Pittsburgh Post-Gazette from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania • Page 15

QTY NEIGHBORHOODS PITTSBURGH POST-GAZETTE MONDAY, MAY 6, 1996 B-3 CITYSCAPE M.i1vWr 41' W' but another priority is collecting the names of those veterans who served in Korea or Vietnam by Aug. Applications have been circulated throughout Greenfield asking people to provide the name and address of war veterans, also identifying their branch of service and the war in which they served. For more information, call Rudick at 422-2864. Shadyside Coalition head named The new president of the Shady-side Action Coalition is a retired chemical engineer who sees zoning and public safety issues as two of the key topics for the neighborhood. Bob Schlesinger, 82, was elected last week to succeed Zita Glasgow as head of the all-volunteer group that serves as Shadyside residents' ClTYWIDE Video poker change The city Planning Commission has recommended to City Council a measure to allow bars and liquor-serving restaurants to increase the number of their video poker and other amusement devices.

The measure, sponsored by Council President Jim Ferlo, allows establishments regulated by the state Liquor Control Board to increase, from five to seven, the number of mechanical or electronic amusement machines without be-ingclassified as an "arcade." This would allow bars and restaurants to add two more money-making amusement machines without having to buy an arcade license, which costs $683 per quarter. To increase the number of machines, however, the bars must be located in commercial rather than residential districts. The initial version of the bill would also have allowed markets, convenience stores or other nonli-quor establishments with amusement devices to increase their number of machines also. But planning commissioners were afraid such a broad measure might cause an increase in teen-age loiterers in such stores, which they said could have a negative effect on local business districts. So Ferlo amended the proposal to limit the increase in machines only to LCB-licensed establishments: Since teen-agers aren't allowed in such places, commissioners said the potential for attracting young loiterers would be much less.

Council must approve the measure before it becomes law. Fineview residents Mary Jane Barbush, left, and Judith K. Harvey atop the day's Step-A-Thon and Harvey is coordinating the event with the Fineview Graib Street steps near Henderson Citizens Council. Darrel) SappPost-Gazette Street. Barbush is helping to plan Sun- Run amst ag 381 steps A 5Kwill celebrate tortuous topography ice as they go up or down.

Department of Public Works officials say they try to keep some heavily used steps around the city clear in the winter, mostly those popular near schools, but it's a small fraction of more than 400 sets of stairs on their maintenance list. The Fineview Step-A-Thon begins with a half-. mile or so of running on Howard Street to help competitors warm up and spread out early. Then the fun begins, with a 146-step climb to Compromise Street. After a short reprieve of on-street running, they'll go up 97 steps from Fountain Street to Graib Street and 56 steps from Graib to Henderson.

The final 82 steps are Earbush's daily climb'-' from Glenrose to Lafayette, before the group -runs through the neighborhood to end at the WPXI parking lot. The entry fee is $10, with Harvey hoping to see 75 runners, although she's not near ing that number yet. The Fineview Citizens Council hopes pro- ceeds from the event will help eventually pay for repair of the neighborhood's most dramatic staircase, the Rising Main steps, which can't be. used for the race. That crooked, 371-step staircase rising above Interstate 279 from Howard Street alternately tilts into and away from the hillside halfway up, creating a safety hazard.

The city hasn't attempted to replace the problem sections both because the upper portion of the stairs are little used and because funds for major step replacement projects have been elimf; inated in recent years from the Department of Engineering ana Construction budget. The Public Works department makes small- scale, necessary repairs based on complaints received from the public. About four or five sets around the city are temporarily closed while awaiting such maintenance, said Bob Bucher, DPW assistant director of operations. He plans to be at the Step-A-Thon, but not as a participant. The same with Harvey, even though it's all her idea.

4 "At 60, I'm going to be running these steps? No, no, I have a hard enough time getting out of the car," she joked. For those similarly nonathletic, Sunday's Firi: eview activities include a leisurely stroll of neighborhood landmarks, with steps optional. For more information on the race, call 231-6271, By Gary Rotstein Post-Gazette Staff Writer It's been called the Steel City, but never the Step City, though in the 1990s maybe the latter is more appropriate. For unlike most of the steel mills that have disappeared from within Pittsburgh's boundaries, the steep staircases built into hillsides in almost every section of the city remain intact and in use an integral part of an uncommon urban landscape. Just as few U.S.

cities aside from San Fran- cisco offer Pittsburgh's dramatic vistas, few offer the array of hundreds of staircases many with hundreds of steps each that thigh-toughened pedestrians use to reduce their time getting up, down and around neighborhoods. Most were built from the 1930s to the 1950s, in a variety of materials, lengths and styles. They can plunge dizzily straight up or down, as with the Planet Street steps on the Elliott hillside, or traverse more slowly but with no less work required, like on the South Side slope along a series of South 18th Street steps. "They're critical testimony to Pittsburgh's struggle against its topography," said Franklin Toker, a University of Pittsburgh professor and architectural historian. "I want Pittsburgh to be perceived as a hearty town full of able, creative and nimble people.

I think the steep steps of the city convey that message right on target." Fineview, in its perch high on the North Side, is as stepped in tradition as anywhere. It's celebrating that part of its character with the first Fineview Step-A-Thon at 9 a.m. Sunday. The nearly all-uphill 5K course, about 3.1 miles, includes four different sets of concrete public stairs totaling 381 steps, most of them early in the race. Although stair-climbing events have been held in skyscrapers such as the USX Building and Cathedral of Learning, area runners recall no outdoor race that has accentuated public steps and their special challenges in the way that the Fineview Citizens Council is using them.

"After looking at the course, I'd say I'm probably going to be pretty glad when I'm done," ac- -knowledged S. Mark Courtney of Grove City, who said the Step-A-Thon will be different from any of the thousand or so races he has entered in the tri-state area since 1979. Courtney, publisher of The Runner's High newsletter, is also organizing official time-keeping for the race. He expects the lead runners to come in about four minutes slower than the 16-minute finish typical of a 5K event. Some serious runners will ignore the race because of the steps, but Courtney considers it an interesting challenge.

Judith K. Harvey, a four-year resident of Fine-view coordinating the event for the citizens council, said torturing runners is hardly the motivation for the Step-A-Thon. "What we're really doing is pushing our neighborhood," she said. "We want to save what we've got, and interest some more people in it." The Catoma Street resident said the neighborhood suffers an unfair stigma along with the rest of the North Side, even though it's full of historic homes and eye-popping views of the Golden Triangle, like the one from her front door. Mary Jane Barbush, who helped plan the Step-A-Thon, climbs 82 steps after taking a bus home from work Downtown each day.

The HE Fineview bus drops her on Glenrose Street, which is below her Lafayette Street home. "Thank God for the railing," she said, noting that residents keep the steps passable in the winter simply by tramping down the snow and primary advocate. He's been in the neighborhood for 32 years, with long experience of participation in the coalition and in Wallingford Neighbors, an active mock club on his street. "We'll depend on our experi Bob Schlesinger ences in the past to face future problems," Schlesinger said, noting that the community has already done much of the necessary work to address parking problems and tensions that existed between merchants and residents over commercial impact on the neighborhood. He said the coalition will need to remain active in monitoring new construction projects proposed in the neighborhood, but the organization is blessed in having so many professionals among its members who understand the law, zoning regulations, real estate development and related subjects.

He said it's also important for the coalition to maintain good communication with the groups representing the neighborhoods around it. Schlesinger retired 20 years ago from the U.S. Bureau of Mines. His volunteer activities have included participation in the Zone 6 Public Safety Council and coordinating emergency communications for the Amateur Radio Emergency Service. Squirrel Hill An honor for O'Connor City Councilman Bob O'Connor will be honored May 15 as the Squirrel Hill Urban Coalition's Citizen of the Year.

The Sauirrel Hill resident is credited with assisting the coalition's efforts in a variety of community-based projects. He will be the featured guest at an awards dinner at 6:30 p.m. at Po-li's Restaurant. Bob O'Connor Forinforma- tion on attending the dinner, call tne coalition office at 422-7666. ClTYWIDE Caring volunteers sought Pittsburgh Cares is seeking volunteers for its first Servathon on June 1.

Participants dedicating five hours to community improvement projects on that day will try to find sponsors among their acquaintances to donate money based on their work to Pittsburgh Cares. The nonprofit organization exists as a clearing house to make it easier for people to donate their time to various services and pro jects without being required to make a long-term commitment. The June 1 Servathon projects will be oriented to benefit children in some fashion. Examples of those projects include painting and other improvement projects at Boys and Girls Clubs of Western Pennsylvania, escorting needy youngsters to cultural sites such as the National Aviary and the Pittsburgh Zoo and planting a garden at Beltzhoover Elementary School. Participants are urged to register as teams by May 17 or as individuals by May 24.

Prizes will be awarded to be awarded to those raising the most in pledged donations. Last-minute volunteers may also show up at 8:30 a.m. June 1 at the I.C. Light Amphitheatre at Station Square, where service projects for ine aay wui De assigned. For more information, call 471-1 14.

2114. A idnm LBJDaR ClTYWIDE Markets resume May 13 It's nearly time for the farmers to return to the city. The Farmers Markets sponsored by the Department of Parks and Recreation at five locations will resume the week of May 13, giving consumers a chance to buy fresh fruits, vegetables, plants and other goods. Fifty-one farmers have paid fees to participate weekly at one or more of the sites, which will be open through Thanksgiving, said market manager Tom Driscoll. Markets will operate from 4 to 8 p.m.

at the following locations: The Pittsburgh Zoo lower parking lot in Highland Park, every Monday and Thursday. South 18th and Sydney streets on the South Side, every Tuesday. The rear of the Carrick Shopping Center, Brownsville Road at Parldield Street, every Wednesday. The North Side, city schools' Applied Technology Career Development Center parking lot, Merchant and Ridge avenues, each Friday. Also, a market will operate Downtown from 11 a.m.

to 1 p.m. every Friday at the entrance to the City-County Building. For more information, call Greenfield Search on for veterans A search has begun for the names of all Greenfield residents who served in the Korean or Vietnam wars. A group of veterans making up the Saline Street Honor Roll Committee wants to expand the memorial, which has been located since 1946 in The Run, near Big Jim's restaurant. The memorial already contains the names of hundreds of Greenfield residents who served during World War I and World War II.

The committee plans to add more stones with plaques bearing the names of more recent war veterans for unveiling by Memorial Day 1997, said Joseph Rudick, committee chairman. "It's partially a request from families that had kids in those wars," said Rudick, a retiree from the Air National Guard. lot of people have asked about why we're not honoring the Korean and Vietnam veterans on our honor rolls throughout the country." He said the committee that began meeting in December to plan the memorial addition will need to raise $1,000 to $1,200 for the project to 4 p.m. at 708-710 Brookline Blvd; Call the library at 561 -1 003. i it HAZELWOOD: The Hazelwood I branch of The Carnegie Library will hold a "We're All Winners Citywide Talent Show and Competition" at 2 p.m.

at 4748 Monongahela St. Call 421-2517. '4 SUNDAY SCHENLEY PARK: Race for the Cure 5K runwalk and 1-mile fun walk begins 8:30 a.m. at Flagstaff Hill near Phipps Conservatory. There is a $10 preregistration entry fee and $20 day-of-race entry fee.

Call 521 -f CURE for details. Proceeds provide, mammography and follow-up diag-, nostic treatments for medically un-! derserved women. NORTH SIDE: A free jazz pro- gram "Too Good To Title" present-' ed by Jazz At Emmanuel will be held at 5 p.m. at 957 W. North Ave.

Call 231-0454. MONDAY EAST LIBERTY: The Pittsburgh Theological Seminary will hold a seminar, "Growing A Vital today through Wednesday. E. Staiv ley Ott, senior pastor of Pleasant Hills Community Presbyterian Church and president of the Vital 4 Church Institute will lead the Registration fee is $1 1 0 and includes two lunches. Call 362-5610 for meeting times arid more Information.

field Corp. sponsors a 6:30 p.m. meeting at the Javon Thompson Community Activity Center, 1 13 N. Pacific to discuss issues of educational quality concerning Pea-body High School. CARRICK: The 29th Ward Carrick Block Watch will meet at 7 p.m.

in the Quentin Roosevelt Elementary School, 200 the Boulevard. City Magistrate Ann Sharding will speak. DOWNTOWN: The Downtown Business and Information Center will hold a business program "Success and Failure Factors of Small Business" at 12:15 p.m. in One Mellon Bank Center. For more information, call 281-5945.

FRIDAY NORTH SIDE: Emmanuel Church, 957 West North will hold a Spring Flower Sale from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. today, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. tomorrow and from 9 a.m.

to 2 p.m. Sunday. For details and to preorder, call 231-0454. SATURDAY SQUIRREL HILL: The Western Pennsylvania Conservancy invites volunteers to join a spring planting at 9 a.m. at Saline Street and Beech-wood Boulevard.

BROOKLINE: The Brookline branch of The Camegia Library will hold its used book sale from 10 a.m. How to list your events The City Neighborhoods listing welcomes information about events occurring in any of the city's neighborhoods. To be considered for publication, submit your listings at least one week before the publication date. Mail information, including a daytime and evening phone number, to City Neighborhoods, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, 34 Blvd. of the Allies, Pittsburgh, Pa.

15222. We cannot list all events due to space limitations. TUESDAY OAKLAND: The School Affairs meeting of the Pittsburgh school board begins at 6 p.m. in the Board Committee Room, Administration Building, 341 S. Bellefield Ave.

Title 1 and School-to-Career strategies will be discussed. NORTH SIDE: Pirate right-fielder Orlando Merced will speak with students at St. Matthew's Lutheran Elementary School and sign free new books at 1 p.m. as part of the Central Northside Reading is Fundamental's Book Distribution Program. At 1 p.m.

Thursday he will do the same with students at Martin Luther King Jr. Elementary School. The reading program is a commurHly-based nonprofit organization that provides free new books to children at more than 25 North Side sites. NORTH SIDE: The Allegheny County Chapter of the Pennsylvania Association of School Retirees will hold a luncheon meeting at 12:30 p.m. at the Allegheny Club, Three Rivers Stadium.

For details, call 766-4795. WEDNESDAY CARRICK: Carrick Community Council will meet at 7:30 p.m. at the Concord Presbyterian Church, 1907 Brownsville Road. This meeting will be an open forum. THURSDAY GARFIELD: The Bloomffeld-Gar-.