You may know that Pittsburgh is a bicycle friendly city. But don't overlook that it’s also a walk friendly city. With my superficial impression, it seems that most Americans don’t like to walk, they prefer their cars to do the job for them. So international folks like me probably have a better chance to discover the walking friendly aspect of the city. However, this doesn’t mean that we internationals don’t mind the federal immigration department having made the decision to move current two immigration facilities--downtown bio metric center of Citizen and Immigration Services as well as Southside Homeland Security Department--to east outskirts of Pittsburgh, Wilkins township, in 2015. That’s too far a walk on highways!
October 20th, 2013, a week after I finished the thought-provoking masterpiece from Leo Tolstoy, Anna Karenina, I was recovering from the mental turmoil and spiritual crusade very much triggered by the book and many life incidences at that particular time. So I decided to take a walk.
Walked on the Blvd of the Allies, turned left onto Bates street, continued left onto Second Avenue, turned right crossing the Hot Metal Bridge, walked on the Hot metal street, and made a right turn to East Carson street. Within half an hour, I moved from Oakland to a super Goodwill store in South side, on foot.
Picked up several books at a great bargain price and then found some new or semi-new brand apparels in the store. Checked out with great satisfaction. While, thrift store shopping can be very fulfilling when disposable money is limited, because your options wouldn’t be that constrained and as long as you have good eyes, tastes, and don’t lose control of keeping up certain standard, you often would get great deals. Alas, I admit that I am a Chinese hagler who likes such deals that would not harm anyone.
It’s a great experience walking to places and shop at Goodwill. As I was walking out of the store, I got the email from Nadya Kessler about the Worldquest Trivia Competition, which I later attended and triggered my impulsion to start this blog.
See…..when you walk, you can be so healthy, happy, and lucky sometime. I am grateful for our city that enables this to happen.
Beer winning trivia @ Hot metal bridge, East Carson street, Goodwill
1. The Hot Metal Bridge is a truss bridge that crosses the Mon River The bridge consists of two parallel spans on a single set of piers: the former Monongahela Connecting Railroad Bridge built in 1887, on the upstream side and the former Hot Metal Bridge, built in 1900, on the downstream side. The upstream span was converted to road use in 2000, connecting 2nd Avenue near South Oakland with Hot Metal Street in the South Side. The downstream span reopened for pedestrian and bicycle use in late 2007 after two years of work. The Pittsburgh History and Landmarks Foundation was responsible for managing the decorative lighting project for the bridge on June 12, 2008.
2. 19th century: Kaufmann's Department Store started at 1918 East Carson Street in 1871. It soon moved to 1932 East Carson Street. There is a plaque at 2005 Sarah Street noting the South Side origins of the famous Pittsburgh department store. Kaufmann's relocated in 1875 to Federal Street on the North Side, and finally settled downtown in 1879, at Fifth Avenue and Smithfield Street.
20th century: Senator John F. Kennedy came to Carson Street on October 10, 1960 when he was campaigning for president. 2006 East Carson Street is listed on the Historic American Buildings Survey. There’s an anecdote that says one man would come every other week, driving a horse and buggy. He would yell: "Rags and old irons." Children were not fond of him because he smelled and scared everyone.
21st century: During summer weekends in 2005, a Carson Street shuttle transported a total of 7,300 people back and forth between South Side Works, the historic East Carson Street District, and Station Square.
3.Goodwill Industries International Inc. is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization that provides job training, employment placement services, and other community-based programs for people who have disabilities. In addition, Goodwill Industries may hire Veterans, individuals that lack education or job experience, or face employment challenges. Goodwill is funded by a massive network of retail thrift stores which operate as nonprofits as well.
It’s founded in 1902 by Edgar J. Helms of Morgan Methodist Chapel in Boston, Massachusetts as a mission of his ministry. In 2011, all Goodwills collectively earned more than $4 billion, and used 82 percent of that revenue to provide employment, training and supportive services to more than 4.2 million individuals. Goodwill's logo, a stylized letter “g”, resembles a smiling face. It was designed by Joseph Selame in 1968.
Under a franchise-like agreement with Goodwill Industries International, Goodwill Southwestern Pennsylvania (SWPA) serves eight counties, namely Allegheny, Armstrong, Butler, Beaver, Fayette, Greene, Washington, and Westmoreland, and nine counties in north central West Virginia, including Barbour, Harrison, Lewis, Marion, Monongalia, Preston, Randolph, Taylor and Upshur. With over 1,000 employees and annual revenues of nearly $50 million, Goodwill ranks as one of the largest Goodwill organizations in the U.S. As of July 14, 2013, Goodwill SWPA is no longer able to accept donations of TVs.
The first Goodwill workshop in Pittsburgh opened in the Strip District in 1919. Goodwill SWPA moved in 1967 to the South Side. In 2010. Goodwill moved its workforce development center to Lawrenceville. My office today locates in Lawrenceville, a couple of blocks away from the center. Frank serves as a board member in Goodwill SWPA.
Your ID @ Goodwill
Can you still donate TVs to Goodwill SWPA network stores?
No comments:
Post a Comment