Garfield Community Festival

Come join Garfield Jubilee Association, Inc. for "Garfield Community Festival: Treasure Adventure." The adventure begins August 28th from 1 to 7 p.m. at Saint Lawrence O’Toole Community Center. Discover face painting, balloon animals, a talent show and even more great fun!!

Prizes will be rewarded for different treasure hunts. Keep a look out for the great talent show during the day. Local vendors from the surrounding communities will in be attendance.

So dust off you treasure maps and look for the X which marks the spot. Its Adventure Time! For more information call 412-665-5220. Festival is free to the public.

Garfield Facade Improvement

(click to enlarge)

Quantum Theatre Dress Rehearsal

For 20 years, Quantum Theatre has been Pittsburgh’s foremost experimental theatre company, creating plays across the city in places that aren’t theatres. At the end of the month, they will bring their production of When the Rain Stops Falling to the Iron City Brewery.

The production launches Quantum Theatre’s Neighborhood Initiative, a program designed to increase impact to the communities where their productions are held. Over the course of the next 18 months, Quantum will bring at least three projects to the “Quantum Corridor” – the closely aligned neighborhoods surrounding Penn Avenue, including Garfield, Bloomfield, Friendship, East Liberty, and Lawrenceville.

As part of this new initiative and as an introduction to Quantum, Garfield residents are invited to a special, free dress rehearsal on Wednesday October 27 at 8 p.m. Be among the first to see the Pittsburgh premiere of what Time Magazine calls "an extraordinary new play” by Australian Andrew Bovell.

Seven people, bound together by blood and circumstance, share a story that stretches across time and place, from London in 1959 to the coast of Australia in 2039. Alone in a torrential downpour, one man finds himself on the receiving end of this legacy of secrecy, betrayal… and love. A fish falls from the sky. And the mysteries of his past begin to unfold.

Reservations are required, so please call the Quantum office at 412-697-2929 to confirm your seat for this special dress rehearsal.

Find Out About Housing Opportunities in Garfield

(click on image to enlarge)

Two Houses for Sale in Garfield

(click on image to enlarge)

Garfield Family Day

This Saturday, May 22, from noon-4 p.m., don't miss Garfield Family Day! Last month, Garfield residents and volunteers held a neighborhood clean-up and collected more than 100 bags of garbage from streets and empty lots. This month, come to the Nelson Mandela Tot Lot (Evaline and Broad Streets) to celebrate this accomplishment with an afternoon of food, fun, and activities. Get out, meet your neighbors, and enjoy some of the wonderful things happening in and around Garfield. Local churches, artists, and community groups will be present to highlight neighborhood achievements and initiatives. Join us for refreshments, music, entertainment, health & wellness activities, art activities & demonstrations, Free Ride mobile bike repair, and Project 53 interactive music activities. For more information or to RSVP, click here.

Garfield in the News

Today's Pittsburgh Post-Gazette features an article about the Garfield Neighborhood Plan, which is being unveiled tonight at the Community Activity Center. To view the plan online, click here.

Benefit for Haiti Tonight in Garfield

Quiet Storm cafe in Garfield is holding a benefit dinner tonight to raise money for AmeriCares and Share Our Strength's Haitian relief efforts. The all-Haitian meal -- including Black-eyed Pea Chowder, Crispy Tempeh Pork and Baked Stuffed Banana -- costs $25 per person, and additional donations are welcome. Seats still are available for the 6 p.m. seating, but you must reserve at 412-661-9355.

Santa Comes to Garfield

Santa showed up in Garfield on Friday, December 4, for the annual Bloomfield-Garfield Corporation Holiday Party, bringing candy canes, hot cocoa, and cookies - and some dudes to help him out.

Fall Harvest Cookout in Garfield

Garfield Community Farm, an urban farming project of the Open Door and Valley View Church, is hosting a Fall Harvest Cookout, this Saturday October 31st from 2-5 p.m. It's the end of the Fall harvest and our first season in the community of Garfield, and we'd like to celebrate with our neighbors!

This family-friendly event will include pumpkin carving, a petting zoo, chili, cornbread and warm cider, and more! There will also be stories from neighbors about why they care about Garfield Community Farm. Location is at the farm on the corner of Wicklow and Cornwall in the neighborhood of Garfield.

Come out and enjoy a fall afternoon and learn more about urban farming in your community! Any questions? Call Kelly at 412.874.8231 or email k.flanagan.dee@gmail.com. Check out our website for more information.

Halloween Harvest Party in Garfield

Halloween Harvest Party at Garfield Community Farm

Saturday, October 31, 2-5 p.m.

Garfield Community Farm (on the corner of Columbo Street and Wicklow Street in Garfield)

Have some fun with families from the Garfield and surrounding neighborhoods. There will be games and kids activities, local and seasonal food, a bonfire, and much more! Come when you can and as you are; costumes are encouraged, especially for kids.

Community Day in Garfield

Don't miss COMMUNITY DAY, on Saturday, Sept. 5, from 10 a.m. until 5 p.m., sponsored by Morningside Church of God in Christ. The event includes food, games, music, a petting zoo, and mimes. There will also be a CPR class and blood donation between 10 and 3 (sign up in advance by calling 412-361-9865). Everything takes place at 5173 Dearborn Street at North Pacific in Garfield - don't miss this all-day celebration!

Garfield Church in the News

There was a good news story in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette this morning about the efforts of Valley View Church and its congregation to clean up the blight on North Aiken Street. Read the story here.

Garfield Community Action on Blighted Housing

Valley View Church, with the support of the Pittsburgh Interfaith Impact Network (PIIN) and residents of Garfield, is having a Local Community Action to address the blighted housing in Garfield on N. Aiken Avenue. This is part of PIIN’s Holy Ground Campaign to revitalize our neighborhoods. Join us as we take action and fight for our community!

When: Wednesday, August 19, 7 p.m.

Where: Valley View Church, 601 N. Aiken Ave., Pittsburgh 15206

This meeting is open to everyone – all concerned citizens and residents of Garfield are encouraged to attend! Invited guests include: Councilman Ricky Burgess and Councilman Patrick Dowd; Michael Gay, Pittsburgh Police, Zone 5; a representative of the Bureau of Building Inspection (BBI); and vacant property owners from the 200 and 300 blocks of N. Aiken Ave.

The People's Summit

In response to the G-20 Summit taking place in Pittsburgh on September 24-25, 2009, a broad partnership of educational institutions and social justice advocacy groups is organizing a People’s Summit to discuss global problems and seek solutions that are informed by the basic principles of genuine democracy and human dignity. We will draw together informed speakers and panels that will discuss problems we face and possible solutions. In addition we will organize interactive workshop discussions.

With the focus on issues of global justice and human development, linking the local, national, and global, the People’s Summit seeks to advance the:

1. elimination of hunger and poverty;
2. end to all forms of racism;
3. rights and dignity of labor;
4. freedom and empowerment of women;
5. education for all, especially for youth;
6. adequate health care as a basic human right;
7. creation of safe and inclusive communities;
8. end to war and to the conditions that cause war;
9. basic human rights of the vulnerable – refugees, immigrants, the disabled, etc.;
10. preservation of the planet’s ecosystem.

The People’s Summit envisions a world where basic rights—freedom of expression, freedom of thought and religion, freedom from fear, and freedom from want—are enjoyed by all people. Across a diversity and plurality of orientations, inspired by mutual respect and the spirit of solidarity, the participants of the People’s Summit give voice to an alternative world vision to the G-20 Summit, to the public officials, to all men and women of good will—a vision that will hopefully generate communal action and participation in Pittsburgh and beyond.

NEXT PLANNING COMMITTEE MEETING
Monday, July 6, 7:00 p.m.
Thomas Merton Center, 5125 Penn Avenue, in Garfield

For more information, contact Paul Le Blanc at 412-760-9716 or leblanp1@laroche.edu.

Black Street Community Clean-Up

Garfield Jubilee's Youthbuild program is hosting "Black Street Community Clean-Up Day."

When: Saturday, June 21, 11 a.m. - 3 p.m.
Where: Meet at Valley View Church, located at Black Street and N. Aiken Ave.

Volunteers are needed to assist with the transformation of Black Street. Food and beverages will be provided, and there will be activities and face-painting for the kids. Come and help out!

Reminder! Penn Avenue Infrastructure Update This Week

Don't miss the community meeting for the Penn Avenue Corridor Phasing Plan - this Thursday evening!

Date: April 16, 2009
Place: Saint Lawrence O’Toole Activity Building (corner of North Atlantic & Broad)
Time: 6:00 p.m. – Sign In/Refreshments; 6:30 p.m. – Presentation and Q&A; 7:30 p.m. – Group Breakout Stations / Discussions

The purpose of the meeting is threefold: 1) review the previous Public Meeting comments and community concerns; 2) discuss what has been completed since the last Public Meeting; and 3) detail the next steps and phases of the project including potential timelines.

The project team will be present at the public meeting to discuss and provide a better understanding of the project needs and prioritized transportation improvements.

The meeting location is accessible to persons having disabilities. Anyone who needs additional information, has special needs, or requires special aids should contact:

Patrick Hassett, Assistant Director, City of Pittsburgh, Department of Public Works, Bureau of Transportation and Engineering at pat.hassett@city.pittsburgh.pa.us or 412-255-2883.

Garfield Heights Progress

On Thursday, March 12, join the Garfield Jubilee Association and the Bloomfield-Garfield Corp. for a community-wide meeting on the progress being made at the new development at Garfield Heights. Presentations will be made by KBK Enterprises and the Housing Authority of the City of Pittsburgh. Your input is important! Bring your questions and get feedback from the developers.

Where: St. Lawrence O'Toole Activity Center, (N. Atlantic and Broad), in Garfield
Time: March 12, 6:30 p.m.
Info: 412-665-5200 (Garfield Jubilee Assn.)

Light refreshments will be served.

Former Garfield Resident Signs Books at Borders

Former Garfield resident Lynn Manley will be signing copies of her book Through the Fire But Not Burnt on Saturday, February 7, from 3 to 5 p.m. at Borders Eastside, 5986 Penn Circle South.

Manley's book, a collection of essays, tells the story of her life. A survivor of abuse, kidnapping, and betrayal, Manley hopes that her book will inspire others.

A story about Manley appeared in an issue of The Bulletin several years ago and is reprinted here:

Abuse, rape, kidnapping and betrayal scarred Lynn Manley’s childhood and the early part of her adult life. But like the Phoenix rising from the ashes, Manley somehow regained control of her life and emerged from the fire without being burnt.

Now, Manley hopes that her story can be an inspiration to other women who have suffered abuse.

Through the Fire But Not Burnt, the first published book by this Garfield native, addresses abuse in all of its forms - physical, mental and emotional - through essays that include Manley’s personal stories and the stories of women she has known, along with fictional essays that address forms of abuse that neither Manley, nor the women she knows, have had the misfortune of experiencing first hand.

Manley ends each essay with a short prayer asking for strength for the abused, and for change on the part of the abuser. Manley also offers readers the unique opportunity to record their own thoughts and prayers at the end of each essay, to encourage them to come to terms with their feelings.

Manley says that she hopes that the book can help other women learn that no matter what abuse they may have suffered, their lives do have value, and they can get through.

“I am a living testament that you can get through the fire without being burnt,” Manley says.

Manley tried it all, she says - but drugs, alcohol and even counseling only proved to be temporary solutions. It was only through her relationship with God, and the support of her family - her husband, Michael, a pastor, her 17-year old daughter, Tiara, and the family beagle, Pooh - that Manley was able to come to terms with her past and realize the value of her life.

Manley says that she also wants women who have been abused by men to know that there are good men out there who know how to love them, and that their unfortunate pasts do not make them “damaged goods.” Her proof of that is her husband, Michael, who supportively encouraged Manley to write the book.

Manley said she worried about the effect that publicly revealing such facts about herself and her past might have on her family, but soon found that both her husband and daughter were very supportive of the project. In the first few days since the book was published, Manley has already sold 75 copies through word of mouth and she hopes to get the book into women’s shelters t o be used as a resource for those who have been abused.

The book is currently available at World Overcomers bookstore in New Kensington, and Manley hopes to soon have the book available at at least one major bookseller and several Christian bookstores. In the meantime, those interested in obtaining a copy of the book may do so by writing to M&L Manley, P.O. Box 124, Natrona Heights, PA 15065-0124, or e-mail staceytoots@comcast.net.

--Mandy Kendall

The Mayor Comes to Penn Avenue

Pittsburgh Mayor Luke Ravenstahl toured Penn Avenue in Garfield, Bloomfield, and Friendship this morning as part of his "Taking Care of Business" initiative. The tour is designed to identify how the city can help revitalize different neighborhoods with signage, trees, and other improvements. With the mayor was Bloomfield-Garfield Corp. executive director Rick Swartz (with camera).