All eyes are on East Liberty for a ground-breaking future development proposed to create an entire residential community with the innovations of sustainable design. The plan for the Mellon’s Orchard South development would convert the now underutilized parking between Penn Circle North and East to 84 units of healthier, more energy-efficient homes.

This development would be LEED-ND (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design – Neighborhood Development) certified, which is very rare because of the magnitude and scale of these projects.

Read the Article for the entire story!

20 participants prepare for OSHA certification

The East Liberty Section 3 Job Training & Referral Initiative, a joint venture between COR and ELDI, has provided local hiring referrals among many new and pending development projects. Since December 2008 residents have been preparing for many of these projects by developing resumes and registering for OSHA Credentials.

If you are interested in employment among the Construction and Building trades or among many of East Liberty’s businesses, visit the Section 3 Office located at 211 N. Whitfield Street, Suite 210, Pittsburgh, PA 15206 to complete an application for entry into our workforce database.

Quantum Theatre presents Yerma by Federico Garcia Lorca; directed by Melanie Dreyer. With flamenco artists Ethan Margolis and Cihtli Ocampo, members of Arte y Pureza. In an innovative environment of projected moving images created by media artists Carolina Loyola-Garcia and Jose Muniain.

When: April 2 – April 26, 2009.
Curtain Wednesdays – Saturdays 8PM, Sundays 7PM.

Where: 6000 Penn Avenue, corner of Penn and Highland (ArtDimensions Pittsburgh)

Tickets: Call ProArts 412-394-3353 or www.quantumtheatre.com to book; $25 – $35 with a limited number of $15 student tickets.

Yerma is a deeply musical folktale, blending poetic text with flamenco song and dance to create a modern story of unbridled passion. Quantum brings internationally famous flamenco artists Cihtli Ocampo and Ethan Margolis, from Arte y Pureza, together with video artists Carolina Loyola-Garcia and Jose Muniain to build a living installation of moving images that will encompass both the audience and the stage in a complete sensory experience.

Yerma, a young woman in a rural Spanish town, pulses with the rhythms of the earth despite the repressions of a fearful community isolated in time and space. Quantum’s production joins the long tradition of Lorca interpretations that use flamenco to express these rhythms. Feel the force of many generations expressed in Ocampo’s powerful dance and Margolis’ world renowned flamenco guitar.

Quantum welcomes director Melanie Dreyer back to Pittsburgh from New York, where she teaches at Cornell University and runs the International Culture Lab theatre company. The cast includes former Pittsburgh actress Melinda Helfrich as Yerma, Fermin Suarez, Jarid Faubel, Bridget Connors, Sharon McCune, and Laura Mixon. Set design by Tony Ferrieri with lighting by Deborra Bergmark-Peelor and costumes by Marissa Miskanin.

Western Pennsylvania Family Center (WPFC) was founded in 1985 by six mental health professionals to provide training in Bowen family systems theory to other mental heath professionals and to the community. It is incorporated as a non-profit educational organization and does not provide direct services itself, although many of those associated with
the organization also have offices in the WPFC building and do provide direct services themselves.

WPFC currently offers a range of courses, including its “Fireside Chat Series” directed toward the general public, and its intensive two year post-graduate “Basic Seminar” intended primarily for professionals in the field. WPFC pioneered an on-line introductory course in Bowen family systems theory, attracting more than 30 students from six continents in its seven years of existence. More than 1000 individuals from the community and a broad range of mental health fields have participated in WPFC course and programs.

Now in its 23rd year, WPFC has worked collaboratively with, and consulted to, more than 50 different area mental health and child welfare agencies, churches and business organizations. It is a volunteer organization, relying solely on program fees, rental income, membership dues, individual donations and foundation grants for its operation. Located at 733 North Highland across from Pittsburgh Theological Seminary, the WPFC campus consists of the main building and the recently renovated carriage house conference center. The conference center holds groups up to 50 people, and is available to outside organizations at reasonable rental rates.

Upcoming events include a lecture on Bowen theory by Dr. Michael Kerr of the Bowen Center in Washington, DC on March 15, a “fireside chat” on the development of WPFC by James Smith, a co-founder and current director of WPFC, on March 19, and a “clinical forum” on March 27 on a Bowen theory consideration of addictions by Joan Jurkowski, a certified addictions counselor in Maryland.
Contact WPFC for further information.
412-362-2295
www.wpfc.net

REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS: Larimer Land Use Vision & Larimer Avenue Corridor Market Study and Land Use Plan

A group of community stakeholders in Larimer and East Liberty is accepting proposals to develop a land use vision for the Larimer neighborhood and an adjacent section of East Liberty and a market study and land use plan for the area surrounding Larimer Avenue. The RFP is also available at www.larimerplan.org. Proposals are due April 8, 2009.

The Kiwanis Club of East Liberty will hold its annual celebration on Saturday March 28, 2009, at St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church Hall, 5801 Hampton Street in Highland Park. The featured speaker will be Donald Block, who has served Executive Director of the Greater Pittsburgh Literary Council (GLPC) since 1984. At this event, Don will receive our 2009 Outstanding Community Service Award in recognition of his leadership of GLPC, with the number of students served by the Council increasing from 100 per year to 6200 per year during Don’s tenure.

The evening’s events include wine and hors d’oeuvres at 5:30 pm, dinner at 6:00, and the program at 7:00 with Donald Block as guest speaker. There will also be a silent auction featuring some great goods and services, as well as a book sale. Suggested donations are $25 per adult and $5 per child 16 and under. For reservations, send checks payable to Kiwanis Club of East Liberty to Emily Hasse, 306 Kirk Ave., Pittsburgh PA 15227. Reservations are due by March 23. For further information, call Al Mann, 412-661-5947.