【58】A Mega Circle @ North Hills, Millvale, Camp Guyasuta, Pittsburgh

Life can be a gigantic rush. From one point to another, it is so very easy to be pushed around by all responsibilities. Many many years ago, I encountered a book titled Slow Down, Life Is Elsewhere, don’t remember much of the content nowadays anymore, but still occasionally got struck by the name, especially when my life seems to be in a rush and I am at the edge of burning out.  

Slow down, lie is elsewhere. I interpreted as to be open and consciously be susceptible to distractions that are good for your heart.  

Since May this year, two major projects at work made me very much intense all the time. Then here came two big corporate volunteering service events co-managed by Pittsburgh Cares. One is Deloitte’s IMPACT Day, the other is American Eagle’s Service Day. I happily joined Pittsburgh Cares’ staff team to assist the two events, representing Pittsburgh Cares in various projects while also doing some volunteering work myself.

With Deloitte, we claimed a small town minutes outside downtown Pittsburgh called Millvale and did all kinds of projects from weeding community garden, moving art boards of a mural, to painting, and cleaning, to beautify the community. With American Eagle, many projects were organized around the city, but I was with the sub-group that worked on camp improvement at Camp Guyasuta.

Through services, not only our mind got relaxed, but also our body became very active and healthy. When not being pressured by responsibilities that are immediately related to our livelihood, people tend to be happier. Volunteering is a great example of pursuit of happiness in such a fashion.

Another type of distraction that is good for our heart is friendship. Sending out a birthday card, talking on the phone occasionally, having a dinner together after work, or just stopping by for a visit and catch up on life’s developments.  Few days ago, I did exactly all of them, which eased my stress level and recharged my mental horsepower.

One visit to a friend’s place in North Hills was especially a treat. From some online materials summarizing uniqueness of Pittsburgh, I learned that Pittsburgh is very Hilly. Watched an episode on WQED called “Dirty Dozen” showcasing an annual bicycle event and got a sense of hilly Pittsburgh. But driving from Lawrenceville to North Hills was the first time I actually experienced this side of Pittsburgh and how hilly it really is. Nevertheless, it was a fun drive only if I hadn’t encountered so many people beeping their horns to each other. Drivers in North Hills seem to be less patient to others as if if the car in the front fails to start immediately after lights turning green, their cars will fall off the hill. So in order to not fall,  they got to beep the horn, make a fuss and be in a hurry.  

While we were having dinner at an Indian Restaurant, I even bumped into the teaching assistant of Evaluation class that I loved very much during my CMU years. This is just very interesting. Pittsburgh is really a small place, you just may not be able to avoid the fact that you can almost bump into familiar faces wherever you go! After the dinner, we chatted a little bit and reminisced the past and our friendship, then I took off and headed back home in Leechburg.

The GPS took me again through those hilly roads. After many ups and downs and turns, I seemed entered a familiar place. Then I saw a building with a mural.  That particular mural told me the place was called Millvale and I was looking at the mural Deloitte folks helped to move during the IMPACT day. It was then and there that I felt life is a Mega circle.  No matter how rushed we might be, how many ups, downs, and turns we might take, at some point of this journey, we would witness our own work from the distance. Even only it means being part of it, it can be interesting and sweet. After all, life is a mega circle and we are all part of something. Just like, I have considered myself part of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh part of my journey, my journey part of the world, the world part of the planet, and the planet part of the universe, the universe part of time and space, and time and space part of eternity.

When thinking this way, I feel small, humbled, able to slow down and relax, yet still have a drive to be grand.

Beer winning trivia @ North Hills, Millvale, Camp Guyasuta

1. North Hills is a term generally used to collectively describe the northern suburbs of Pittsburgh. It includes 38 independent suburban municipalities, and 12 school districts.

2. February 13, 1868. With the help of schoolteacher M.B. Lyon, Millvale Borough is incorporated from parts of Shaler Township and Duquesne Borough and named after its industry and location—mill and valley. With a population of 668 in 1870, it quickly expanded after the Civil War and prospered upon connection with Lawrenceville via Ewalt Covered Bridge and a narrow gauge railroad that would become part of Pittsburgh’s famous trolley system. By the turn of 20th century, Millvale had annexed the Third Ward from the Shaler Township and had three schools, three breweries, an opera house, a grocery store, a candy store, and a Masonic lodge.

During the depression in 1930s, Millvale took advantage of the government initiated Works Progress Administration to fortify Girty’s Run Creek and assisted the war efforts proudly with through both its manufacturing businesses and its residents. Many businesses still seen today come from this era, including Daniels’s Electric, Esther’s Hobby Shop, Haser Trucking, Grant Bar, Lincoln Pharmacy, Vecenie’s Beer Distributor and Jerry Kitman’s Fine Furniture.

Though Millvale underwent a fantastic boom after the war, expanding the police force and fire department we know, America’s energy crisis and the downfall of both the manufacturing and steel industries hit home. As Millvale Centennial came and went, the number of residents began dwindling down to the few but fiercely proud of Millvale.

Millvale’s streets were redone and a riverfront park that gave residents access to Allegheny River and featured a pavilion, a bike trail, a boat launch and a skate-park. With development of the riverfront for recreation as well as business, Millvale surpasses similar peers in its county. Although Girty’s Run left parts flooded in fall of 2004, the community survived and grew closer and continues to strive on to a prosperous future today.

3. Named after a great Seneca warrior, Camp Guyasuta is operated by the Greater Pittsburgh Council of the Boy Scouts of America. The warrior Guyasuta probably served as a scout for young George Washington in 1753, though he played a role in defeating the Braddock Expedition in 1755, and sided with the French in the French and Indian War. Guyasuta was a major player in Pontiac Rebellion—indeed, some historians once referred to that war as the Pontiac-Guyasuta War.

At the outset of the American Revolutionary War, the American revolutionaries attempted to win Guyasuta to their cause but he sided with the British. After the war, the aging Guyasuta worked to establish peaceful relations with the new United States. In Pittsburgh, he is honored, along with George Washington, in a large public sculpture called "Point of View", which overlooks Point State Park.

ID@ Deloitte, American Eagle

Where is American Eagle’s headquarter located in Pittsburgh?

Where is Deloitte founded? and Where is its Global headquarter?

【36】Strut your tattoo proudly @David L. Lawrence Convention Center

10 days after starting my service year position as an Americorps VISTA working in HandsOn Tech program, I found myself seeking advice in Frank’s office on 500 Grant street. I have always been an enthusiastic student to take on many ideas and responsibilities, I want to do the same in my career. However, this is the first time I actually work full-time, let alone in an environment that I only had two years of experience and understanding. So just to be sure that I am doing the “right” thing to blend in my work environment while becoming a better professional, Frank naturally becomes my advisor as I mentioned already in a previous post Internship and beyond that he is a guardian.

So I popped in his office and had a constructive conversation with him. Towards the end of the meeting, he shared some information about a Tattoo convention that was taking place in David Lawrence, Convention Center, couple blocks away. I was very much intrigued and asked whether I could go or not. He was too nice to reject my proposal. So off we went together to the convention.

They are artists! All those tattoo works, along with the way they were presented, are just different forms of art. Not more and not less. Just like music, some people may like classic, while others like country or rock. Although I am not a big fan of "Ink art" and remain conservative about tattoos due to my traditional Chinese upbringing, I found myself admire the artists’ intricate tattoo designs, passionate nature about what they do, and the amiable characters that may be camouflaged under their flamboyant tattoos that might be sometime perceived as scary.

Talked to several artists. Except for a few local artists, the majority were from all over the country. Without compensations, they used their own money and invested their own time to travel hundreds of miles to Pittsburgh so that they could be present at this event and show visitors what they have to offer and to meet other like-minded people. When they were asked about their experience in Pittsburgh, they seemed to be satisfied about our city and what it offers, and promised would visit some sights after finishing their exhibit at the convention before they headed back.

Beer winning trivia @ Tattoo, David L. Lawrence Convention Center

1. The modern revival in tattooing stems from the voyage of British explorer Captain James Cook in the late 1700s. However, tattooing has been practiced for centuries in many cultures and spread throughout the world. The Ainu, an indigenous people of  Japan, traditionally had facial tattoos, as did the Australians. Today, one can find Atayal, Seediq, Truku, and Saisiyat of Taiwan, Berbers of Tamazgha (North Africa), Yoruba, Fulani and Hausa people of Nigeria, and Māori of New Zealand with facial tattoos. Tattooing was popular among certain ethnic groups in southern China, Polynesia, Africa, Borneo, Cambodia, Europe, Japan, the Mentawai Island, MesoAmerica,  New Zealand, North America and South America, the Philippines, and Taiwan.

Today, tattoos had negative connotations in historical China, where criminals oftentimes had been marked by tattooing and tattoos have remained a taboo in Chinese society. The Government of Meiji Japan had outlawed tattoos in the 19th century, a prohibition that stood for 70 years before being repealed in 1948. As of June 6, 2012 all new tattoos are forbidden for employees of the city of Osaka. Existing tattoos are required to be covered with proper clothing. The regulations were added to Osaka's ethical codes, and employees with tattoos were encouraged to have them removed. This was done because the strong connection of tattoos with the Yakuza, or Japanese organized crime, after an Osaka official in February 2012 threatened a schoolchild by showing his tattoo.  

Current cultural understandings of tattoos in Europe and North America have been greatly influenced by long-standing stereotypes based on deviant social groups in the 19th and 20th centuries. Particularly in North America tattoos have been associated with stereotypes, folklore, and racism. Not until the 1960s and 1970s did people associate tattoos with such societal outcasts as bikers and prisoners.

2.  The initial David L. Lawrence Convention Center was completed on the site on February 7, 1981, but as part of a renewal plan the new, completely redesigned center was opened in 2003 and funded in conjunction with nearby Heinz Field and PNC Park. It sits on the southern shoreline of the Allegheny River. It is the first LEED-certified convention center in North America and one of the first in the world. It is owned by the Sports & Exhibition Authority of Pittsburgh and Allegheny County.

The convention center was named after  David Leo Lawrence (June 18, 1889 – November 21, 1966). He is also to date the only mayor of Pittsburgh to be elected the 37th Governor of Pennsylvania (1959-1963). He was Pennsylvania's first  Catholic Governor. During his four-year term as governor, he passed anti-discrimination legislation, environmental protection laws, expanded Pennsylvania's library system, passed Pennsylvania's fair housing law, and advocated historic preservation. He also passed vigorous highway safety legislation, a move some attribute to the fact that two of his sons were killed in an automobile accident. His expansion of state bureaucracies came at the price of budget deficits and tax increases, a move that angered many fiscal conservatives.  

Previously, he had been the longest tenured mayor of  Pittsburgh from 1946 through 1959, who was the primary force behind Pittsburgh's urban renewal projects including the Mellon Arena, Gateway Center, Fort Pitt Tunnel and Point State Park. Lawrence fell ill and collapsed at a campaign rally held at Pittsburgh's Syria Mosque for gubernatorial candidate Milton Shapp on November 4, 1966. He died 17 days later having never regained consciousness, at the age of 77. He is buried in Pittsburgh's Calvary Cemetery at 718 Hazelwood Avenue in the Greenfield and Hazelwoods.

Your ID @ Tattoo Convention

1. What’s the name of the Tattoo Convention that was held on September 13th-14th 2013 in Pittsburgh?

⑲Internship and beyond @ Housing Alliance of Pennsylvania, Downtown, Pittsburgh

It all started with a talk about homelessness I attended on November 18, 2011. Like most things in life, you find meanings in-depth when looking back, I now look back and see this talk meant so much to my professional as well as evolving personal development in Pittsburgh, especially in the community development arena. George Moses is the key person to thank to (just so you know, he is the African-American gentleman at the right corner of the picture below. I didn’t know the significance of the picture back then when I hurried to snap something so that I would have a clue for later rumination.).

George said “When we conduct policy advocacy or community outreach, we always put a face in front of money. So people would know we are talking about real people and real life. Then, hopefully, they would care more.” These words just stayed with me. At that moment, I know I will be talking to him and learning more. Then, the rest became the history of my six-month-long internship at Housing Alliance of Pennsylvania and all my life that happened and was triggered by this very small encounter.

Besides the data analysis work I did, connection between the Alliance and Heinz event I facilitated, and all other substance taken away as part of my resume on paper and/or in conversation, the most far reaching impact that this internship experience brought me was those caring and inspiring people I got to know, and the friendships I garnered.

George and I always would pick on each other on the very important issue “Who would open the door and let the other person proceed first”. Of course, he was just being “mean”  because I insisted that I shall open the door and let him proceed first, for he’s more experienced than I am, never giving him a chance to follow the “lady first” western rule.

Joanna Deming was always the nurturing boss, who understood that English is not my native language. Most importantly she believed my good intention to do good work and my capacity to deliver results. I found out from a hard experience that working with/for people who trust you and your capacity can be the most important thing a new professional can get from a new position. Joanna invited me to her lovely new house for an Indian dinner before I finished my internship. That was most kind of her and I would always wish her two lovely boys grow up with abundance in health and happiness.

Then it’s on to the bigger family of “House of Justice”. Bob Damewood initiated a conversation the first day of my work there in February 2012 and then we talked for a while cementing our acquaintance.  Then I found out he and Siew both graduated from Indiana University of Pennsylvania where I did my exchange study, which led me eventually fall in love with Pittsburgh. Also through our conversation, we found out that Matt’s (my beloved husband) and my situation resembled their situation (Bob's wife is a Malaysian-Chinese) so much so that we immediately developed a bond of friendship.

Bridget has the most cheerful voice I know. She is always happy and energetic. I firmly believe that she shall host a radio show. But I am not sure whether she ever took my comment seriously or not. We occasionally would hang out in the office, in a bar nearby or in Bob and Siew’s house for some good food. She has a “grandma” cat who survived cancer. I am amazed by the bond a person and an animal can develop, even without the reciprocation people would normally expect of each other.

Although I haven’t had enough opportunity to know Irene McLaughlin personally yet, I feel her aura and believe that she is just an awesome character that I can’t find enough English words to describe yet. Being a judge, an attorney, and active community member, she’s super busy but still volunteered a lot of time and expertise for my System synthesis project at Heinz College in the first half of 2013. When my teammates who had chance to work with her also came away amazed by her knowledge and energy, I knew she was capable of impressing many people who come across her trajectory.

Knowing Bob, Bridget, and Irene, three lawyers, and their amiable nature, made me deeply puzzled: why would Americans often dislike lawyers that much? Maybe this all goes back to what Albert Einstein once said “Any fool can know, the point is to understand.”

Then, it’s Frank Hammond. Who walked into the office looking for Ms. Deming one day and out of blue, started to talk about his latest opinion about the correlation between playing golf and a nation's willingness to engage in warfare. Well, the odd thing was that I happened to know the story of Scottish golf zest and their warfare disaster to the English. What’s following are those intellectual conversations and great experience we had and then I found I have a guardian of my professional and personal life here in Pittsburgh. His wife is of Korean origin, came to the U.S. 40 some years ago and they have lived in Pittsburgh enjoying a comfortable life for almost 30 years now.

Last but never to be the least is Diana Smith. She was like a mother caringly asking for the developments in my life and giving away advice while I was going through some very tough times in that half a year. She said “You need to take care of yourself before talking care of other people. Nobody can do it all at once. One thing at a time.” She also said “Be a good girl, mean what you say, and say what you mean.”......All those when landed in me at the right time when I needed the most made such an impact in my attitude moving forward. Oops, almost forgot, Diana loves shoes and she told me the terminology for my favorite high-heels is called “wedge shoes”, which give me the height I need while not compromising the comfort I experience walking with them. So they are practical as well as beautiful.

I don’t mean to make this post  a personal diary. But every time, now and then, when I am in downtown within certain proximity to the Housing Alliance of Pennsylvania office on 710 Fifth Avenue, Suite 1000, I would always have a warm feeling about my life here in Pittsburgh and would then have a very positive outlook for what I am about to do. Because I know somewhere in the City, in an office building that would look common to other people, there are some people who I care for and wish the best for their lives. More so, I know I could stop by without a formal invitation or an appointment. Isn’t this a great thing? Just like you would never need an appointment to go to a house to see your family.

Then I believe, this is something special about Pittsburgh.  For a new comer, you can start something, then you work hard, you build upon it, you nurture it, and then you would earn connection in the network, you would eventually find yourself bumping into familiar faces wherever you go. Then what comes after that is friendship, partnership, and a sense of taking responsibility to share your experience to be a “citizen diplomat” for the places you work, live, and love, very much.

Beer winning trivia @ Housing Alliance of Pennsylvania

1. Housing Alliance of PA (HAP) was founded in 1982 by a determined, visionary group of housing advocates from across the state facing the burgeoning homelessness crisis. The Pennsylvania Low Income Housing Coalition (PALIHC) renamed itself the Housing Alliance of Pennsylvania in 2003 to broaden its base of support while retaining its commitment to low-income people.  Its work includes research, coalition-building, leadership and outreach to win policies that either increase the supply or reduce barriers to the production, rehabilitation, preservation of provision of safe, decent homes for low-income people.  Currently it has three offices across the state of PA, Philadelphia, Harrisburg and Pittsburgh. Ms. Liz Hersh is the dedicated Executive Director.

2. In the past two decades. HAP has played a leading role in the following housing policy establishments and accomplishments:

• Establishment of the Homeowner Mortgage Assistance Program (HEMAP) which has helped over 43,000 homeowners since 1984.
• Establishment of the County Affordable Housing Trust Fund which has raised about $50M throughout the Commonwealth for housing.
• TANF for Housing which provided $60M for housing and homeless programs during Governor Ridge’s administration.
• Low Income Housing Tax Credit Exchange as part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act which brought $200M to PA creating about 2400 low-priced, quality rental units and produced about 3000 jobs.
• Research, outreach and advocacy resulting in passage of seven new laws to address blighted and abandoned property between 2004 and 2010.

Your ID @ Downtown, Pittsburgh

1. What’s the shape of the building in front of the HAP’s office on Fifth Avenue? Why is it so narrow? What’s the story behind it?

⑫Three internationals and our five neighborhoods @ Oakland, Squirrel Hill, Mt. Washington, Strip District, and Sou (th) Side

Unlike what the French is doing to their country’s immigrants, Pittsburgh Homeland Security officers might not “kidnap” kids from school and send them back to where they originated so that kids’ family would have to leave the country. However, there is still consequences if the law would be broken. So the point is that although Pittsburgh is a friendly city, as an international, maintaining a legal immigration status is still instrumental. For this very reason, +Sarosh Fatakia, +Albulena Krasniqi , and I met during an immigration workshop at university of Pittsburgh early 2012. Sarosh is a Scientist from India, Alb, a MBA and CPA candidate, now Ernst & Young employee to be, from Kosovo, and we soon found ourselves have a bond, through which we care for each other and support one another, especially when things didn’t go well as it now sounds to be.

We explored many neighborhoods together to make each other’s day.

Oakland is always a meet up spot, from where we start our precious time together. Squirrel Hill is the place where we dined, window shopped, Sarosh watched a lot movies and got his two pairs of glasses with a super great discount. Mount Washington is the place we had the most fun outdoor yet without spending a penny! The grand view avenue scenery, the panorama of downtown Pittsburgh from the bronze statue, and the Incline are all fun and interesting. Plus burning some healthy energy through walking is always a great satisfaction. Then we went Strip District put up some fat back without any hesitation, for those delicious Vietnam food was just irresistible.  Sou (th) Side? Yeah, that’s where I was grabbed again for some bourgeois pastime. This time it’s not for a drink, but for Cheese Factory’s dessert.

Well, it’s nice to treat yourself a piece of delicious cake in a nice environment, once a while, as if you deserve it, it helps to remind you of what you have missed, therefore regain a sense of purpose, however superficial that might be. After all, if we stay in a bathroom without ventilation for too long, we would eventually forget about how stinky it is, we get used to almost everything! But adaptability, like everything else is a double-edge sword......I am just justifying spending money when it's short.....So.... consumption at Cheese Factory is justified.  

Beer winning trivia @Squirrel Hill, Mt. Washington, Strip District, and Sou (th) Side

1. “Squirrel Hill” might be an Native Indian name. Pittsburgh officially divided this neighborhood into two, Squirrel Hill North and Squirrel Hill South. But we people only know one Squirrel Hill. Its original development in 18th century was focused on Mon riverfront. Many famous historical houses were built at that time. Mary Schenley’s grandfather James O’Hara ended up buying the third eldest house in the neighborhood built by Robert Neil at around 1787. Since 1889 Mary Schenley donated a lot property, including land and this house to the city of Pittsburgh, it’s opened for a time for the public. However, by 1969, the condition of the house was very poor that Pittsburgh Historical Landmark Foundation dismantled and rebuilt it. Now the house is only open for tours  in July during the Vintage Grand Prix.

2.  In 19th century, two major things happened that accelerated the overall development of Squirrel Hill neighborhood, the shift of focus from riverfront to the area that’s close to Oakland and Shadyside; and the operation of an electric trolley installed in 1893. The trolley line ran via Forbes Avenue and Murray Avenue to its final destination in Homestead, and was replaced by buses in 1958.

3. In 20th century, the open of Blvd of the Allies in 1927 further advanced the prosperity of Squirrel Hill due to its more convenient transportation to Downtown Pittsburgh. In 1953, Parkway and Squirrel Hill Tunnel opened, which provided easier and quicker access to surrounding neighborhoods. However, Squirrel Hill Tunnel also became many people travelling into Pittsburgh’s nightmare. Why people will subconsciously slow down BEFORE driving through the tunnel?

4. On the 27th of February in the third year of 21st century, a famous Squirrel Hill resident died. His name is Fred Rogers, the host of Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood, a children show, in which any movement on the TV is slow compared to nowadays’ hype active Chi-WA-WA style TV shows or movies.

5. Strip District locates between Lawrenceville and Downtown Pittsburgh hugging the Allegheny River.  This parcel of land was first owned by Mary Schenley's grandfather James O'Hara and George A. Bayard.  In 1814, the pair established the area naming it "Northern Liberties of Pittsburgh."  It was more commonly known as Bayardstown.  In 1837, the area joined the city, becoming Pittsburgh's fifth ward. With its ideal location, the area soon became a thriving industrial center.  Foundries, mills, and factories moved in. One interesting saying about this neighborhood is that “Strip District has had more identities than an undercover agent.” Two blows this neighborhoods suffered in 1930s was St. Patrick’s Day Flood in 1936, and great economic depression around world world war II.

6. From Mount Washington Pittsburgh you see the grand view of man-made civilization and prosperity. From the Mount Washington New Hampshire, you would be in awe to the nature’s creation. Same name, different view, something completely to think about. Isn't it interesting?

7. South Side, local call Sou Side, has the most concentrated liquor licenses in city of Pittsburgh. SouthsideWorks is an open-air retail, office, entertainment, and residential complex located on the South Side of the city of Pittsburgh and just across the Monongahela River from the Pittsburgh Technology Center and the University of Pittsburgh. I watched a movie called Connected there during 2012 St.Patrick’s Day, followed by a group discussion led by two professors at Pitt. It’s a great occasion. I was very much amazed by how green the neighborhood can be in such an early spring gloomy day!

Your ID @ Mt. Washington

What’s the story behind the bronze statue shown in the picture (above)? To be exact what is the conversation, George Washington was having with the Seneca tribe leader Guyasuta, about?

What’s the name of local media featured an article claiming that from this statue, you would have “The Best View in Town”?