, racecourses, racehorses, and the electric trolley company that built Brown’s Bridge near the mouth of Nine Mile Run in 1895 to connect Pittsburgh with the bustling steel town of Homestead. One of his horses won the Kentucky Derby in 1884.
Sam’s brother, W. Harry Brown (1856–1921), a wealthy businessman in his own right, is remembered today for
his pyramid mausoleum in The Homewood Cemetery. This Egyptian revival monument was designed by the architectural firm of Alden & Harlow, which had earlier included Alexander Wadsworth Longfellow Jr.—the nephew of Longfellow the poet—as a partner.
The cemetery itself got its name from the estate of William Wilkins (1779–1865), an esteemed judge and politician who owned 650 acres of land in Squirrel Hill North and beyond. Both Wilkins Avenue and Wilkinsburg are named after him. Among his many accomplishments, he was a member of both the State House and Senate of Pennsylvania, U.S. Senator and Representative, first president of the Bank of
W. Harry Brown’s mausoleum in The Homewood Cemetery.
Pittsburgh, president of the Pittsburgh common council, judge of the United States District Court for western Pennsylvania, United States Minister to Russia, and Secretary of War under President John Tyler.
Incidentally, Dallas Avenue is named for the family of Judge Wilkins’ wife Mathilda Dallas (1798–1881), daughter of Alexander J. Dallas, US Treasury Secretary under President Madison. Theirs was one of two marriages uniting the politically powerful Pennsylvania families. Mathilda’s brother Trevanion, an Allegheny County judge, married Judge Wilkins’ niece Jane.
Another Treasury Secretary left a mark on Squirrel Hill’s street names. Bisecting Squirrel Hill east to west is Forward Avenue, named for Judge Walter Forward (1786–1852), whose career was as wide-ranging as Wilkins’s.
In his early years he served in the Pennsylvania General Assembly. In 1822 he was elected to the U.S. Congress and served three terms. He was Secretary of the Treasury in President Tyler’s Cabinet in 1841. He returned to Pittsburgh to practice law and then was appointed chargé d’affaires to Denmark by President Zachary Taylor. He came back to Pittsburgh in 1851 and served as presiding judge of the district court of Allegheny County.
Forward’s mansion was near where Pittsburgh Allderdice High School stands today. Allderdice’s namesake, Taylor Allderdice (1863–1934), did not come from a prominent family. He worked his way up from steel mill laborer to president of the National Tube Company, but naming the high school after him was more likely due to his great interest in education throughout his life. He was one of the first members of the Pittsburgh Board of Education when it was formed in 1911. He was also a trustee of Carnegie Institute of Technology and served as manager and secretary of the Carnegie Hero Fund Commission.
On the northern side of Squirrel Hill, the Murdoch family ran a nursery and orchard, giving their name to Murdoch Farms and Murdoch Street and Road. The Murdochs were famous in their day for their fruit trees and flowers, especially roses. They supplied elaborate
floral decorations for galas and banquets all over Pittsburgh. They also used their house as a stop on the Underground Railroad, and Ellen Murdoch, a nurse during the Civil War, brought wounded soldiers by train to West Penn Hospital from Southern battlefields.
Squirrel Hill’s development in the late 1800s and throughout the 1900s didn’t spring up haphazardly but was dictated by a combination of landowners who had land to sell and developers who bought their tracts to divide into commercial and residential lots. The latter group included Thomas Watkins (1861–1925), who constructed the Morrowfield Apartment Hotel in the 1920s, and Herman Kamin (1871–1965), who built private houses throughout Squirrel Hill, including on Kamin Street, which was named after him. Kamin had a harder time acquiring properties because he was Jewish, but he persisted, helping transform Squirrel Hill into the center
Cover of John R. & A. Murdoch’s Plant Catalogue, 1874.
Sketch of the new Kamin Chevrolet headquarters at the corner of Forbes and Shady Avenues that opened on January 22, 1949. Architect’s drawing, The Pittsburgh Press, January 21, 1949.
of Pittsburgh Jewish life. His son S. Irwin Kamin owned Kamin Motors, a Chevrolet dealership on the corner of Forbes and Shady Avenues from 1931 to 1963.
Each of these families, and many, many more, contributed to making Squirrel Hill what it is today. The Squirrel Hill Historical Society is in the process of researching the names of all of Squirrel Hill’s 200-plus streets, roads, bridges, lanes, courts, ways, trails, and buildings to uncover the history behind the names. A book is in the works.
UPCOMING EVENTS
SQUIRREL HILL HISTORICAL SOCIETY
Anyone interested in learning more about Squirrel Hill history is invited to attend the programs of the Squirrel Hill Historical Society, held on the second Tuesday of each month at 7:30 p.m. Programs are live at the Church of the Redeemer, 5700 Forbes Ave. and are also on Zoom. Go to www.squirrelhillhistory.org to request a link to the Zoom program and for updates and announcements of upcoming lectures and events. Please consider joining the SHHS. Membership is only $15 per year ($25 for families). There is no charge for attending the meetings.
TUESDAY, APRIL 8
“South of Pittsburgh: Poems from Northern Appalachia”
Poet MICHAEL COMISKEY will talk about and read selections from his book of Northern Appalachian poetry using traditional and modern poetic forms to survey the human and natural landscapes of that often overlooked region. Topics include the delicacy of the region’s wildflowers, the devastation wrought by mountaintop removal mining, Northern Appalachian folklore, and the state of the region’s working class.
TUESDAY, MAY 13
“Pittsburgh Rising: From Frontier Town to Steel City, 1750-1920”
ROB RUCK and ED MULLER, co-authors and professors of history at the University of Pittsburgh, will talk about their recently published book chronicling the early development of industrial Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh Rising: From Frontier Town to Steel City, 1750-1920.
TUESDAY, JUNE 10
“Pittsburgh’s Orphans and Orphanages”
JIM WUDARCZYK and JOANN CANTRELL, co-authors, will discuss their recently published book, Pittsburgh’s Orphans and Orphanages. Their research examines the difficult lives of the thousands of children that lived in Pittsburgh during the early 1900s in orphanages where everything was communal, and privacy was nonexistent.
TUESDAY, JULY 8
Members’ Social Celebrating the SHHS’s 25th Anniversary
It’s time to get together to celebrate the Squirrel Hill Historical Society’s 25th anniversary. Members and guests are invited to a social gathering to commemorate SHHS’s own history! The event will include refreshments and a presentation consisting of our members sharing their Squirrel Hill and SHHS stories.
