The Civic Association will sponsor a summer clean-up after the 4th of July weekend. Volunteers are asked to gather on Sunday July 11th at 8:30 AM at 1400 South Braddock Avenue in the green space adjacent to the Parkway on-ramp and CLASS building. Most folks who come will stay for a bit over an hour. The RSCA provides vests, bags, gloves and ‘grippers’ so you don’t have to bend to pickup trash. If you'd like to know more about keeping the intersection clean or would like to be put on the list for summer clean-up please contact Jon Danzak at 412.241.2345 or jon@danzak.net to volunteer. Any extra hands are always appreciated! This cleanup has been an on-going event for over 25 years. Originally Regent Square resident, the late Barbara Peterson, approached the Civic Association for help creating a formal program to keep this ‘gateway’ to Regent Square litter free. The Civic Association worked with Penn DOT’s “Adopt a Highway” program to organize regular cleanups. Barbara remained a key organizer and participant in the program until her death. The RSCA remains grateful for her community spirit and to the many volunteers who have, over the years, invested some of their time to keep this corner of the neighborhood clean and litter free. If you have some extra time on July 11th plan to be there and pitch in!
The voice of the Regent Square Civic Association (RSCA), a not-for-profit 501(c)3, all-volunteer community organization, serving Regent Square’s diverse residential and business community.
SUMMER 2021 Volume 39, Number 2 Join us… RSCA meetings are held at the Wilkins School Community Center 7:00pm on the first Tuesday of the following months: February through June, September through November . FYI: Municipality Council Meetings: *Edgewood -- First and Third Monday of the month at 7:30 p.m. *Pittsburgh District 5 -- Every Tues. and Weds. as a part of the council meeting at 10 a.m. *Swissvale -- First Wednesday of the month at 7 p.m. *Wilkinsburg Council Legislative Session -- Second Weds. of the month at 7 p.m. More up-to-date information for Regent Square Residents, Business Owners & Non-profits: To receive Regent Square notices between issues of this newsletter, you can register for the: •RSCA General Email List and/or •RSCA Business Email List Visit https://rsca.online and follow the “RSCA Mailing Lists” links and instructions. (You don’t have to be a RSCA member to subscribe.) https://rsca.online
Thank you for a successful RSCA Yard Sale!
Summer Parkway Clean-up
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The 2021 Regent Square Yard Sale was one of the most successful sales yet! With 111 residents participating in the sale as well as fantastic support from our local businesses, the neighborhood came together and came alive for a truly vibrant event. Thank you to everyone who registered a sale and to our business and nonprofit partners for making the sale a success. If you are interested in making next year’s sale even bigger and better, we welcome ideas and volunteers! Reach out to RegentSquareYardSale@gmail.com. For more information about other upcoming RSCA events, find us on social media or visit our website, RSCA.online.
Plans Crystalize and A Major Show Ahead for the New Concept Art Gallery Space
The Regent Square Civic Association is an all-volunteer effort, led by your own neighbors! We rely on our community memberships to fund our efforts and initiatives throughout the year. Our biggest being the holiday light display along Braddock Avenue (and now Trenton!). Please consider joining today! https://rsca.online/membership
RSCA Newsletter · Summer 2021 · https://rsca.online
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A friendly reminder to renew your RSCA membership!
RSCA Calendar of Events
July 11
Summer Litter Clean Up
October 9
Spooky Second Saturday / Annual Meeting
Oct. 9 - Dec.
Holiday Gift Drive
October 31
Fall Litter Clean Up
November 27
Light Up Night
Things are advancing with Concept Art Gallery’s expansion into the former Regent Square Theater space. After completing its purchase of the Regent Square Theater in February 2021, Concept Art Gallery has begun to develop more detailed plans for the new space and is beginning to organize summer programming. Working with the Pittsburgh architecture firm Indovina Architects, the expansion will both expand exhibition space and add back office capacity. According to co-owner Sam Berkowitz, the front three rooms of the theater building, including the main lobby, will be converted into exhibition and installation spaces for artists, with the specific goal to create spaces more conducive to interactive and immersive art. The actual theater space will be converted into offices and, as part of that, the gallery will build a larger photography studio for their growing auction business. The two buildings will become more integrated, internally, with a passageway that ties together the spaces, and externally, with renovations to the theater façade that will bring it more closely in line with the aesthetic of the original gallery building. In recognition of the building’s past, however, they will preserve the historic theater marquis. They have also begun to show artist work in the new space and have much planned for the summer. Immediately after the purchase was finalized, Concept Art Gallery commissioned a mural by Pittsburgh artist Atiya Jones, painted on the windows and doors of the main Regent Square Theater entrance. The piece, titled “Our Grandmother Warned Us”, now adorns the entrance to the new space and will remain until the building exterior is renovated. Opening July 10th, the gallery will hold a major group show, titled “Full Circle”. The show will include work installed in all three new gallery spaces. One of the spaces will house an interactive projection piece and game play art, created by artist Owen Lowry. About the new space, Berkowitz explained, “We hope that the new space will provide more of an opportunity for the neighborhood to engage with us.”
Contributions: Thanks go to the community members who contributed articles or information for the newsletter. RSCA welcomes the submission of articles and calendar events to this Newsletter. Submission does not guarantee publication. RSCA reserves the right to decline any submission or to edit for style, length and/or content. For detailed submission guidelines, visit https://rsca.online or email contact@rsca.online.
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News from the Wilkins School Community Center
Artist in Residence Bradford Mumpower Help Bradford Mumpower create a bigger than life denim work jacket. A big project needs a big team! Alloy Pittsburgh and Rivers of Steel have placed six artists in neighborhoods of the East End to create an artwork with the community that will to be exhibited to the public in mid-August at the Carrie Furnace. We are thrilled that the WSCC was selected as the Swissvale location for artist Bradford Mumpower. You are welcome to participate in this dynamic project by donating old denim, sorting donations, sewing, cutting or just popping in to find out what is going on. Bradford is on site Tuesdays 10am-3pm and he is planning more events for you to enjoy. Sign up at https://wsccpgh.org, send us an email at wilkinsschoolcommunitycenter@gmail.com or call 412.244.8458 to find out specifics as to how and when you can join the fun. WSCC is Open! Things are looking very good and we are busy getting ready for a near capacity opening this September. Campers enjoyed two weeks of summer camp in June experiencing many highlights of Italian culture with Istituto Mondo Italiano You too can learn to speak Italian, cook various regional favorites and more. Visit www.istitutomondoitaliano.org In July and August ballet, tap and jazz dancers of all ages will return to class. Check our website for a full listing for these and other upcoming classes this fall, wsccpgh.org. We look forward to seeing you! What’s the WSCC Been Up to This Past Year? Francine Vandenberg, WSCC Board President, has curated seven virtual art exhibits. Marci Mason converted her in-person watercolor classes to weekly virtual tutorials that are only $10 each. A lesson can be yours to watch anytime, over and over, for 90 days. Each gallery show and watercolor lesson can be browsed at wsccpgh.org. There was an open-air market plant sale on May 15th, the first public in person WSCC event since March 14 2020. How wonderful it was to see everybody in person, there was hugging among the vaccinated. What gorgeous day in every way! No book sale, this May; there is talk of one in September, would you come? Even if no one is inside it takes a lot of work and money keeping the building, grounds and the organization in working order. A snazzy logo & new website is in the works too. Looking for a Board Member The WSCC Board of Directors meet the first Monday of every month If you are interested in becoming a board member let us know by completing a Board Member Application https://wsccpgh.org/board-of-director-application/. Can You Give Us a Little Help? We are in need of monetary assistance and volunteers. Consider making an online donation at wsccpgh.org or by mailing a check to: WSCC 7604 Charleston Ave, Swissvale Pa 15218. Turns out pandemics are expensive! All funds will be used for programming and building expenses! Or volunteer your time and join us once a week when we tend the grounds (AKA weeding, transplanting, mulching). If you prefer the indoors, we can use a desk volunteer and people who like to paint walls. College Internships Positions - Now Accepting Applications for Fall and Winter 2021 An internship at WSCC offers an opportunity for the intern to integrate knowledge and theory learned in the classroom with practical application and skills development in the day to day operation of a small, neighborhood based non-profit. This direct experience also enables the intern to develop new ideas and apply them to their classroom learning. A WSCC intern will benefit by being provided with supervision and the support necessary to achieve the learning goals agreed upon for the duration of the internship. A WSCC intern will be able to work on challenging projects and tasks that complement their academic program and/or career interests. They will experience broad exposure to all facets of WSCC operation including administration, program planning and evaluation, data collection, outreach, fundraising, publicity and community relations. The intern will be encouraged and given the opportunity to develop a wide professional network. Learn more and apply here https://wsccpgh.org/internship-program-application/.
CC Mellor Library Events: June/July 2021
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For a complete listing of upcoming programs and events, visit www.ccmellorlibrary.org. Online program registration is at http://ccmellorlibrary.eventbrite.com. For adult programming, contact Erin Pierce at piercee@einetwork.net. For children’s programming, contact Erin Tobiasz at tobiasze2@einetwork.net.
LIBRARY SERVICES Library services continue to expand as state and local health guidelines allow. Please check out our website for the latest information on library services available at each location. http://www.ccmellorlibrary.org ADULT FEATURED PROGRAMS Adult Summer Reading June 14 – August 14 Summer reading is not just for kids! Track your reading and earn raffle tickets. At the end of the program, we will be raffling a Coffee Lovers Basket, Readers Delight Basket, and a pair of season tickets to 10 Evenings with the Pittsburgh Arts and Lectures Series. Details online www.ccmellorlibrary.org. Bookclubs and Community Groups CCM hosts a whole slew of bookclubs for readers of all tastes and is home to several community groups. Please check our website for latest meeting information. Drop Dead Bookclub. Mystery lovers only, first Wednesday of each month, 7 p.m. Fourth Tuesday Bookclub. For readers of wide-ranging tastes, fourth Tuesday of each month, 1 p.m. Century Bookclub: Reads books from each decade of the 20th & 21st centuries, third Wednesday of each month, 7 p. m. Clutterers Anonymous Mondays at 6:30 p.m. Knitters. Mondays, second and fourth at 6:00 p.m. on Zoom. Conversation Salon. Second Monday of each month at 10 a.m. – 12 p.m.Meets outside at Westinghouse Lodge.Please check website for up-to-date covid restrictions. Sq. Hill Poetry Workshop. Every other Saturday at 1 p.m. – 3 p.m. YOUTH PROGRAMS All C.C. Mellor Memorial Library summer programs for children and teens will be held either virtually or outdoors. Outdoor programs will follow current masking and social distancing guidelines as outlined by the CDC and local health departments. Please check our website for more details. Registration for all summer programs opens June 1. OUTDOOR PROGRAMS June 14 – August 14 Cryptoclub Play games, solve puzzles, and crack secret messages at CryptoClub! Middle schoolers will use teamwork and math skills to make and break secret codes. Tuesdays, June 15, June 22, June 29, July 6at 2 p. m. at Koenig Field. Storytime in the Park: 10:30 a.m. Starting April 6, we’re taking storytime outside at three of our local parks! No registration required, just grab a picnic blanket and your face masks and join us for books, songs, and rhymes! Check our website or social media for weather cancellations. Tuesdays: Koenig Field Wednesdays: Lions Park Thursdays: Westinghouse Lodge Summer STEAM in the Park: A weekly drop-in program geared for elementary-aged children with multiple stations for Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, & Math activities. Great for families to explore together. We’ll be outside, so wear a mask and dress for the weather! Tuesdays 1 p.m. – 3 p.m. Koenig Field in Edgewood Wednesdays 1 p.m. – 3 p.m. Lions Park in Wilkins Township Outdoor Teen Hangs Ages 12-18, join us for a socially-distant hang and a new activity every time! Thursday, June 24; July 8; July 22 - 6:30 p.m. at Westinghouse Lodge in Forest Hills VIRTUAL PROGRAMS Teen Group on Zoom Miss seeing other people? We always welcome new friends at Teen Group! Teen group is the time to hang over Zoom, play games, make projects, and just chill out. We’ve laughed through hectic scavenger hunts, assembled paper house models, competed in Wheel of Fortune, and more.Wednesdays at 5 PM. Email Allison Sennott at sennotta@einetwork.net for the link and password. Teen Book Club on Zoom 3rd Monday of each month at 5 p. m. Please email Allison for a link to our virtual book discussion. GSK Science in the Summerwith the Carnegie Science Center When school is out, science is in! GSK Science in the Summer™ keeps the learning going for students entering second through sixth grade. This program will be offered virtually this year: students will pick up a kit of engineering projects and join library and Carnegie Science Center staff on a video call. Two separate sessions. Thursday July 15, 12 p.m. – 1 p.m. and 2 p.m. – 3 p.m.
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The Nine Mile Run Watershed Association’s persistent and dedicated work in Frick Park and the upper watershed communities has continued since our founding in 2001, but our projects have grown beyond the watershed, as people and organizations across the region tapped into our expertise. Our StormWorks fee-for-service program, founded in 2011, has gradually expanded its efforts, providing valuable services throughout Allegheny County. And our 2020-2023 strategic plan incorporated a greater emphasis on climate justice and about environmental education for people of all ages. As an organization, we had two brands, three websites, and a lot of opportunity for improvement. We set out to explore how to consolidate and clarify our communication activity. Ecology is more than water. Our organization takes a 360-degree approach to the interconnectedness of the whole ecosystem. Green stormwater infrastructure. Advocacy. Urban forestry. Education. Monitoring and data driven decision making. Concern for equity. Throughout the organization, our team is leveraging our knowledge to help communities be healthier. “Upstream Pittsburgh” reflects our strategic, forward-thinking approach. The new logo reflects our pride of place and illustrates the connectivity of our ecosystem. Together, these elements represent action, care for our environment, and unity. The shield is in the shape of a “U” representing the idea of upstream, but also symbolic of what has always been most important to our organization. You! We are deeply grateful for all who have supported us and volunteered with us over the last 2 decades, and look forward to working with the residents of Wilkinsburg over the coming years to achieve a healthy and thriving community.
Introducing UpstreamPgh: New Name, Same Commitment to Your Watershed