More on East Liberty’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Development project.
Business Times (9.28.07)

Potential Target Discount Store discussed.
Tribune. (9.22.07)

Cathedral of Hope as Town Square
Pittsburgh Post Gazette (8.24.07)

Local Flavor and Entrepreneurial creativity put East Liberty on the map. City Paper (8.23.07)

Susanne Gaetano and her uniquely chic clothing store, Panache, has been a staple in East Liberty for 24 years. The shop, located at 6008 Penn Circle, features clothing with vibrant colors, ethnic patterns and natural fabrics. This Sunday, September 30 from 12 to 9 pm, Panache will celebrate its anniversary with 20% off all fall merchandise, as well as special sale arrivals.

Susanne’s lively attitude and passion for her business perfectly match the vibe of the store. When she first opened Panache, Susanne was featured as one of “16 Women Who Make a Difference” in a March 1986 issue of the Pittsburgh Press Sunday Magazine for her visionary, entrepreneurial spirit.

Going against the grain, Susanne passed on an opportunity to have her shop on the upscale, easily-marketable location of Walnut Street in Shadyside because she saw promise in East Liberty. Susanne had previously worked for Mansmann’s Department Store in East Liberty, so she knew what was possible here.

Because the neighborhood has a reputation of being crime-ridden and dilapidated, banks saw this as too risky and turned down her loan. She eventually found financing and other businesses caught the drift, slowly but surely moving in around her.

Come celebrate 24 years of an eclectic addition to the neighborhood. For more information, call Panache at 412.661.6008 or simply stop by this Sunday!

The Notes from the Task Force Community Meeting are now posted on the Community Vision Meeting Page. Don’t forget that Task Force Meetings are coming up. This Thursday September 27 is the Workforce Task Force Meeting at the Union Project from 6 to 8 pm.

Emcee Kelly Maize hosting at the 2006 Local Motion.

Don’t miss the opportunity to take part in home-grown fashion, art and culture. Tonight, Thursday September 20, will be the third annual Local Motion Fashion Show at the New Hazlett Theater located at 6 Allegheny Square East on the Northside. This event features designers, models and stylists from Pittsburgh.

Local Motion will be hosted by Emcee KELLY MAIZE and feature the designs of Down w/Fashion, Jonathan David Clothing, QueenHips, BabyLove, LSL Designs, Denawti, Muvmint Plus, Tomasina. The event will also feature a performance by Attack Theater, and DoubleShot, Pittsburgh’s premier all-vocal band.

Doors open at 7:30 pm and the show begins at 9 pm. Tickets will be $35 at the door and $50 for VIP. The proceeds collected at the door will benefit Dress for Success, an international non-profit organization offer business clothing, job training and mentoring programs to help women become self-sufficient. For advance tickets or questions, call 412.394.3353.

*(Please note! The list of designers has changed, the list posted Thursday was from 2006. Sorry for the mistake!)

This community definitely cares! Last Night, close to 200 of East Liberty’s residents, business owners and stakeholders came to the Task Force Community Meeting at East Liberty Presbyterian Church to listen, ask questions, and give their advice and opinions about potential change in the neighborhood.

These enthusiastic and dedicated community members signed up for one (or more) of the eight specific Task Forces designed to create action plans for East Liberty’s future.

Below is a list of the up-coming meetings. All are invited and encouraged to attend and spread the word! More information and notes from the meeting are still to come! Please use our Community Meeting forum to discuss potential ideas and thoughts about the meetings.

Task Force Meeting Date and Time Meeting Place
Workforce September 27, 6 - 8 pm Union Project
Youth Engagement October 2, 6 - 8 pm Parental Stress Center
Safe Neighborhoods October 4, 6 - 8 pm ELPC, Room 244
Housing October 4, 6 - 8 pm ELPC, McKelvey Room
Healthy Community Meeting October 8, 7 - 9 pm ELPC, Room 244
Small Business October 9, 8 - 9:30 am ELPC, Room 244
Commercial Core Planning October 9, 6 - 8 pm ELPC, Room 244
Parks and Recreation October 10, 6 - 8 pm ELPC, Room 244

On Tuesday September 18 from 6 to 8 pm, East Liberty will hold its second Community Meeting of the summer at East Liberty Presbyterian Church. This community meeting will lay the framework for up-coming developments by reinvigorating the community Task Forces.

These Task Forces will address eight areas that have been highlighted by community stakeholders for their importance to the continued progress of East Liberty.
The Task Forces to be convened are:
- Safe Neighborhoods – The members of this team will explore realistic, sustainable approaches to East Liberty’s issues with drugs, violence and crime.
- Workforce – This team will work to ensure that the residents of the neighborhood will benefit from the up-and-coming economic and business developments through local, quality employment.
- Youth Engagement – This Task Force will explore and highlight positive scholastic and extra-curricular options for our youth.
- Healthy Community Members – This group will strategize ways to help the community to learn about, understand and embrace the importance of healthy, constructive lifestyles and habits.
- Housing – This team will find ways to ensure that existing and planned housing provide a high quality of life for everyone in the neighborhood.
- Parks and Recreation – This Task Force will explore strategies to ensure that East Liberty will have clean, healthy and green places for all ages to enjoy.
- Small Business – This team will investigate strategies to support the growth and vitality of small businesses which are integral to preserving the culture of East Liberty.
- Commercial Core Planning – This Task Force will underscore the importance of approaching current and future commercial development in a thoughtful, strategic manner to ensure the best outcome for those who live, work and play in East Liberty.

All community members and stakeholders are invited to attend. For more information about the Community Meeting or Task Forces or to get involved, contact Emily Nordquist at 412.361.8061 or emily.nordquist@eastliberty.org.

2006 Duke of Ribs and People’s Choice, Kenny Strothers, cooking up magic.

Chefs and rib-masters alike will be putting their recipes to the test at the Union Project’s second annual Rib-Off contest this Saturday September 15, from 11 am to 3pm. If you think you have the winning ribs you can download a registration form, but be quick because there are only 20 competition spots total. A panel of judges will award prizes and the title of Duke or Duchess of Ribs to the chef grilling up the most scrumptious, irresistible ribs.

If you are more of the hungry spectator type, enjoy five rib stations (or side dishes) for only $5, as well as a DJ and good company.
The Union Project is located at 801 North Negley Avenue. For more information or to enter the rib-off, email hilary@unionproject.org.

Come with an empty stomach, leave with ribs in your tummy, messy hands and a smile.

The first residents of Fairfield, East Liberty’s newest residential community, are christening the 124-unit apartment complex. Of the 54 units that are completed, 29 are leased and occupied only days after opening!

The housing has come as replacement for the poorly-managed highrises, giving COR (Coalition of Organized Residents of East Liberty) and former-highrise residents the first opportunity for the units. The rental community offers a “Tot Lot” playground, community room, fitness center and management office. Management expects full-capacity by November.

For an application or leasing information call 412.441.1045.

CMU Grad students happily worked to save eight trees at Peabody High School with the supervision of Matt Erb, certified Arborist with the Friends of the Pittsburgh Urban Forest.

What are your plans for Thursday evenings? Why not meet new people while learning how to help the environment and beautify your neighborhood.

The Friends of the Pittsburgh Urban Forest, a new environmental non-profit dedicated to promoting the health and appearance of Pittsburgh’s tree canopy, in partnership with Penn State Co-operative Extension is now offering tree tending courses. These evening classes will give residents the skills to care for small City trees.

Class topics range from tree planting and pruning to tree biology. The classes are four Thursdays in September and October and one Saturday. There is a suggested donation of $30 for the courses, but scholarships are available. For more information, take a look at their brochure.

East Liberty’s own Ya Momz House full-service recording studio has been nominated for an Emmy! Located on the second floor of 124 S. Highland Ave, Ya Momz House has been recognized in the category of music composition and arrangement for their soundtrack work on a PBS documentary series.

To celebrate the accomplishments of Emmai Alaquiva, Owner/ Director of Creative Services of Ya Momz House, John Cater of KDKA, and the other Pittsburgh Emmy nominee’s, Ya Momz House and John Cater will be hosting an Emmy Award Nominations/Rainbow Kitchen Community Services Happy Hour at Olive or Twist this Friday, September 7 from 5 to 8 pm. Olive or Twist is located at 140 6th Street in Pittsburgh’s Cultural District, Downtown.

The event is free entry, but it is suggested that a canned good donation is provided for the Rainbow Kitchen Community Services. Please join Ya Momz House, as well as a number of other event partners, while they celebrate their accomplishments and give back to a worthy organization.

Check out their article in the City Paper.