Squirrel Hill Magazine Fall 2017

A Publication of the Squirrel Hill Urban Coalition

Inside:

Pittsburgh Public Schools 2017 Squirrel Hill Treasure Awards

SQUIRREL HILL URBAN COALITION OFFICERS PRESIDENT Richard Feder VICE PRESIDENT Marshall Hershberg VICE PRESIDENT Erika Strassburger VICE PRESIDENT Chris Zurawsky SECRETARY Barbara Grover ASST. SECRETARY Cynthia Morelock TREASURER Gina Levine ASST. TREASURER James Burnham IMMEDIATE PAST PRESIDENT Raymond Baum BOARD OF DIRECTORS Rita Botts, Vivian Didomenico, Andy Dlinn, Lori Fitzgerald, Steve Hawkins, Michael D. Henderson, Martha Isler, Steven Ari Letwin, Lois Liberman, Lisa Crooks Murphy, Joshua Sayles, Mary Shaw, Ceci Sommers (Director Emerita), Sidney Stark (Director Emeritus), Lisa Steindel, Erik Wagner EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Marian Lien MAGAZINE EDITOR Britt Reints MAGAZINE INTERN Gabriel Naccarato CONTRIBUTORS Raymond Baum, Richard Feder, David Hammerstein, Martha Isler, Marian Lien, Eric Marchbein, Kimberly McElhatten, Gabriel Naccarato, Ian G Rawson, Britt Reints, Kimberly Saunders, Helen Wilson Squirrel Hill Magazine, Vol. 15, Issue 3, is published by the Squirrel Hill Urban Coalition, 5604 Solway Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15217. Four issues per year are delivered free to the residents in zip code 15217. Subscriptions are available for $25/year. No portion of this magazine may be reproduced without permission.

Printed by Knepper Press.

For advertising inquiries, contact marketing@shuc.org.

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

The Squirrel Hill Urban Coalition is a 501(c)(3) non-profit community organization dedicated to preserving, improving, and celebrating the quality of life in the 14th Ward of the City of Pittsburgh.

Editor’s Note Britt Reints breints@shuc.org

Pittsburgh is truly at her best in the autumn months. It seems fitting, then, that it is during the fall that we celebrate the best of Squirrel Hill.

On Nov. 2, the Squirrel Hill Urban Coalition will host the 7th annual Squirrel Hill Treasure Awards Dinner to recognize some of the people and places that are an integral part of what makes the neighborhood special. We’re proud to introduce you to this year’s honorees: John Katz, Maria Caruso, E.J. Strassburger and The Children’s Institute.

This event is not only a chance to gather with family, friends and neighbors; it is also the Coalition’s largest fundraiser of the year.

Proceeds from the evening support the projects that preserve and improve the quality of life in the 14th Ward, including neighborhood-wide events like the Squirrel Hill Night Markets and Lunar New Year.

I hope you’ll consider joining us this year!

Warm Regards, A Publication of the Squirrel Hill Urban Coalition

Inside:

Pittsburgh Public Schools 2017 Squirrel Hill Treasure Awards

On the Cover: “Colouring Pencils”

by William Warby

fall 2017 | 3

By

SEAN CHRISTOPHER LEWIS K AT I E P E A R L

Directed by

AUGUST 18 THRU SEPTEMBER 10, 2017 A CO-PRODUCTION WITH EN GARDE ARTS T H E R E C YC L I N G B U I L D I N G

on the corner of 32nd Street and Smallman Street

By

T O M S T O P PA R D RAC H E L M . ST E V E N S

Directed by

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Inside

facebook.com/ squirrelhillmagazine instagram.com/ squirrelhillurbancoalition twitter.com/ squirrelhillmag

Features

In Every Issue

17 Squirrel Hill Treasures John Katz Maria Caruso E.J. Strassburger The Children’s Institute of Pittsburgh

7

23 School Daze Examining Choice in Pittsburgh Public Schools

By Kimberly Saunders 25 As Promised* Where is the Pittsburgh Promise Now?

By Kimberly McElhatten

President’s Message Further Development Proposed for ForwardMurray Intersection

By Richard Feder

11 Familiar Faces Kim Saunders Gary Couth

By Raymond Baum 14 SHUC Snapshots 29 Good News from Our Schools 31 Neighborhood Notes 33 What’s New From Our Advertisers 34 Squirrel Hill History

By Helen Wilson 38 Events & Happenings

14

Murray the Squirrel is available for local events. Call (412)422-6777 or email marketing@shuc.org to request a visit.

fall 2017 | 5

Rise and shine.

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English texts projected above the stage.

shuc president’s message Further Development Proposed for Forward-Murray Intersection what can be done to improve the Forward-MurrayPocusset intersection from a traffic and pedestrian perspective?

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

On July 24, 2017, the Coalition, in cooperation with Councilman O’Connor’s office, conducted a public meeting to discuss a development at 5800 Forward Avenue proposed by Herky Pollock, a local developer with Squirrel Hill ties. The proposal is for a $40 million, 10-story building at the former Squirrel Hill movie theater location and adjacent corner site and would feature about 125 apartments, over 13,000 square feet of retail and about 135 parking spaces over three and a half floors.

The development is scheduled to come before the Pittsburgh Zoning Board of Adjustment on September 28, 2017. As of this writing, the Coalition has seen only preliminary plans. As we get to review updated drawings, we will be interested in reviewing the building’s scale, massing, materials and aesthetics.

What will the building look like at sidewalk level, and how well will it accommodate the needs of pedestrians, bicyclists and transit riders? How will traffic be accommodated? How many of the parking spaces will be used by the residential apartments, and how many by the proposed commercial uses on the ground floor of the building? How will Maeburn Road located behind the development, currently partially closed, be addressed? What is the plan to mitigate storm water runoff? And working with the City of Pittsburgh,

At the public meeting and in comments obtained from media articles, there have been concerns expressed about the height of the building and whether such a major development is appropriate for that location. In reviewing various studies and plans for Squirrel Hill that have been undertaken over the years, I have found that the corner of Forward, Murray and Pocusset, and in particular the movie theater and corner site location, has been recommended to be a focal point of development for nearly 30 years.

The Squirrel Hill Master Plan was published in 1990.

It included a program, “Forward Renewal,” which called for additional retail, residential and office uses, particularly along Forward Avenue, that would establish this area as an important center of activity in what was identified as the geographic center of Squirrel Hill.

In addition, the Master Plan identified that a “Forward Avenue Portal” project was needed in order to beautify the entrance area from the Parkway East, in light of the importance of the entry to neighborhood. In 2009, the Coalition’s “Gateway Plan” recommended

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shuc president’s message that the entrance area to Squirrel Hill from I-376 be beautified and considered the “Gateway to Squirrel Hill” and the 5-way intersection of Forward, Murray and Pocusset be enhanced with public infrastructure in order to become “A Place to Remember.” This Plan spurred a number of projects that have been implemented under the guidance of the Coalition’s Gateway Committee, including the Welcome to Squirrel Hill sign, the Remembered Garden at the I-376 entrance, new street lights and street trees, murals, and the Post Office Parklet—and more improvements are in the works!

So the history of planning and visioning says that a relatively tall and dense development is a positive for Squirrel Hill.

In 2014, Carnegie Mellon University’s Remaking Cities Institute conducted a study for the Coalition and produced the report, “Envisioning the ForwardMurray Gateway.” The visioning effort that was undertaken identified a number of conceptual ideas for creating a focal point of relatively dense, interesting-looking development at the Forward-MurrayPocusset intersection and vicinity.

I do know that there is a market for residential products for empty nesters looking to downsize and for new households looking to move into Squirrel Hill.

And 125 apartments is a significant number of units to help address the need for residential units. I look forward to a successful development at the Gateway to Squirrel Hill, and we will continue to work hard toward that goal.

I don’t know whether the ten stories proposed at 5800 Forward Avenue would be the final height selected.

Are nine stories “better” than ten? Perspective drawings would be useful to show the proposed building from different angles and would be able to compare with, say, the Morrowfield Apartments, which is nine stories tall and is located just “up” Murray Avenue from 5800 Forward Avenue.

Join Us! 2017 Treasure Awards Dinner Thursday, November 2 at 6:00 PM Pittsburgh Golf Club Celebrate the people and places that make Squirrel Hill a great place to live and work. Proceeds from the evening support your Squirrel Hill Urban Coalition!

Tickets available at shuc.org or by calling 412-422-7666.

SQUIRREL HILL

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familiar faces

Two Volunteers Making an Impact

By Raymond Baum

The Squirrel Hill Urban Coalition and our community are fortunate to have so many generous people who are dedicated to the wellbeing of Squirrel Hill. Here are two people we all should thank.

Kim Saunders has been an essential member of our Squirrel Hill Magazine Committee since 2014.

Kim’s keen editorial eye, education and experience have proven invaluable for our committee and our editors.

Kim hold a master’s degree in Professional Writing from Carnegie Mellon University. She has worked at Duquesne University since 2002, holding positions ranging from Alumni Relations Editor to Director for Marketing and Client Relations and Program Director for Catholic Faith and Culture.

Kim was a freelance writer before returning to the full-time workforce. One of her many meaningful projects was working for Rick St. John, the former Executive Director of SHUC, as the principal writer and editor of the monthly newsletter they produced for Oakland Planning and Development Corporation.

“Working for OPDC was a wonderful experience,” Kim said, “so when Rick invited me to join the SHUC team and magazine committee in 2014, I didn’t hesitate to say yes.”

As we all know, when you want help for community projects, ask a busy person. Being a Career Literacy Mentor, Wellness Committee member, Parish Hospitality, Arts and Environment, and Youth

Ministry Volunteer are a few of her current charitable interests.

Why Squirrel Hill Magazine? “Community Development Organizations such as SHUC have a social as well as economic impact on the community. SHUC not only supports but strengthens the residential and business communities with initiatives aimed at preserving—and enhancing—the services, resources, and programs that make Squirrel Hill a desirable neighborhood. I’m honored to be part of this effort.“ Kim leaves some time for a personal life, too. She is close to her five siblings and mother, who all live in the Pittsburgh area, as well as her three grown children and husband of 35 years, Tony Yacavino. They enjoy cooking, traveling and bike riding—their goal is to bike the Great Allegheny Passage from Pittsburgh to Cumberland.

Look for Kim’s latest contribution to Squirrel Hill Magazine, “School Daze”, on page 23 of this issue.

Since 2007, Gary Couth has been working diligently to preserve Squirrel Hill’s urban forest. When tree consultants reported that thousands of city trees were in such poor condition that they were a danger to people and property and had to be removed, Squirrel Hill Urban Coalition formed its Urban Forest Taskforce under the leadership of Mardi Isler and Gary Crouth.

That Taskforce developed a multi-faceted plan that was adopted by the city administration and facilitated by then City Councilman Bill Peduto.

One of the principal strategies was to replace the dying trees and add more. Gary took on that effort and fall 2017 | 11

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familiar faces worked with the City Department of Public Works to plant trees in locations in high traffic areas that were too dangerous for volunteers, He also helped obtain and plant about 250 trees through Tree Vitalize and Tree Pittsburgh. In addition, he helped recruit over 77 volunteers trained by Tree Pittsburgh as Tree Tenders to keep the new trees healthy, Of course, good neighbors always have multiple gigs.

Gary is a volunteer chaplain at the Allegheny County Jail and meditates with inmates on Monday mornings.

He also substitutes for Ken Batista as on-air host for An American Sampler on WYEP. You may recognize Gary from his many appearances throughout Squirrel Hill and the Pittsburgh area as a member of the Squirrel Hillbillies. Gary and his partner Jenny Wolsk write and record original songs right here in the urban forest of Squirrel Hill. To Gary,

Squirrel Hill is “trees and people and the place that I feel most like home.”

If you’d like to join Gary’s efforts in preserving and expanding the tree canopy in Squirrel Hill, there are many ways to help: agree to have a tree planted in front of your property, become a tree tender, suggest tree planning locations or volunteer through Tree Pittsburgh to plant and maintain trees.

Jewish Community Center of Greater Pittsburgh Join us! Call 412-697-3522 • JCCPGH.org

fall 2017 | 13

shuc snapshots

News from your Squirrel Hill Urban Coalition committees

Gateway Committee

By Martha Isler

Finally, after a long trip from Italy, the tiles for the Post Office Parklet seating cubes have arrived. The artist, Stevo, has installed the tiles based on the original design chosen by the community. Thank you to the Grable Foundation for their contribution to this project.

The Gateway Committee has been working to upgrade the corner of Phillips and Murray, first by securing funds from the Design Center to have a landscape architect provide construction drawings for the site enhancements recommended through neighborhood meetings. Next, funds were secured by Councilman Corey O’Connor to purchase a clock identifying the corner as “O’Connor’s Corner” to memorialize Mayor Bob O’Connor’s connection to Squirrel Hill. Recently, the Gateway Committee was awarded a grant from the Redevelopment Authority of Allegheny County, Community Infrastructure and Tourism Fund toward completion of a pedestrian plaza with planters, trees, seating and a green bus shelter planned for this very visible corner. We thank Senator Costa and DTI, Development, Inc. for their assistance. The Gateway Committee, with Senator Costa’s and Representative

Frankel’s support, will be working to secure funding to complete this project in 2018.

Since TreeVitalize planted trees on Beacon at Murray, the property owner, John Katz, has been planning to upgrade that corner and provide amenities for pedestrian respite. Construction is proceeding to provide benches, a water fountain for people and pets, cement tables for chess and conversations and more trees for shade and beautification. Since accomplishing the renovation of the Post Office Parklet, and now close to having the necessary funds to complete O’Connor’s corner, the Gateway Committee greatly appreciates this private sector effort to continue the enhancements we have planned for our prime business district corners on Murray Avenue. In conjunction with this endeavor, the Pittsburgh Parking Authority and the Pittsburgh City Forester have agreed to remove the aged shrubs on either side of the entrance to the adjacent parking lot and plant trees and new landscaping to further beautify the appearance of Beacon at Murray.

How Can YOU Get Involved?

The Squirrel Hill Urban Coalition is a volunteer-driven organization. If you’d like to get involved – whether once in a while or on a regular basis – we’d love to have you working beside us to sustain the qualities that we value most about Squirrel Hill. Tell us a little about yourself and how you’d like to help at shuc.org/join-the-coalition.

14 | shuc.org

Ped-Bike Committee

By Rich Feder

Squirrel Hill Urban Coalition is pursuing a new pedestrian-bicycle route that would connect southern Squirrel Hill/eastern Greenfield with Saline Street in The Run section of Greenfield. The purpose is for walkers and bicyclists to have access to the Eliza Furnace Trail as well as be able to reach Downtown Pittsburgh, Oakland, Southside Works, Pittsburgh Technology Center, Hazelwood and the new Almono development in Hazelwood.

for these users.

The committee recommends a traffic signal re-design that would including revamping the pedestrian crossing aspects and a re-striping of the road to better delineate pedestrian crossings and channel traffic.

Because the Forward-Murray-Poccusset intersection is not optimally designed for pedestrians and bicyclists, it is necessary that the intersection be improved

A comprehensive description and map of the proposed route, background on the project and concerns that must be addressed are available at shuc.org.

On Father’s Day, members of the SHUC Ped-Bike Committee, as well as friends and neighbors, joined Western PA Wheelmen for a bike ride through Squirrel Hill. It was a fun event for riders of all ages!

fall 2017 | 15

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squirrel hill treasures

Celebrating the people & places in Squirrel Hill On Thursday, Nov. 2 at the Pittsburgh Golf Club, the Squirrel Hill Urban Coalition will hold the 7th Annual Squirrel Hill Treasure Dinner to celebrate the people and places that make Squirrel Hill a great place to live, work and do business. We invite neighbors and friends to join us in honoring our 2017 Treasures: Maria Caruso, E.J. Strassburger and John Katz, as well as the this year’s Place Treasure, The Children’s Institute of Pittsburgh.

John Katz

Long-time Squirrel Hill resident and neighborhood civic leader, John Katz is the co-owner of Brandywine Agency, a residential builder and property manager. After finishing college at University of Pennsylvania in 1998, John moved to Pittsburgh to work with his grandfather, Eugene Litman, at the Brandywine Agency, Inc. in North Versailles. John is now Chairman and President of Brandywine and has been contributing to the quality of life in Squirrel Hill by making improvements to the neighborhood’s commercial areas.

John has carefully restored and preserved the early 1900s architectural gem that once housed Rosen Drug Store and is now home to How Lee and the Independent Brewery. Restoration included the exterior cornice, which is the historical element, and unifying the buildings with brown spandrel glass. He also added a water fountain for people and their pets and poured a new sidewalk for the entire corner with decorative tree pits for additional trees on Forbes.

In addition to improving Brandywine’s properties, John has contributed generously to Squirrel Hill Urban Coalition and Uncover Squirrel Hill in support of the Post Office Parklet, Squirrel Hill Night Markets and Lunar New Year Celebrations.

He also oversaw the design and installation of the squirrel-shaped bike racks in the business district.

John’s vision and enthusiasm for the private sector adding beauty and function to our streetscape has made an enormous difference in our neighborhood.

In 2014, John worked with Councilman O’Connor and Bike Pittsburgh to install the first Squirrel Hill bike corral near his Shady Avenue properties.

He has re-landscaped the corner of Forward and Shady, adding trees, shrubs and appropriate fencing. John has made significant improvements to his property at Forbes and Beacon, adding a mural, trees and fencing, and construction is underway to provide seating, additional trees and a water source.

John Katz and Diane V. Ryan were married in 2005 at Phipps Conservatory. They live in Squirrel Hill with their four children, Henry age 8, Arthur 6, Frank 4, and Stanley 1 and are members of Beth Shalom. John loves to play tennis and enjoys biking, hiking, traveling, going to playgrounds and visiting museums with Diane and their children. In addition, John serves on the Boards of the Jewish Association on Aging and the Young Presidents Organization.

fall 2017 | 17

squirrel hill treasures

Maria Caruso

Founder and Director of Bodiography and Chair of the Performing Arts Department at La Roche College, Maria Caruso is well known for her leadership as well as her choreographic strength in focusing on humanity in dance.

Maria received her Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from Florida State University at age 19 before starting her dance company in New York City in 2000. In 2002, she returned to her hometown of Pittsburgh and founded the Bodiography Center for Movement in Gene Kelly’s former dance studio space. Shortly after the move, while running both the school and performance company, she earned a Master of Science degree in Professional Leadership with an emphasis on management for non-profit organizations from Carlow University.

Maria’s accomplishments are numerous. She was acknowledged at the 2016 Future Health Technology Summit at MIT as a genius of choreography and selected as a 2016 Pittsburgh Business Times Fast Tracker. She also delivered a TEDxYouthSquirrelHill talk titled “Synergy of the Self” and is a member of the Generative Thinking Committee at the Winchester Thurston School.

Maria’s development of movement vocabulary and curriculum design propels her vision of teaching dance as a language and making movement inclusive for everyBODY. Her unique programming and methodologies have been sought after by some of the best academic and arts institutions in the world.

Locally, she’s partnered with the Yeshiva Girls School, Hillel Academy, St Edumund’s Academy, Shadyside Academy, Community Day School and the Tzohar Seminary on successful enrichment programs.

She is also on the teaching roster of the Pittsburgh Center for the Arts and the Pittsburgh Filmmakers, 18 | shuc.org

where she serves the public and private schools in the region with residential programming and outreach.

Maria has had an active career as a dancer and continues to tour the world with her solo work. She is proud to have built Bodiography Center for Movement, her dance conservatory in Squirrel Hill, and trademarked her movement vocabulary that formed the basis of her unique, research-based choreographic process and became the foundation of her catalogue of over 87 ballets. Additionally, her interest in fitness and wellness moved her to create Bodiography® Fitness and Strength Training Program, a mat-based fitness format that is expanding across the United States, as well as a dance therapy program titled Bodiography® Dance Movement Therapy System, supporting physiological, psychological, and emotional breakthroughs for a variety of populations in need of assistance in finding balance in such realms. Caruso continues to share her work and vision on a global scale while maintaining the direction of her company artists and students in the Pittsburgh region.

Maria is married to Dr. Alan Russell, professor at Carnegie Mellon University, and has five stepchildren.

E.J. Strassburger

On a cool spring day in 2006, E.J. Strassburger was walking his golden retriever, Jackson, around the neighborhood when, according to E.J., Jackson pointed out a small apartment building on Darlington Road that needed repair and perhaps a new owner.

With E.J.’s inspiration and dedication, Jewish Residential Services and ACTION-Housing obtained a HUD grant, obtained significant private donations, purchased and completely renovated the building. It would be dedicated as Jason Kramer Hall and include ten apartments that offered affordable, independent living for adults with mental challenges. E.J.’s role with Jason Kramer Hall is emblematic of a lifetime dedicated to helping the people of Squirrel Hill and the greater community.

E.J.’s most recent project came to fruition this past July when construction began on Krause Commons located at the former Poli Restaurant site, a third joint venture with ACTION-Housing, that will be the new home of the Howard Levin Clubhouse. The building will also house the offices of JRS and 33 affordable apartments, half of which will be dedicated to adults with mental challenges who are able to live independently. E.J worked tirelessly to raise the funds and do much of the work needed to bring this mitzvah together.

In addition to his development projects, E.J. teaches civil liberties courses at the Carnegie Mellon University, Osher Lifelong Learning Institute; was elected to the Academy of Trial Lawyers of Allegheny County, serving as president and board member; is a past president and board member of Neighborhood Legal Services Association and served on the board of Pennsylvania Legal Services Corporation. He has also served in major leadership roles at Jewish Residential Services (JRS), Neighborhood Legal Services Association, American Civil Liberties Union, Rodef Shalom Congregation, Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh and the August Wilson Center Recovery Committee.

Remarkably, E.J. has managed to do all this while building a law practice and having a personal life.

E.J. is a very successful trial lawyer and counselor.

He led his law firm, Strassburger McKenna Gutnick & Gefsky, as president from 1980 to 2014. Most importantly, E.J. and “the love of his life” Mona raised two equally impressive and successful children, Jill Strassburger Barkin and Jordan Strassburger, and “enjoy the heck out of” their grandsons, Jacob and Eli.

Send your congratulations to this year’s Treasures with an ad in the Treasure Awards Dinner program!

To reserve your ad, call 412-422-7666 or visit shuc.org.

fall 2017 | 19

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squirrel hill treasures

The Children’s Institute of Pittsburgh

Established in 1902, The Children’s Institute is an independent, nonprofit organization, dedicated to improving the quality of life for children, young people and their families by providing services that enables them to reach their potential. Today, the institute is a leader in pediatric rehabilitation techniques and provides individualized treatment programs along a broad spectrum of care: inpatient care, outpatient care, transitional and sub-acute care and home care.

The Children’s Institute also has The Day School, an accredited private school for students with special needs, Project STAR, a social services component dedicated to supporting and finding permanent homes for children with special needs and a Therapeutic Garden, accessible to children at the Institute and also the public. The organization focuses on medical, therapy, educational, child and family services.

These services are inextricably related, thereby providing a one-of-a-kind, comprehensive network of services. Last year, The Children’s Institute served more than 5,800 children and their families. It is the only free-standing pediatric rehabilitation specialty hospital in Pennsylvania and one of only 20 in the nation.

The Day School at CI is an approved private school for children ages 2 through 21 who have disabilities such as autism, cerebral palsy and/or neurological impairments. It serves 190 students from 67 school districts in a small, structured learning environment with a low student-staff ratio of 2-to-1. CI also provides children and family services through Project STAR, which promotes the right of all children to grow in a safe, nurturing, lasting family through adoption, foster care and intensive family support.

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School Daze Examining Choice in Pittsburgh Public Schools

By Kimberly Saunders

School choice has always been a popular but polarizing topic, and debates have often focused on public vs. private education. But Pittsburgh parents have more choices than ever regarding public school options for their children. Before deciding which environment might be right for your child, it’s important to understand the differences.

The Pittsburgh Public School (PPS) district educates approximately 25,000 students from Pre-K through grade 12 throughout 54 schools. In addition to traditional neighborhood schools, PPS operates several magnet schools and programs and oversees a K-8 charter school.

In contrast to private or parochial schools, public schools are tuition-free—they are funded by federal, state and local taxes. But all public schools are not created equal. Neighborhood, magnet and charter schools very often have different admissions criteria, educational philosophies and resources.

Neighborhood Schools

As the name suggests, neighborhood schools—also known as “feeder schools”—draw students from local geographic areas that border the school, so students

live in the same community as their classmates. These traditional schools are bound by firm state and local school board guidelines on admissions, curriculum and student assessment. Registration is fairly simple, requiring proof of the child’s age, proof of residency and immunization records. Generally, no child meeting these criteria can be refused admission to a neighborhood school.

Two neighborhood elementary schools serve Squirrel Hill students: Colfax K-8 on Beechwood Blvd. and Minadeo PreK–5 on Lilac Street.

Jody Handley never considered anywhere other than Minadeo for her two daughters. Located just a few blocks from the Handley home, the school educates more than 350 students. Jody says, “I love that my kids will be walking to school on their own soon.

Minadeo’s feeder pattern means that my kids are attending school with a wide diversity of students, both racially and culturally.”

In addition to a variety of student clubs and programs, Minadeo offers a weekly “enrichment for all” program where students can select a special class that piques their interest. “My older daughter did circuit

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training in the gym, and my younger daughter took an Afro-Caribbean dance class,” says Jody. “It’s a great way to learn and change up their week.”

Magnet Schools

The PPS district also includes nine magnet schools and programs serving students from preK through high school. Magnet schools offer students a specific focus or theme and are not neighborhood specific, so students anywhere in the district are eligible to attend.

Although the funding stream is the same, students at elementary magnet schools must apply for admission

by December. If the number of applicants exceeds the number of available spots, a random lottery is held to select students. Preference is given to siblings who want to attend the same school. Students are also required to comply with individual school policies on dress code, conduct, attendance and homework.

Charter Schools

squirrel hill feature

Charter schools can be cyber, with all instruction taking place online, or brick and mortar buildings. While a school’s charter must be granted by a government body and comply with all state and federal education standards, it is independently operated by a non-profit board or for-profit company. Like magnet schools, charter schools are open to students throughout the district, so space is often limited and a lottery system is used for enrollment. Charter schools are funded on a per pupil basis with tax dollars coming from each student’s home school district. Additional fundraising by parents is sometimes needed to make up for any budget shortfalls.

In the East End, about 450 students in grades PreK- 5 attend Dilworth Traditional Academy on Stanton Avenue. Amy Brazill of Swisshelm Park chose Dilworth for her two daughters years ago.

The Environmental Charter School (ECS) at Frick Park is a PPS chartered school that enrolls more than 600 students in two buildings for K-3 and 4-6. After exploring her neighborhood public and Catholic schools, Emily Mercurio chose ECS for both of her children, now in grades 5 and 7. She was drawn to the school’s focus on environmental-based instruction and unique classes like Environmental Literacy.

“We liked Dilworth’s structure and arts emphasis,” she says, recalling the daily all-school meetings, Edible School Yard and partnership with Pittsburgh History and Landmarks. She also noted that dedicated teaching staff, administrators and parents were keys to success.

“We liked the idea of environmental-centered education and the use of the outdoors as a laboratory for learning and exploring STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts and math) concepts. My kids responded really well to this style of learning and are thriving,” she says.

PPS also offers a public Montessori magnet school for PreK-5, located on Graham Street in the Friendship area. The school employs the Montessori Method of teaching 350 students in a peaceful learning environment that “fosters self-directed learning, encourages creative thinking, and cultivates a love for lifelong learning.”

While each public education model has unique benefits, they share a common problem: limited or dwindling resources for things like dedicated labs, learning support services and organized sports. Parent fundraising and volunteering plays a role in addressing those shortfalls. That’s why it’s important once you do find the right school for your child For more information on to get—and Pittsburgh Public Schools, stay—involved.

In addition to magnet schools, some magnet programs are housed within neighborhood schools. For example, Taylor Allderdice High School in Squirrel Hill offers a pre-engineering program in which students from all over the city can enroll.

visit discoverpps.org

fall 2017 | 25

As Promised*

By Kimberly McElhatten

The Pittsburgh Promise has granted $103 million in scholarships to 7,300 graduates of the Pittsburgh Public School system since 2008. Each semester, the Pittsburgh Promise assists 2,200 to 2,500 students to attend post-secondary education. However, recent changes to the program have some parents and students wondering if promises made to them will be kept.

The Pittsburgh Promise scholarship initiative strives to provide qualifying graduates of the Pittsburgh Public Schools with the means to attend an accredited college, university, or trade and technical school in Pennsylvania. It is a “last dollar” scholarship, meaning it is intended to fill the financial gap left by other scholarships, grants, and state and federal funding. For the class of 2017 and beyond, Pittsburgh Promise dollars can only be applied to tuition and fees, whereas graduates from 2012 to 2016 were able to apply their funds to room and board costs. This change, which is a return to the original structure launched in 2008, is part of an effort to ensure longevity and sustainability of the program.

26 | shuc.org

Additional changes have been made that affect how much money is given to each student. Beginning with the Class of 2017, the maximum yearly award will be $7,500, a reduction from the previous $10,000 annual cap but still more than the $5,000 per year offered in the early years of the initiative. A sliding scale based on how long a student has lived in Pittsburgh and attended a PPS school is used to determine specific eligibility amounts.

Continuous Enrollment & Residency Since:

Class 2017 and Beyond Maximum Annual Award

Kindergarten

$7,500

1st-5th grades

$6,750

6th-8th grades

$5,250

9th grade

$3,750

10th-12 grades

$0

There is also no longer a $1,000 minimum, and the ability to take a “gap year” has been eliminated. Instead, students who may not be immediately “Promise ready” can participate in the Promise Extension. This cohort of graduates attends the Community College of Allegheny County, where they work with a Promise Coach. Students in this program who maintain a 2.00 GPA

squirrel hill feature for one year may then transfer to any Promiseeligible school and receive scholarships.

Executive Director Saleem Ghubril says these most recent changes “are based on the rationale that every eligible student will be able to pay for post-secondary tuition and fees, since no one can receive a college education without those funds. Some students might be able to pay through grants, scholarships, or tuition remission. Others will pay for tuition and fees with a Promise scholarship.”

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What remain unchanged are the eligibility requirements, which focus on attendance, residency, and adequate academic achievement.

Students must be residents of the City of Pittsburgh since at least the beginning of 9th grade, and they must be graduates of Pittsburgh Public Schools (PPS) or schools chartered

by PPS. Qualifying students graduate with a minimum cumulative, unweighted GPA of 2.50 and a minimum attendance record of 90%.

Once graduates have been accepted to a public or private post-secondary school located in Pennsylvania, the Pittsburgh Promise requires students to complete the Pittsburgh Promise application, the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) and the PA State Grant form by April 30 of their senior year of high school.

The Pittsburgh Promise will continue to fund Promise Scholars through at least 2028, and it’s expected to award another 7,300 scholarships. In doing so, it will continue to live up to the promise made nine years ago: local graduates will have the opportunity to pursue higher education while ensuring the Pittsburgh workforce has the diversity and talent it needs.

fall 2017 | 27

Allderdice Welcomes New Principal

By Gabriel Naccarato

Allderdice High School Principal Dr. James McCoy has big shoes to fill as he replaces Melissa Friez, who will now be a full-time assistant superintendent of Pittsburgh Public Schools. Friez was a former student and teacher at Dice and has been very popular with students and parents during her tenure as principal.

The question on every student’s, parent’s and teacher’s mind is, how will Dr. McCoy compare?

“Our visions are similar,” McCoy said. “We both want to see Allderdice grow and become the best school it can be. But Friez and I are different people, we have different personalities and react to situations in different ways. While students may notice those personality differences as time goes on, the core vision will be the same.”

McCoy is confident that his prior experience as director at Pittsburgh Science and Technical Academy will help him with that vision. “One of the ideas I’ve implemented in SciTech was reformative justice, rather than focus on punishment, focus on where the problems lie for the students and focus on those issues. So far, we’ve seen a lot of success in SciTech since it was implemented.”

McCoy will also draw from his experience as a social studies teacher. “Social Studies taught me that a student doesn’t learn through memorization, but engaging with learning. Giving opinions and personal experiences help connect the student to what they are learning. As a director and instructional leader, I created an environment where teachers and administration can give feedback and let their wants be known. I want students and teachers to be able to come forward and say what they want. The math teacher may be different from the social studies

good news

By Ian G Rawson

In 2016, the Education Equality Index declared that the opportunity gap in Pittsburgh schools was big--but closing.

Lynda Wrenn, the 14th Ward representative to the Pittsburgh School Board, says this inequity remains a primary concern for the district, and she is determined to keep working on solutions.

Dr. James McCoy

teacher, but if people are encouraged to speak up about what they want, the school can only improve.”

McCoy was drawn to Allderdice in part because of the similarities between Allderdice and SciTech. “SciTech is a full magnet school,” said McCoy. “The students came from all over the city of Pittsburgh. Allderdice has a similar environment with its magnet program.

Students are not only from Squirrel Hill, but every neighborhood.” When asked how he would engage with the Squirrel Hill community, he said, “At SciTech, I was able to be involved in multiple communities at once. I would go to town hall meetings in the Hill District or community events in another neighborhood. With Allderdice, I’ll have the same responsibilities, but also be in a tight-knit neighborhood, too.”

All eyes are on Dr. McCoy as the new school year begins; with his confidence, experience, and core vision, the future looks bright for Taylor Allderdice High School.

According to Lynda, the City has seen positive results through courses in Career and Technical Education (CTE) and the new Technology, Education and Literacy in Schools program, developed with CMU. This is offered at five high schools now and soon will be offered at all secondary schools. One result of these efforts, says Lynda, has been a significant gain in diversity in successful applicants to the Pittsburgh Promise program. As Lynda monitors the progress of the city schools, she looks carefully at racial gaps in class grades and graduation rates as one metric to assess the ability of the school system to meet the diverse needs of all students.

Another strategy the district has implemented is broader access to Advanced Placement (AP) courses. Every PPS high school now offers at least four AP courses through open enrollment.

As a result, participation in AP exams has increased 97% since 2009, with African American students increasing by 64%. At the same time, the AP qualifying scores have increased by 110%, providing a significant boost to college eligibility for PPS students.

Lynda points out that “the transition from middle to high school can be a big step, and that is where many students falter.

We need to strengthen our efforts to help all of our students to thrive in high school and beyond.” That’s one reason she welcomes the reallocation of counselors’ responsibilities to provide more direct student support and guidance. Lynda recalls conversations with her children and their friends about their learning experiences and says, “the most valuable influence came from teachers who believed in them.”

fall 2017 | 29

from our schools

Pittsburgh Public Schools Closing the Gap

JRS… Building an Inclusive Community JRS supports individuals with psychiatric or intellectual disabilities, helping them to live, learn, work and socialize as valued members of the community. Our services and programs include:



Supportive Living, offering a variety of residential support services for adults over age 18



Howard Levin Clubhouse, a daily psychiatric rehabilitation program with a strong vocational component



JSSN, a community social club for adults with intellectual disabilities



Young Adults in Transition programming, including educational talks and workshops for families

For more information visit the JRS website JRSPgh.org or call 412 325 0039

New Neighborhood Resource Officer in Squirrel Hill When asked why he wanted to apply to be Squirrel Hill’s Neighborhood Resource Officer, Roy Cochrane cited a desire for a change of pace after 14 years at the Pittsburgh Bureau of Police Zone 4 station. A graduate of Taylor Allderdice High School, Officer Cochrane wanted to start interacting with and be a more integral part of the community.

Pittsburgh’s Neighborhood Resource Officer Program is in its infancy, with Squirrel Hill being one of the first three neighborhoods in the program’s launch.

Each Neighborhood Resource Officer will have to respond to concerns from 911 Dispatchers, the mayor’s office and regular citizens, but Cochrane finds the work to be a worthwhile challenge. He noted that with homelessness and panhandling on the rise in Squirrel Hill, there are many issues to tackle to make Squirrel Hill a better place. His biggest obstacle at the moment is getting himself into the community; he says when he first steps into a business, most owners and managers assume he’s there to address a problem rather than to introduce himself and have a friendly chat.

Cochrane remains optimistic that, with time, residents will be more comfortable coming to him with their concerns and feel safer in the neighborhood.

neighborhood notes

The Children’s Institute Names New CEO The Children’s Institute has chosen Dr. Wendy Ann Pardee as its new CEO following the August retirement of David Miles. During his 14 years as CEO, David doubled the number of children and families served and oversaw $42 million in fundraising.

Dr. Pardee has more than two decades of management experience in healthcare and human services. She served as CEO and President for Hattie Larlham, an Ohio non-profit that provides medical, residential, and training services to over 1800 children and adults with developmental and intellectual disabilities. She also served as President and CEO of Skills of Central Pennsylvania, which serves individuals with intellectual disabilities. The Board of Directors at The Children’s Institute unanimously selected her for the position from 82 other candidates due to her experience in management and strong vision for the future of the organization.

New Novel from Local Author Greenfield resident Sydelle Pearl will release her new novel in October. Wordwings, a historical fiction set in the Warsaw Ghetto of 1941, features a young girl named Riyke Rosenfeld who is inspired to document her own stories and memories after witnessing the slashing of her grandfather’s beard. You can pre-order the book on Amazon and at Barnes and Noble. fall 2017 | 31

Although planning your final arrangements can be hard to think about, preplanning gives you the benefit of controlling the details and making sure you’re remembered exactly how you want. Our Preplanning Counselors will answer all of your questions and guide you through every step of the final arrangement process.

The Benefits of Preplanning

With preplanning, families find comfort in knowing that the final arrangements reflect what their loved one wanted. It also gives them peace of mind that we assist with everything from planning the service to selecting memorialization and burial options.

Prearranging with the Homewood Cemetery: •Protects you against the rising cost of inflation.

•Ensures your personal wishes are honored.

•Avoids emotional overspending that often occurs at the time of need.

•Allows you to make arrangements together and not alone.

Who you are matters. Let your loved ones know what’s important.

We invite you to meet with a Counselor at our location just by calling 412.821.1822 or you’re welcome to stop in our office for your FREE Personal Planning Guide at

1599 S. Dallas Avenue Pittsburgh, PA 15217

what’s new

Another Compelling Season from Quantum Theatre

from our advertisers

Red Hills Aug 18-Sept 10

Read a review of Red Hills on shuc.org

“I wrote a book about Rwanda when I was in my twenties and a month ago I got a note saying what I wrote was a lie. It doesn’t matter. Or…Is it an opportunity? Are things like this note what propels humans to understanding?”

Patrick J. Ssenjovu and Scott Parkinson on the set of Red Hills. Photo by Heather Mull.

By Gabriel Naccarato

Founded by 2013 Squirrel Hill Treasure Karla Boos, Quantum Theatre has been creating adventurous, environmental productions of plays all over the city of Pittsburgh since 1990. One of the few site-specific theatre companies in the country, Quantum develops, rehearses and performs every show in a new space that has been transformed to suit and reflect the production. Original works, contemporary international plays or updated classics are brought intimately close in settings like groves of trees, abandoned mills, grand museums or empty swimming pools.

Quantum features world premieres of plays, often written by current and former residents of Pittsburgh. The plays unite directors, performers and designers from all over the world with Pittsburgh’s most talented artists.

For season and individual tickets and information on upcoming locations, visit quantumtheatre.com,

20 years after the genocide they witnessed first-hand as teenagers, two men a world apart reunite to face their memories, confront a ghost and desperately seek forgiveness.”

The Hard Problem Oct 27 – Nov 19 Bristling with intellectual energy and wit, Tom Stoppard’s acclaimed recent play presents a heroine you’ll root for, an aggressive brain science institute financed by hedge funds, and explores the complexities of consciousness and the nature of belief.”

Inside Passage March 2-25, 2018 Pittsburgh playwright Gab Cody tells a compelling and personal story about separated families, the unique plight of Native American children and one woman’s brave journey to reknit what had unraveled.

Unusual performance choices interwoven with documentary film footage bring rural Alaska and its Tligit population close, as well as the landscape of the heart – anywhere.

Directed by Sam Turich and featuring additional collaboration by Rob Long, this is the work of a lifetime for three great Pittsburgh artists whom Quantum is proud to support.

fall 2017 | 33

Foundations of Education in Squirrel Hill

By Helen Wilson

Within its 3.893 square miles, Squirrel Hill educates its denizens from cradle to--well, as long as anyone wants to keep on learning. Daycare centers, public and private K-5 and K-8 schools, high schools, universities and classes for senior citizens take place in facilities throughout the neighborhood.

Squirrel Hill was not always blessed with such a plethora of learning institutions. When settlers began arriving in the mid-1700s, Squirrel Hill’s remoteness from major areas of development such as downtown and East Liberty kept the population low. Few schools were needed until trolleys conquered the hill’s steep slopes in the late 1800s and brought an influx of people into the area.

From the first, however, the settlers believed education was important. In Pittsburgh, The Story of an American City, Stefan Lorant writes, “All those who left the settled places to make new homes at the edge of the wilderness labored under the anxiety lest they and their children revert to a primitive style of life.”

The flames of education in Squirrel Hill were kept alive by Sunday schools run in settlers’ cabins and by small private schools. The first public schools opened in the 1840s. The history of these public schools can be traced through maps, written accounts, photographs, and sometimes, by actual remains still in place today.

The first public school in Squirrel Hill is believed to have been located on Forward Avenue near what is now Eldridge Street, a block away from Pittsburgh Allderdice High School. Old maps up to the late 1800s show the school. It is not known when the school closed, but the property was owned in the early 1900s

by H. Cornman. The school is described by Margaret Frew in a 1929 article about the history of Squirrel Hill in Western Pennsylvania History Magazine. She writes, “The original building was built of red brick 34 | shuc.org

and contained one room. At the end of the first year it had enrolled 115 pupils under the care of one principal and one teacher. The average attendance was small because of the distance many pupils had to travel over unpaved streets and across fields and fences.”

After the school closed, it possibly became a home.

A Squirrel Hill resident remembers a friend telling him the house he lived in on Eldridge Street had once been a school. It was torn down and replaced by an apartment building.

The school appears on a sketchy 1868 map showing the location of all the schools in Pittsburgh. The date of 1868 is significant because that year Squirrel Hill was annexed by the city. Before that, it was part of vast Peebles Township, which stretched from the Monongahela to the Allegheny east of Oakland.

When Peebles was annexed, Squirrel Hill, Point Breeze, Regent Square and Swisshelm Park became Pittsburgh’s 22nd ward, which became the 14th ward in 1911, the year the Pittsburgh Board of Education was founded. The only other school in the 22nd ward on the 1868 map was the forerunner to Sterrett School in Point Breeze.

The next round of school building in Squirrel Hill occurred in the late 1800s in response to the growing population. The five new schools were originally named Colfax No. 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 because the 22nd Ward was the Colfax School District. Colfax School No. 1 was a one-room wooden schoolhouse built in 1870 at the corner of what is now Beechwood Boulevard and Phillips Avenue. Two more rooms were added in 1872. The school is pictured in the Squirrel Hill Historical Society’s 2005 Arcadia book, Squirrel Hill, with the caption, “Teachers used the electric trolley line that came on Murray Avenue. There was a dangerous marshy spot at the intersection of Phillips and Shady Avenues, where quicksand had taken some lives. The teachers also avoided going by way of

squirrel hill history Munhall-Hobart or Beacon (then paths), for the area contained abandoned coal mines and was inhabited by unsavory characters.” The little schoolhouse was replaced by the imposing Colfax School No. 1, built in 1911. It is still in use as Pittsburgh Colfax K-8.

Having all five schools named Colfax proved confusing, so the names of the other Colfax schools were changed except for Colfax No. 2, which was built in 1870 at the corner of Beechwood Boulevard and Saline Street. It closed in 1907 but was renovated and reopened in 1916 as an annex to Roosevelt School in Greenfield, then closed for good in 1939. A 1929 photo of it exists. Today Browns Hill Bible Chapel sits on the spot, but a bit of the old school remains. Part of the stone foundation was left in place when the chapel was built. Roosevelt School closed in 1957, replaced

by Minadeo School.

Colfax No. 3 was on Forward Avenue farther west down the valley from the original school. It was built in 1888. Several photographs of it exist. It was torn down in 1923, but the stone retaining wall of the school still stands and can be seen under the Parkway East viaduct.

on Wightman Street and whose ten-acre property extended to Murray Avenue. The school, located on Solway Street, was built in 1897 and closed in June 1980. It was sold to the Squirrel Hill Urban Coalition, which in turn sold it to the Carriage House Children’s Center, Inc. After extensive renovations, it received LEEDS (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Gold Certification for an Existing Building in 2009. Today it houses the Carriage House Children’s Center and several small businesses and nonprofit organizations, including your Squirrel Hill Urban Coalition.

Two other public elementary schools in Squirrel Hill didn’t begin as Colfax schools. Davis School opened on Phillips Avenue in 1931 and closed in 1980, replaced by Heritage Place, a skilled nursing and rehabilitation center that perhaps now serves some of those who had attended the school as children. At the southern tip of Squirrel Hill was Brown’s School, which originated in one of the houses in a settlement built by the Brown family (as in Browns Hill Road) for their miners and other workers. The Browns donated land for a new school, which opened in 1888.

The school closed in 1932, but the building is still there, now an apartment house that can be seen on the left when crossing the Homestead Grays Bridge towards Squirrel Hill.

The foundations of education in Squirrel Hill are more than just concepts. Actual remnants of them still exist.

Colfax No. 4 was in Swisshelm Park. It was an imposing building that lasted until 1975. It is gone, replaced by houses on Whipple Street near Pocono.

Colfax No. 5 still exists and is going strong, but not as a public school. It was renamed Wightman School in honor of Thomas Wightman, owner of the Thomas Wightman Glass Company, who had a large home

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

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

fall 2017 | 35

2017

Ninth Annual

History Walk

Tour Pittsburgh’s Second Oldest Cemetery

3424 Beechwood Boulevard, Pittsburgh, PA 15217 (Squirrel Hill/Greenfield area)

Saturday, September 30, 2017, 10:30 a.m.–4:00 p.m.

Schedule of Events 10:30: Cemetery opens with gun salute and bagpiper 11:30: Dedication Ceremony for the Simon Girty Pennsylvania State Historical Marker, with remarks by public officials; Phillip Hoffman, author of Simon Girty, Turncoat Hero; and Dr. Charles McCollester, author of The Point of Pittsburgh • Performance by Tamsula, Withers, Wig & Kristy, a traditional string band • Encampment of 8th Pennsylvania Regiment military re-enactors • Self-guided cemetery tours • Book signing by Mr. Hoffman and Dr. McCollester • Historical displays and bookstore • Hot soups and cool desserts sale following the dedication ceremony

Come to learn about historic Turner Cemetery, which dates back to 1785.

It holds the remains of the early settlers of Squirrel Hill and veterans of the first four wars fought by the United States.

Turner Cemetery is adjacent to Mary S. Brown Memorial-Ames United Methodist Church at 3424 Beechwood Boulevard, Pittsburgh, PA 15217, in the block between Brown’s Hill Road and Federal Hill Street. Look for the bright red fence. Call 412-421-0701 for information.

Parking is available along Beechwood Blvd. Church meeting hall is handicap accessible. Cemetery is on a grassy slope.

The Turner Cemetery History Walk is sponsored by Mary S. Brown Memorial Ames United Methodist Church and the Friends of Turner Cemetery. www.turnercemetery.org

36 | shuc.org

www.brightredfence.org

PA State Historical Marker for Simon Girty

squirrel hill history

By Helen Wilson and Eric Marchbein

A Pennsylvania State Historical Marker commemorating controversial Revolutionary War figure Simon Girty will be dedicated and later installed on the sidewalk outside Turner Cemetery at 3424 Beechwood Boulevard. The marker is one of only 18 approved by the state this year and the only one for Allegheny County. In addition, it will become one of only a handful of historical markers in Pittsburgh that are associated with the city’s colonial rather than industrial history.

Squirrel Hill Historical Society (SHHS) member Eric Marchbein led the effort to make the marker a reality because of his long-time interest in Girty. He worked with SHHS researchers Helen Wilson and Wayne Bossinger to find original deeds to prove Girty owned land in Squirrel Hill. The Girty farm covered more than 100 acres, stretching from Hazelwood Avenue

1921: Simon Girty’s cabin located near the old Murray Avenue Bridge.

Pittsburgh Post-Gazette archives.

north to Pocusset Street and from Saline Street west to Frank Street.

The PA Historical Commission approves nominations for its historical markers, but the nominators are responsible for the cost of casting the metal sign and installing it. The Squirrel Hill Urban Coalition has adopted this project as a partner, and the Squirrel Hill Historical Society is collecting donations. Residents of Greenfield and Squirrel Hill are encouraged to contribute. All donations are tax-deducible. Anyone wishing to contribute can send a donation to the SHHS, P.O. Box 8157, Pittsburgh, PA 15217. Write “Girty Marker” on the memo line of checks.

New Squirrel Hill History Book a Treasure

By David Hammerstein

Squirrel Hill, a Neighborhood History is a treasure. It enriches Squirrel Hill’s historical record and traces the neighborhood’s past to its geological formations and the cultural heritage of Native American, French and British settlers and Jewish immigrants.

Editor and co-author Helen Wilson provides a rigorous historical framework. In the first chapter, she sets the stage with a discussion of today’s Squirrel Hill. Historian Barbara Burstin has written an informative chapter on the neighborhood’s Jewish history. Michael Ehrmann, President of the Squirrel

Hill Historical Society, has chronicled the local shops, restaurants and businesses that long-time residents will remember with fondness.

Wayne Bossinger describes notable landmarks,, and Betty Connelly writes about the vision and accomplishments of real estate developer Thomas Watkins.

Squirrel Hill, a Neighborhood History displays methodical organization, comprehensive research and clear writing, and the photos make the stories spring to life. The book will educate and entertain. fall 2017 | 37

events & happenings

Squirrel Hill Night Market Sept. 23, 6-10pm

Enjoy the Polynesian theme for the last Squirrel Hill Night Market of the season with food trucks, vendors, firebreathers, crafters and more at this free pop-up street festival on Murray Ave! Musical performances by the Steel City Ukuleles.

Pittsburgh J-Fest on Darlington Oct. 1, 3pm Darlington Rd in front of JCC

Street festival to celebrate Jewish teens with tons of activities like Zumba in the street, a Steelers watch party, food, games, programming, community service and more.

Oktoberfest Oct. 14

A self-guided beer tasting experience through the Squirrel Hill Business District, featuring local breweries. Details at uncoversquirrelhill.com

Safe Halloween Oct. 31, 5:30-7:30pm

The Squirrel Hill business district continues its annual tradition of inviting your family to Forbes, Murray, and Forward Avenues for trick-or-treating on Halloween night.

Squirrel Hill Treasure Awards Dinner Nov. 2, 6-9pm Pittsburgh Golf Club 5280 Northumberland St

Celebrate the 2017 Squirrel Hill Treasures with neighbors and friends. Tickets available at shuc. org.

Squirrel Hill Historical Society The Church of the Redeemer 5700 Forbes Avenue Events are FREE and at 7:30pm

Sept. 12: “KDKA and the History of Radio” Speaker: Michael Young, Senior Vice President and Pittsburgh Market Manager, KDKA Radio Nov. 14: “History of the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust” Speakers: J. Kevin McMahon, President and CEO The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust

Proud to Be Serving Squirrel Hill

“for all of your holiday needs”

A

Try our fresh-made pies!

We Have Delicious

Kosher Pareve Pies!!

Store: 412-421-8161 Fax: 412-422-3128 1901 Murray Ave. Pgh. PA 15217

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