ELIZABETH SETON CENTER by Dan Kacznarski No age group can thrive in isolation. This is the guiding conviction of Seton Center on Pioneer Avenue. Each week, the Center, led by CEO Sister Barbara Ann Boss, provides a variety of programs for children and senior citizens and makes a point of bringing the ages together. For the youngsters, the Center offers infant and toddler care, a preschool educational program, and before- and after-school day care for students ages 5 through 12 attending Brookline area schools. On the same campus, the Center caters to seniors with two different programs. One is a Senior Center for independent seniors 60 and older. The other is Adult Day Services for elderly individuals who are unable to live independently. Most of the clients served by the Center’s Adult Day Services have a debilitating condition—such as dementia, Parkinson’s, intellectual disability, arthritis, or other chronic illness. The program provides social, physical, and mental stimulation, in accordance with the clients’ abilities and wishes. It also gives respite to clients’ home caregivers. Clients are provided breakfast, lunch, dinner, and a snack. Their medical needs are monitored and medication is administered by a nurse on site. One of the hallmarks of the Seton Center is their commitment to connecting different generations of peple. At least twice a week, youngsters from the children’s programs join the clients from the Adult Day Services for 20 to 30 minutes of interaction. Intergenerational programming in action at the Seton Center. Photos this story courtesy of Seton Center OPEN PUBLIC MEETINGS 2nd Tuesday of odd-numbered months: July, September & November. All meetings are held at 7pm at the Brookline Teen Outreach, 520 Brookline Blvd. UPCOMING EVENTS Breezefest: Saturday, August 10th. For more information, or to register as a vendor, please go to www. brooklinetogether.org/breezefest Moore Park 80th Anniversary Celebration, Saturday August 24 10am – 8pm BROOKLINE TOGETHER BOARD Caitlin McNulty, President Bill Kim, Treasurer Ally Bove, Secretary COMMITTEE CHAIRS Tony Griffith, Beautification Jason Tigano, Business Development Heather Fulton, Community Events Lois McCafferty, Membership Brock Boutwell, Newsletter FIND US! facebook.com/brooklinetogether www.brooklinetogether.org [email protected]OUR MISSION To promote a vibrant and livable community through collaborative initiatives that unify Brookline’s business and residential interests. BRIDGING BUSINESSES AND THE COMMUNITY JULY 2019 …continues page 2 “We bring the young and the young at heart together,” says Sister Barb. “When we take the children over to the adult day care, they light up. Together, they do crafts, games, exercise, and music.“ Sister Barb grew up in Brookline. For 12 years, she was educated by the Sisters of Charity, first at Resurrection School then at Elizabeth Seton High School. After entering the convent, she earned multiple college degrees and worked as a teacher and in early childhood supervision. In 2000 she was appointed CEO of the programs at Seton Center. “I love the work,” she says. “I think many children today are missing a lot because they don’t have the type of neighborhoods we A BI-MONTHLY PUBLICATION FROM BROOKLINE TOGETHER
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ELIZABETH SETON CENTERby Dan Kacznarski
No age group can thrive in isolation.
This is the guiding conviction of Seton Center on Pioneer Avenue. Each week, the Center, led by CEO Sister Barbara Ann Boss, provides a variety of programs for children and senior citizens and makes a point of bringing the ages together.
For the youngsters, the Center offers infant and toddler care, a preschool educational program, and before- and after-school day care for students ages 5 through 12 attending Brookline area schools.
On the same campus, the Center caters to seniors with two different programs. One is a Senior Center for independent seniors 60 and older. The other is Adult Day Services for elderly individuals who are unable to live independently.
Most of the clients served by the Center’s Adult Day Services have a debilitating condition—such as dementia, Parkinson’s, intellectual disability, arthritis, or other chronic illness. The program provides social, physical, and mental stimulation, in accordance with the clients’ abilities and wishes. It also gives respite to clients’ home caregivers. Clients are provided breakfast, lunch, dinner, and a snack. Their medical needs are monitored and medication is administered by a nurse on site.
One of the hallmarks of the Seton Center is their commitment to connecting different generations of peple. At least twice a week, youngsters from the children’s programs join the clients from the Adult Day Services for 20 to 30 minutes of interaction.
Intergenerational programming in action at the Seton Center. Photos this story courtesy of Seton Center
“We bring the young and the young at heart together,” says Sister Barb. “When we take the children over to the adult day care, they light up. Together, they do crafts, games, exercise, and music.“
Sister Barb grew up in Brookline. For 12 years, she was educated by the Sisters of Charity, first at Resurrection School then at Elizabeth Seton High School. After entering the convent, she earned multiple college degrees and worked as a teacher and in early childhood supervision. In 2000 she was appointed CEO of the programs at Seton Center.
“I love the work,” she says. “I think many children today are missing a lot because they don’t have the type of neighborhoods we
A B I - M O N T H LY P U B L I C AT I O N F R O M B R O O K L I N E TO G E T H E R
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grew up in. When I grew up on Berkshire Avenue, every parent on that street felt they had a responsibility for every child on the street. They helped educate us in many ways. They lived the adage, ‘it takes a village to raise a child’.
“Today, society has put children in one box and seniors in another and the two never mix. That’s why we are convinced the Intergenerational Program we have here is so important to the lives of the very young and the more experienced.”
The other senior program on campus is funded by the Allegheny County Department of Aging. Seton Center also has a Senior Center in Overbrook. These programs offer scheduled exercise, lunch, and fun activities for seniors 60 years of age and older.
1900 Pioneer Ave., Pittsburgh, PA 15226412.561.8400 | 412.344.4777 (Adult Day Services)setoncenter.com/
To promote community and development in Brookline by illuminating people, places, and institutions that make the neighborhood a great place to live.
Hello, neighbors! I think we can all agree that it’s great to have a Brookline community newsletter again. Thank you for your patience through this long hiatus as we went through restructuring and rebranding.
As many of you know, South Pittsburgh Development Corporation (SPDC) and The Brookline Chamber of Commerce came together to become Brookline Together in December of 2018. With that came many changes to how our community organization works to better serve both the residents and businesses in our neighborhood. Our executive board and seven board committees; consisting of finance, beautification, business development, newsletter, community events, business development, and membership; are working hard to listen to the concerns of the community and create strategies for growth, change, and open communication while also serving as a resource to address ongoing issues in the community.
Since the creation of Brookline Together five months ago we have added new community events to the calendar, addressed traffic and safety concerns, created new beautification initiatives, moved forward with the Burgh Bees apiary project at Jacob and Whited, and met with staff from the Mayor’s office to address business district concerns. We have also developed a survey to gauge what is most important to residents and businesses in Brookline. If you have not yet participated in this survey, you can find it online on the Brookline Together website under the Resources tab.
Brookline Together is also a City of Pittsburgh Registered Community Organization (RCO). RCOs are provided notice by the Department of City Planning whenever a public hearing for projects meeting a specific development threshold is formally proposed, within their geographic boundaries. The RCO coordinates with the applicant to convene the public meeting that applicants are required to attend and present their proposal at least 30 days prior to the public hearing. [http://pittsburghpa.gov/dcp/rco] Meaning Brookline Together has an important role in overseeing developments and plans within our neighborhood.
If you would like to learn more, or are interested in getting involved please visit our website, BrooklineTogether.org for more information or join us at our next community meeting on Monday, July 8th at 7pm at Brookline Teen Outreach located at 520 Brookline Blvd. next to CVS.
NEWSFROM
BECOME A MEMBER OF BROOKLINE TOGETHER
If you love Brookline and want to take an active role in your community, become a member of Brookline Together! Whether you are a business owner or an individual, a long-time resident or a brand new Brookliner, we would love to work with you! There are three levels of membership to choose from, each with their own perks: Business/Professional, Community Member, and Friends of Brookline. To join, simply visit www.brooklinetogether.org/membership and submit an application.
Visit us at www.brooklinetogether.org
A collaborative new organization unifying Brookline Chamber of Commerce and South Pittsburgh Development Corporation that is working to promote a vibrant and livable community through collaborative initiatives that unify Brookline’s business and residential interests.
GET INVOLVED!BROOKLINE NOW wants to hear from you! We welcome your articles, art work, ideas, referrals, and feedback, and would love to include as many Brookline voices as possible in future issues. If you would like to contribute to our newsletter, please email us at [email protected] or leave us a comment on our Brookline Together page, www.brooklinetogether.org/newsletter.
As the Chairperson of Pittsburgh’s Urban Recreation Committee I take safe, quality, public recreation seriously. The Urban Recreation Committee has responsibility over
all ordinances, resolutions, bills, and papers pertaining to greenways, libraries, park programming, Healthy Active Living Centers, the Department of Parks and Recreation, and more.
Some examples of how we can enjoy public recreation in Brookline include our Cinema in the Park program which shows movies at Brookline Memorial Park on Thursdays from June 6–August 29, the Brookline Breeze 5K Run and Fitness Walk on Saturday August 10th, and by making Brookline shelter and facility rentals available to the public.
Additionally, my office is working on ensuring that previously budgeted capital projects for our parks and recreation centers are fulfilled in a timely manner while also working to draft new capital requests that will keep our parks and recreation facilities capable of providing top quality programs for Brookline residents.
If community members and residents have any concerns or thoughts on how Pittsburgh can continue to provide quality programming and facilities please contact my office by phone at 412.255.2131 or my staff by email at [email protected] or [email protected]
MAYOR WILLIAM PEDUTO
Summer is here! As we look forward towards warmer weather and outdoor fun, the Office of Mayor William Peduto would like to share some exciting news about safe, quality public recreation with our friends in Brookline.
Through Citiparks, the City will be operating the Summer Food Service program beginning on June 17th, which provides healthy and delicious breakfasts, lunches and/or snacks to all children up to the age of 18. For more information, call 412.244.3911.
Beginning July 12th all of the 8 spray parks and 18 outdoor pools operated by Citiparks are open for the season. Children between the age of 3 and 15 can swim for free with a recreation center membership card. In addition, you can purchase individual or family swimming passes at any pool or at Oliver Bath House throughout the season.
Are you looking to reserve a Park Shelter or Facility for your next family picnic or special event? You can visit http://pittsburghpa.gov/park-shelter/reserve. You may also contact the Public Works Permit Office at 412.255.2732.
Throughout the summer, the City of Pittsburgh has a variety of family friendly events, which are compiled by the Office of Special Events in the 2019 Summer Guide. A physical copy of this guide is available at Citiparks Facilities and Carnegie Libraries. For more information and to access an online version of this guide, visit: pittsburghpa.gov/events/.
Looking for summer camps and activities? Check out http://pittsburghpa.gov/summer19/ for a roundup of resources and ideas. The City partners with Summer 19 to connect families to special opportunities across the region.
For more information on news, events, and resources in the City of Pittsburgh, follow us on social media!
A bronze memorial plaque honoring military veterans from Brookline who gave the ultimate sacrifice in World Wars I and II, Korea, and Vietnam was designed and is approved by the city of Pittsburgh to be placed in the Boulevard Triangle Park. The plaque will be cast by Matthews Bronze and the proposed dedication will take place on Veterans’ Day, November 11, 2019.
We need your help to complete our fundraising goal. Please visit www.gofundme.com/brookline-honor-roll-memorial-plaque
No matter how urban or rural an area is, there is no doubt that recreation is important to the foundation of its community. Of course, unique challenges
related to where we live and what resources are available to us certainly exist. The state is no longer as helpful as it used to be in providing direct grant support. “Walking around money” doesn’t exist anymore, and that used to fund many modest rec improvements. Obviously that program had its challenges, so now days most state money gets earmarked for larger projects and through a more defined process. These projects are important too, but that also means that most of the funding for rec programs and green space development is left to the localities.
The state still maintains primary responsibility for its state park system which provides great recreational opportunities for many Pennsylvanians. Unfortunately, over the last decade or so Harrisburg has not maintained its park system well. This has led to deferred maintenance issues in most of our parks. Governor Wolf has recently promoted a plan that would reinvest in our park system, a plan which I largely support, and which is long overdue. Whether the majority party allows this plan to come up for a vote though is a different story.
Thankfully, through the city and with many volunteers Brookline continues to offer a good variety of recreation and community programming. But we need to explore options that can add to our quality of life and make sure our programs are open to everyone.
REPRESENTATIVE HARRY READSHAW
Our Pennsylvania state parks and forests are the vacation destination for over 40 million visitors a year. Our parks and forests are where our kids learn to camp, hike, and make s’mores. Perhaps you have a memory
of a time spent in state park or forest, hunting with a parent, falling in love, reducing stress, or having a family picnic.
Outdoor recreation in Pennsylvania supports over 250,000 jobs and generates $29.1 billion in annual consumer spending. Despite these many documented benefits of our parks and forests, they suffer from decades of “making do.” Aging buildings are in disrepair, bridges are washed out, and more than 47 dams are a major hazard. These special places, which are guaranteed to all Pennsylvanians through the Environmental Rights Amendment to Pennsylvania’s Constitution, need attention.
Investments in our public lands improve human health, support local economies and improve the quality of life. During the budget negotiations, legislators are urged to:
• Protect special funding sources such as the Keystone Fund and the Environmental Stewardship Fund, keeping them for the intended purpose of recreation and conservation.
• Support the Restore PA initiative to fund infrastructure across Pennsylvania.
• Allocate funding to increase the complement of employees for the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources and invest in needed maintenance of our parks and forests.
STATE REPRESENTATIVE DAN DEASY 412.928.9514
A vital part of ensuring safe and quality public recreational spaces is preserving our environment to allow for usable green spaces. I have a long-standing positive voting record
for the environment. In fact, I had a 100% voting record on the Environmental Score Card in 2017-18. The PA Environmental Score Card is a joint project of Conservation Voters of PA, PennEnvironment, Sierra Club Pennsylvania Chapter, and Clean Water Action. You can review the Environmental Score Card at: shorturl.at/nBELX
Some of my efforts to support safe, quality public recreational sites include, but are not limited to helping secure funding to make a local park handicap accessible, public pool revitalization, youth recreation and character development program, and advocating and securing funding for rails-to-trails projects in my legislative district. Additionally, I have always supported allocation to state agencies that work hard to provide funding for quality recreation in Pennsylvania.
The Department of Conservation and Natural Resources has a variety of community parks and recreation grants available annually to municipalities and non-profit organizations. You can view these opportunities by visiting their website at: shorturl.at/rGSX9
Additionally, the Department of Community and Economic Development has a variety of grants for planning, acquisition, development, rehabilitation and repair of greenways, recreational trails, open space, parks and beautification projects using the Greenways, Trails and Recreation Program (GTRP). Visit DCED’s website to learn more at: shorturl.at/aikoy
SENATOR WAYNE D. FONTANA 42nd Senatorial District www.senatorfontana.com During my time in the state Senate, I have always supported allocating resources to programs through the Pennsylvania
Departments of Conservation and Natural Resources and Community and Economic Development, specifically the Keystone Communities Program through DCED, that provide funding to communities, so they can have access to resources for maintenance, preservation, and expansion of parks and trails and other recreation facilities.
Locally, the Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy has done incredible work on some of the city’s more historic parks. The City’s CitiParks division does a great job, with finite resources, in maintaining and enhancing our neighborhood parks and community recreation centers, like Brookline Memorial Park and Moore Park.
I have been a longtime supporter of our neighborhood parks and the groups who utilize them. I continue to be a proud sponsor of the Brookline Little League whose girls and boys benefit from the access to safe and functional fields and was thrilled to advocate for funding in 2017 that the Little League ultimately received from Pirates Charities that helped the league’s volunteer organizers keep the fields ready for play.
Accessible and attractive public recreation spaces enhance quality of life for all residents in the community. I will always be a strong proponent of allocating resources that help provide safe, quality public recreation options.
Brookline Bobcats love their black and gold – and green, thanks to a collaboration with Grow Pittsburgh.
The school and nonprofit partnered last fall to develop a garden right on the school grounds. Children in all grades have had a hand in tending to the garden, which has produced lettuce, radishes, carrots, herbs and flowers for the school. This month, they will begin planting a summer garden in the space.
Community partnerships like the one with Grow Pittsburgh, along with a focus on a healthy and active lifestyle, helped Brookline PreK-8 become one of “America’s Healthiest Schools,” an honor given by the Alliance for a Healthier Generation.
Brookline was one of just four schools citywide to earn the National Healthy Schools Bronze Award for their efforts to create a healthier school environment for students and staff. That includes serving healthy meals and snacks, empowering school staff to become healthy role models and getting students more physically active throughout the school day.
This year, Brookline was also one of about 80 schools nationwide selected to take part in Shred Hate, a bullying prevention program created by ESPN and supported by the X Games, Major League Baseball.
As part of this partnership, Brookline staff received free training with the No Bully System, a leader in ending conflict and bullying while making each school a kinder and friendlier place to learn and work. The evidence-based program emphasizes staff, students and parents working together to end conflicts while promoting kindness and compassion.
The Shred Hate program ties in well with this year’s other behavior initiative, PBIS – or Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports. This new approach to discipline focuses on teaching and modeling positive social behaviors and rewarding students for following them. Research shows this to be a more effective approach than simply waiting for misbehavior to occur before responding.
Students laced up their sneakers in May for the PTA’s second annual Race for Education. The fundraiser brought in $3,000 to be used for programs, field trips, and activities including Fun Day, the annual field day event for children in grades K-5.
The PTA is always looking for community support for these programs as well. Brookline participates in Boxtops for Education, which has earned more than $600 for the school this year. Instead of throwing away those special labels, consider mailing or dropping them off to the school.
Brookline also participates in the Giant Eagle Apples program. By enrolling in this free program on your Advantage Card, every purchase you make can help earn money for Brookline. The school’s ID number for that program is 1433.
Finally, make those online Amazon purchases count by checking out smile.amazon.com, and selecting Brookline PTA as your charity of choice.
CHILDREN
Storytime: Toddler and Preschooler TalesMondays, July 8, 15, 22, 29 • 6:30 pm; Thursdays, July 11, 18, 25 • 11:00 amGet up and get moving with interactive stories, songs and rhymes. For children 18 months to 5 years and their caregivers.
Kids Club: Wacky WednesdaysWednesdays, July 10, 17, 24, 31 • 3:00 pmMeet new friends, hang out with old friends and try something new! Activities may include crafts, games or technology. For children grades K-5.
TEENS
Teen Gaming Mondays • 3:30 pmGet your game on! Relax, connect with friends and show off your mad gaming skills! A teen led drop-in program for ages 10-18.
Pittsburgh Police Chess Club Mondays • 3 pmJoin Zone 6 officers for weekly community chess classes! Children and teens are invited to develop their minds and practice problem-solving skills that apply on and off the chessboard.
Teen Time Tuesdays • 3:30 pmIf you’re into cool art projects, epic games, music, movies and just chilling out, come kick it at Teen Time!
Tween Scene Thursdays • 3:30 pmLooking to have fun and try something new? Engage your brain and get creative with activities including crafts, games, tech and more! Especially for students in grades 4-8.
ADULTS
Mystery & More Book Discussion, Wednesday, July 10 • 1 pmMy Grandmother Asked Me to Tell You She’s Sorry by Fredrik BackmanJoin us as we talk about almost eight-year-old Elsa’s grandmother, who dies and leaves a “treasure hunt” for Elsa. The child’s challenge is to deliver a series of letters apologizing to people Granny has wronged.
Between the Lines Book Discussion, Monday, July 15 • 6 pmAmericanah by Chimamanda Ngozi AdichieJoin us to hear about Ifemelu and Obinze, two teens in Lagos who fall in love but are separated under Nigeria’s military dictatorship. Fifteen years later they reunite in a newly democratic Nigeria and reignite their passion.
Curious Selections Book Discussion, Tuesday, July 23 • 6 pmRevolution for Dummies: Laughing through the Arab Spring by Bassem YoussefJoin as we discuss a story from the creator of The Program, the most popular television show in Egypt’s history. He chronicles his transformation from heart surgeon to political satirist and offers insight into the Arab Spring, the Egyptian Revolution, and the turmoil roiling in the modern Middle East.
People line Brookline Boulevard during the 2019 Memorial Day Parade. All photos by Pawsburgh Photography.
Boy Scout Troop 6 marches in the parade.
An American Flag sits across the
front bumper of a military truck
on Brookline Boulevard.
Mounted officers from the Allegheny County Police Department ride down Brookline Boulevard.
REMEMBERING RECIPES by: Beth Deller
Welcome to Remembering Recipes, a place to reminisce about recipes past. Hope this stirs up memories and inspiration! First off, BLUEBERRY DELIGHT!
Graham Cracker Crust1½ c graham cracker crumbs (10-12 sheets), 3 tbsp granulated sugar and 7 tbsp melted butter- Crush graham cracker & set aside ½ c for topping- Combine ingredients & press firmly into 9x11 glass pan.- Bake 375° for 8–10 min, cool completely. OR buy premade!
Filling8 oz cream cheese, softened, 4 eggs, 1 c granulated sugar, 1 tsp vanilla- Blend cream cheese until smooth.- Add eggs, one at a time, and mix thoroughly- Add sugar and vanilla. Mix well, making sure there aren’t lumps.- Pour on top of the graham cracker crust and bake at 350°
for 20 minutes or until the filling is set. It will resemble cheesecake. COOL COMPLETELY!
Toppings- Cover with 2 cans of blueberry pie filling, (or try your
favorite pie filling).- Add Cool Whip, spreading evenly on top & sprinkle with
reserved graham cracker crumbs- Chill overnight for best results. ENJOY!
Please feel free to email us at [email protected] with your favorite family recipes!
Visit our tent at Brookline Breezefest & register for the World of Mae 5k and 1 Mile Fun Run in North Park on 10/5/19. The shady course has smooth terrain and is accessible for strollers, wheelchairs, walkers, and runners of ALL paces!
https://WorldOfMae.blog
Samantha MelhornReal Estate Professional
NextHome PPM Realty1308 Peermont AvenuePittsburgh, PA 15216
