Wonder Writers from the Heights
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"There is a writer in everybody, but not everyone chooses to be a writer" Rochelle Preston, 56, a committed member of the Women's Writing Group of Northview Heights explained. Preston has been a lifelong resident of Northview Heights and is described as being someone who "plugs into anything that's positive in this community" by a fellow Writing Group member. Preston explains that it was not until Hudson walked into her life that she was able to fully choose to be a writer and nourish her talents. Now Preston is on her way to publishing her first collection of poems through the Women's Writing Group of Northview Heights. Upon reflection of the impact of writing upon her life, Preston encourages, "if writing is one of your passions, get out there, go through prompts, make collages and write the story. It's interesting because it is your story to tell." Read the rest at www.storyburgh.org
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Wonder Writers from the Heights
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Janice Harry, 70, a Harrisburg native who moved to Northview Heights 7 years ago with her husband was drawn to the genuine, positive, and amusing nature of the Women's Writing Group of Northview Heights. "Other poetry readings are so full of angst we aren't trying to out do one another through negativity" Harry explains. The group helps to challenge Harry to pursue authenticity and straightfowardness in her work. Harry believes that it is through writing that people can become more empowered and overcome individual insecurities. Drawing inspiration from a quote by Pablo Picasso "every child is an artist, the problem is how to remain an artist when we grow up" Harry sees the Women's Writing Group of Northview Heights as a place where she is able to be challenged to retain the artist within.
Read the rest at www.storyburgh.org. .
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Train Like A Champion
“Boxing is like a bug,” John James told me. “You either love it or hate it. If you love it, it never lets you go.” James, a former champion amateur boxer (Pittsburgh Golden Gloves, 1994, 165 lbs), now serves Pittsburgh as a volunteer trainer for Steel City Boxing. The gym, located in Spring Hill, is a decommissioned firehouse. While it’s open to the public, most of its members are young adult men.
Bob Sobocinski, president of the Spring Hill Civic League and the president of the gym, views the gym as a source of cohesion and civic pride. He hopes it can restore social unity in Spring Hill. “I’d like to see the neighborhood like it used to be,” Sobocinski said. “There used to be groups like Little League that don’t exist anymore.” Read the rest at www.storyburgh.org .
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To Drink, or Not To Drink “I drank from that spring when I went to Spring Hill School. People used to stand in line waiting to fill jugs up, daily.” Restoring the freshwater spring was the culmination of a dream for Pittsburgh District 1 Councilwoman Darlene Harris. “We’ve been talking about getting the spring restored for thirty seven years.” In May 2016, after a six-decade hiatus, fresh water has again begun to flow.

But is it safe to drink?
Read more at storyburgh.org .
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Lead Laden Soil "People are worried about water, and they should be, but water is not the main driver of lead poisoning among children.” It’s soil.

In the Steel City, groups like ACCD, DECO Resources, and Grow Pittsburgh have been able to conduct studies on soil lead levels in neighborhood vacant lots using an X-ray Fluorescence Spectrometer, also known as the XRF. This handheld machine can test soil for lead and receive results in about 60 seconds. “We affectionately call it the soil ray gun,” said Anthony Stewart, president and environmental director of DECO Resources.

The XRF can be used to test lead levels in soil if the soil is processed properly. With a grant from the Hillman Family Foundation, the ACCD purchased an XRF.

To properly test the soil in a vacant lot for lead, Stewart said the lot is first broken up into areas that are usually 10 square feet and five samples are taken from each section. The soil must then be dried and processed into fine granules before being tested by the XRF. With this level of analysis, Stewart said they have been getting “laboratory grade results.” “We do send out 10 to 15 percent of our samples off to a lab for confirmation, and we are finding that we are spot on,” Stewart said.

Stewart said he would like to see collaboration between the organization and the City so “vetted scientists” would be allowed to access the City’s soil data that is currently internal and private. “It would be incredibly helpful… to use that data to drive policy and decision making,” Stewart said. “That’s kind of where I see the shortcoming right now.” Read the rest @ www.storyburgh.org
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David Shifren is a knight. His life moves in one direction, shifts 90 degrees, continues on, then shifts again. On November 3, 2015, Shifren's interests took another turn, as he began teaching chess to 10-15 local children at the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh. Shifren aims to help the kids in his chess club move like pawns on a chessboard: only forward never bavkward. A year and a half after the first meeting, the club has maintained its crowd and the idea has spread to other neighborhoods. The club offers consistency and a safe place to grow intellectually and socially. Most importantly it has helped to create a close connection between communities and the local police force. "I'll ask about [the kids] reading habits, see chess kids at Hazelwood events, such as school football games, holiday parties, National Night Out celebrations and the Hazelwood Center of Life musical events" Shifren said. "I have forged friendships with the kids." Read the rest at www.storyburgh.org
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Wonder Writers from the Heights •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
Hudson Rush, a local Pittsburgh artist, took leadership of the Women's Writing Group of Northview Heights in August 2015. The group is dedicated to creating a safe place in which women in the community can write and share their lived experiences. Rush has worked with the group for two years. In that time she has helped the women have their voices heard in public readings at the City of Asylum, Newkirsh, and in various community days. Now Rush and the participants are working on a documentary chronicling their work with the help of the Sprout Fund and are hoping to have their writings published in the coming year. Rush views the group as a democracy in which voices are given a place to be heard and inner strength brought to the forefront.
Read the rest at www.storyburgh.org .
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