Gracie the Pit Bull was a puppy when she showed up at Michael Delahonty’s church and never left because of a Pit Bull rescue group.

Ferdinand was rescued and placed in a safe home from “an alleged hoarder/ dogfighter/ backyard breeder in Jefferson County, Ohio,” said Nicole Meloy, the event and fundraising coordinator for the group Hello Bully, which cares for abused Pitt Bull Terriors.

“This is my first dog,” Jennifer Brown, who works with Meloy, as Ferdinand nuzzles up to her and puts his head on her lap. Ferdinand’s new owner said. “I will always have a Pit now.”

For the past six years, the Pit Bull rescue group, Hello Bully, have taken in these wide-jawed dogs know as savage fighters, fixed what is wrong with them and placed them into loving homes.

“We sent anywhere from 5-12 volunteers a day over a six week period to help care for these dogs while they were being held in a temporary facility until they could be released into rescue. Some dogs had scarring and some were a bit malnourished, but as soon as they saw you, they wiggled like crazy even though they had lived all of their lives on a chain. This was a historic case because it was the most dogs that were ever seized out of one yard,” Meloy said.

A Bully Pulpit

Hello Bully was an organization started by Daisy and John Balawejder. “According to Daisy, a Pit Bull saved her life and she has dedicated hers to helping them in return,” a senior volunteer Jessica McNeely said. Daisy is now the president of the organization.

This organization is Pittsburgh based but they want to get as much knowledge out to the population as possible.

Hello Bully was started to help save the lives of Pit Bulls and to get proper knowledge out to the public about the breed. Volunteers help set up fundraisers, adoption fairs and training sessions for Pit Bulls.
A Little Help From Her Friends

Delahonty got involved because he was friends with Donna Winnie, the veterinarian who opened up her story for monthly bath sessions. Since he had his very own Pit Bull, Delahonty decided to join the group and help out as he could.

“Gracie is our little guardian,” Delahonty said. He then went on to explain that when Gracie showed up at the church his wife was fighting cancer. “This dog stayed by her side during the entire fight, She wouldn’t leave her alone.”

“Pit Bulls have a desire to serve. If you are a bad owner, the dog will serve but in a bad way. This breed needs good owners,” Delahonty said.

Ferdinand was rescued along with 200 other dogs. The organization will collect the dogs and figure out which ones can be saved and trained to be sweet dogs that will go to loving homes. The Humane Society paired with Hello Bully to save these dogs.

Ferdinand is a seven-year-old whose face and body is covered with scars. He was the legacy of a fighting dog, now he is a sweet dog that loves to be around his new owner. He was very quiet and shied away from the other dogs at the Bath-a-Thon. Nevertheless, Ferdinand’s new owner liked his heart and quiet nature and adopted him.

“I fell in love with him! He also loves cats, which is a bonus,” Brown said.

Bully Bath-A-Thon

On April 30th, it staged its first annual bath-a-thon to raise money to continue its work at 4885 A McKnight Road Suite 197, Pittsburgh, Pa 15237.

Donna Winnie a 30-year veterinary technician with just the connection of loving all animals started the Bath-a-Thon; she invited Hello Bully to have their very first Bath-a-Thon at Greenfield Grooming Salon 4028 Beechwood Blvd, Pittsburgh, PA 15217. For $25 the dogs will get a wash and dry, ear cleaning and their nails trimmed. “All of the money goes to the organization.”

There are different Bath-a-Thons dedicated to a specific breed and organization. You do not need to have that breed to show up at the Bath-a-Thon though.

If you want to volunteer with Hello Bully you can go the website, http://www.hellobully.com/index.html and sign up there. You will need to have a training session and you can go from there.

“I don’t have an exact number but I would say that we have saved hundreds through our free spay/ neuter program, Pit Fix Plus,” Meloy said on how many dogs they have saved over the six years since they opened.

Twenty-two-year-old Reem Hobeld in her native garb was at the beverage station at the Pittsburgh Burger Company in the waterfront when a man yelled, “Hey friend! Why do you have that thing on your head? Ain’t you American?” The “thing” that this man referred to was the hijab, or the head scarf for females, which is a customary part of the Islamic faith. The interrogations from this stranger did not have an effect on Hobeldin so she shrugged it off and walked out. She didn’t want to make a scene, mainly because she was smart enough to know that religion is separate from nationality.

For Muslims like Hobeldin, such encounters in Pittsburgh happen frequently, and while this Egyptian born, United Arab Emirates reared young woman didn’t confront that man, she is often eager to explain the peaceful nature of Islam to whoever asks. Ever since 9/11 and other tragedies that were carried out by radical Muslims a negative stigma has been attached to Islamic faith, and according to Hobeldin the media is mostly to blame. “This is what people have been exposed to and this is their only source of knowledge about Islam,” Hobeldin expresses. It becomes important to inform them.

“It [hijab] makes me an ambassador for Islam,” Hobeldin continues, “We have a lot of the values that other religions have, like being good to your neighbor and being humble. Islam is a beautiful religion. It’s a way of life,” Hobeldin says.

Egyptian-born Hobeldin lived in the United Arab Emirates for 10 years and completed an undergraduate degree at the American University of Sharjah in Dubai. Upon completion, she came to Pittsburgh to attend Carnegie Mellon University to study English Rhetoric. She noticed that when people are in a college setting, it’s a protected environment and people are more prone to keep negative comments to themselves. In the streets, with no protection around you, the discrimination is more prevalent. Contrary to popular belief the hijab is worn by Muslim women, not to conceal their identity but to take pride in it. She proudly wears the head scarf even if it is a target of discrimination because it’s what defines who she is.

Strengthen Bonds

Hobeldin strongly thinks that one major thing that Muslims could do to change the negative view of Islam is to improve the society within their religion. She also says that to help improve the world’s views on Islam, then Muslims need to be more proactive. “I think it starts with the individual” she says, and one place to be proactive is right here in the community. She is very active member or the Pennsylvania Interfaith Impact Network, which is an organization that brings different faiths together to work toward the greater good of people from all walks of life.

Representation

Islam is misunderstood by people that simply don’t know enough about it, partly because they’ve never had the resources to learn and partly by choice. Turkish-born Melek Yaziciit, says that it saddens her to see how some people choose to stay ignorant to her faith which in reality promotes peace and understanding. To help inform and educate people within the college arena, the Muslim Student Association was formed at Carnegie Mellon University, nearly 12 years ago. MSA General Secretary, Rameez Mustafah, is one of the leaders of the organization who heads many of the events that take place on campus. Just two weeks ago, the MSA held an Islamic Awareness Week, in which people could observe the prayer services that were held outside to see how the customs and practices are. They had leaders of the group that were available to talk if anybody had any questions. They reached out to people as a way to remove the misconceptions about their religion. They also work on progression within the Muslim student population. One of the things MSA is pushing for currently is adding some items in the café to appeal towards Muslim way of eating. The MSA is vital because it offers support for fellow Muslims and seeks to inform those that remain unclear about their faith.

Like Hobeldin, Mustafah has never seen any incidents of discrimination at CMU. He believes a big problem though is that one person’s actions tend to represent the people as a whole, such as jihadists speaking for the whole nation of Islam. “There are events that happen all over the world. We shouldn’t start blaming the entire community. It’s an individual action. It’s not something that should be projected toward the Muslim population,” Mustafah strongly states.

Perhaps instead of blaming each other we can work together to make better the one race we all share, and that is humanity. Nur Aishah Mohd Shah, from Malaysia, puts it poetically, “I guess to see passed the skin is to see people as souls. It’s the best way to live our lives”

When Matthew Yough, owner of Bean Catering in the Southside, got a phone call to provide catered coffee services for the Tom Cruise film, “One Shot”, it was a game-changer for his business. Megan Lindsey and Tim Tobitsch, owners of the Franktuary hot dog shop downtown, were ecstatic when their favored all- beef ‘Locavore’ hot dog landed them a job selling franks for the same film. For Peak Security, a security system and guard service based out of Forest Hills, working on “Batman: Dark Knight Rises” was business as usual, but a clear example of how much potential profit can be made when films are shot here.

From hot coffee to hot dogs, a movie requires many different services to ensure that production runs smoothly. While hotels and restaurants clearly benefit economically from Pittsburgh’s ‘Hollywood of the East’ status, so do the small firms. Bean Catering, Franktuary and Peak Security are just some of the small businesses that are on the vendor list kept by the Pittsburgh Film Office as a way to refer them to production companies that come to town.

There are many other small companies that benefit too.

The films play an important factor in helping these businesses to thrive, therefore boosting the economic impact of the region. Not only do movies help businesses directly, but their suppliers as well. Whether it’s Laprima Coffee Co. supplying Bean Catering with the coffee and syrup or the local farm supplying Franktuary with the beef for its hot dogs, everyone gets a piece of the action.
Pittsburgh has new appeal

The Pittsburgh Film Office was founded in 1990 by Pittsburgh-born film-maker, Russ Streiner, after a union strike shut down New York’s film productions in the late 1980s. That downturn caused producers to seek other locations for their projects, mainly Pittsburgh. As a result, a swarm of phone calls were directed towards the mayor’s office. Since the mayor had huge challenges at the time, such as urban deterioration and increased unemployment, the thought of answering questions about movies seemed miniscule. The logical plan was to have an office in Pittsburgh filled with qualified people to handle the requests. Starting with Streiner’s own 1990 production of “Night of the Living Dead,” the film list continues to grow and has included major motion pictures such as “Striking Distance”, “Hoffa” and Jean Claude Van Damme’s “Sudden Death”. In 2007, a new Pennsylvania tax credit program induced a new desire for producers to turn the historical cities and mountainous terrain of Pennsylvania into movie sets. The Pennsylvania Film Tax Credit, which gives a 25% rebate back to production companies if 60% of the budget is spent in the state, has brought in over $100 million to the city from 2009-2011.

“Since the tax credit started, the film industry has doubled the economic impact of the region,” Jessica Connor, Assistant Director to the Pittsburgh Film Office, says.
The tax breaks and the beautiful scenery in the rural and urban settings have enabled Pennsylvania to move up among the top ten states to film movies in. Since the tax credit began in 2007, over 150 productions came to Pennsylvania. The most recent film shot in Pittsburgh, “One Shot”, is scheduled to be released to theaters in December, 2012.

The small businesses, especially those on the film office vendor list, are reaping the benefits of Pittsburgh’s rediscovered popularity.
Coffee On The Set

Bean Catering, located at 3113 Mission St. in Southside, is a small coffee catering company that made it on the list because of Yough’s previous experience with Craft Services, a sandwich and beverage vendor that also works on the sets. The relationships that he’s built with film crews and more importantly the film office, helps him keep that foothold as someone who can do the job efficiently. The phone rang and the caller ID read Beverly Hills. Yough remembers the phone call when he was asked to provide coffee and espresso services for a huge production to be filmed in Pittsburgh. “Was I excited? Oh my God. I wanted to pee my pants,” Yough recalls. Before he knew it he was working on “One Shot” for 6-8 hours a day for approximately 8 weeks. The potential to increase his profits on such a short notice made him speechless. He says that this is the first time he’s ever worked full-time on a film before. His excitement for this opportunity trumped any stress that he felt for preparing for this kind of work load and he agreed to do it. He doubled his profits in that relatively short period of time. Not only did Yough increase his profits, but his suppliers did also. Yough buys products from locally owned companies such as La Prima, Commonplace, Vanilla Pastry Studios, Heineman’s and all of the milk he uses comes from local farms. Some businesses that don’t work directly with the production companies benefit because they supply those that do. When Bean Catering grows and becomes more successful, Yough strongly supports the Pittsburgh region from an economic standpoint and plans on staying here.

“It’s that whole mindset of what sustains us as a community. It’s about keeping the money here in Pittsburgh,” Yough says.

Local Hot Dog Gets Big Break

Hot dogs were also a popular item served to the film crew of “One Shot”. Just ask Tim Tobitsch and Megan Lindsey, owners of Franktuary located at 325 Oliver Avenue, how they happened to charm a very important person with their Locavore hotdog. The Locavore is an all-beef hotdog organically raised on a farm in Volant, Pa., which is about an hour from Pittsburgh. The day was an ordinary with people swarming in to get their daily dose of dogs at lunch time. One of those people happened to be the personal chef of a “very famous star” who loved the Locavore hot dog so much that she referred Franktuary to work on “One Shot”. “It was pretty cool to know who is eating our hotdogs” Lindsey says, “and that they really like them!” An important asset that Tobitsch and Lindsey have is their Franktuary food truck that they bought in the spring of 2010, which offers more flexibility to be available when the crews need them. Lindsey says that they’re often driving on the film set in between takes, and the truck helps them be available for the impromptu service that the nature of the film industry calls for. Usually Tobitsch and Lindsey price their services on a per person basis for the films just as they would in their shop, but they had an unusual request from “Perks of Being a Wallflower” star Logan Lerman. “He basically bought the entire truck’s contents for a three-hour period and let the cast and crew get whatever they wanted, whenever they wanted it,” Lindsey recalls. Who could turn that down? They also profited from “Batman: Dark Knight Rises”, but not because of the hotdogs. Trinity Cathedral, where Franktuary sits in the basement, was turned into an orphanage for a scene in the film. They were closed for two days while the scene was shot, but they were generously reimbursed. They also currently have a request to rent out their food truck to be used in a carnival scene in an upcoming film. Tobitsch says that approximately 15% of their revenue is directly from the film industry, and the food truck is the reason for that significant increase.

“We’re one of the few mobile options in this city and that’s what they’re looking for,” Tobitsch states.

While coffee and hotdogs are deemed as luxury items by film industry standards, other services such as security are necessary to protect the equipment and the actors. Peak Security, based out of Forest Hills, is no stranger to providing these services to the film industry. Peak Security began in 1978 by Raymond Cervanek Sr. and it has worked for over 70 productions shot in Pittsburgh. Raymond Cervanek Jr. was only 16-years-old working alongside his father for the 1993 Bruce Willis film, “Striking Distance”. According to Cervanek Jr., now Assistant Vice-President, 2011 was the company’s most successful year working with films. Peak has had a pretty steady flow of movie work the past 15 years, averaging an increase of 10-20% revenue depending on the size of the production. Cervanek Jr. said that for “Batman: Dark Knight Rises” he had to hire between 75-100 security guards making it the largest production the company has worked in its history. Cervanek Jr. claims that the small business advantage is what the film industry needs.

“When the movies call and say we need this, this and this done right now, it’s done. We don’t have to go through a process of running it through four different types of people and getting some kind of approval,”
Cervanek Jr. says.

The only approval that Peak Security needs is that of his mother and CEO, Kathy Cervanek. Peak Security has numerous accounts around the city, including Heinz Field and is hired to work at the Regatta this summer.

“Before [the tax credit] it used to be ‘what do you look like?’ or ‘what locations do you have?’ and now it’s ‘what is your incentive program?’ It’s become a trend,” Connor says.

Inside the Indian boutique, Shingar, the eyes are besieged by a myriad of colors extending beyond the rainbow from the clothing racks packed with saris, sherwanis and kurtas, and glass cases filled with bangles, bindis and other traditional Indian jewelry.

The heavy smell of incense permeates every corner of the store and swathes anyone with the pungent aroma of sandalwood.

There is also the gentle sound of meditation music played by string instruments creating a calm vibe that has a relaxing effect on the patrons.

Shingar, located at 4141 Old William Penn Highway, Monroeville, is run by Romi Singh, a native of India.  Shingar gets customers from all over the region because it is the only store of its kind.  It houses the largest selection of authentic Indian clothing and Bollywood movies in the Pittsburgh area.

“The items will be from all over India.  Even some of the items will be from Kashmir,” Singh said.

Many people make a stop at Shingar after going to the Hindu SV Temple up the road.  Singh said that he has many regular customers in the area and that he also gets patrons from outside of the state.

Singh came to the United States in 1988, looking for a better opportunity.  He settled in Pittsburgh because his cousin was living in the area.  Singh opened Shingar nine years ago because he owned the same type of store when he lived in India.  Singh said that Shingar means anything that a woman can use to make herself more beautiful.  When Singh was contemplating opening the store, he had been spending half of the year in India, and the other half in the United States.  He was hesitant to start the business since he would be tied down and unable to travel to India as frequently.  But Singh made his decision with some advice from an unexpected place.

“One day I was eating at a Thai place, and you know how they give you fortune cookies.  And I opened the fortune cookie and the fortune cookie said ‘If you really want something, this is the time to do it.  Don’t wait.’  I thought it was a message for me.  That’s how I started,” Singh said with a laugh.

Authentic Garments

Singh orders all of his merchandise through his brother in New Delhi, India.  Singh returns to India often to visit his family and find items for the store.  Shingar carries traditional Indian clothing such as saris, long pieces of cloth that are wrapped around the body.  Saris are a quintessential fashion for Indian women, and Singh said that they can sell for as much as $1,000 but in his store the prices range from $75 to $250.

Shingar also has clothes for men called sherwani, a formal type of apparel that is button-down and collared and looks similar to a light coat.  They also have kurtas which are long-sleeved, loose fitting shirts made of cotton.  Sherwanis can go from $75 to 175.  Kurtas are about $25.

Clothing of every hue imaginable is sold in the store.  Tailoring services are available for customizing all styles of apparel.

Traditional Jewelry

Shingar also carries a great deal of traditional Indian jewelry.  There are necklaces in different shapes such as rectangles and diamonds.  There are even some in the shape of small peacocks that have jeweled feathers.  Necklaces range from $25 to $40.  The store also sells special bracelets called bangles that are decorated with beads and stones.  The bangles are a customer favorite and are also sold from $25 to $40.

“My favorite part of the store is the jewelry, especially the bangles.  I love it,” said Sameera Frickel, a regular customer at Shingar.

The store also sells bindis, a small jewel that can be glued in the middle of the eyebrows.  Bindis are worn by Indian women as a fashion trend.

“I think Madonna made it famous, she put [a bindi] on her album, on her forehead,” Singh said.

Another special item that Shingar carries is japa bead necklaces.  Japa beads are special because it was said that Shiva, a Hindu god, once meditated for a very long time and when he opened his eyes, a tear dropped on the Earth.  From that tear a rudarakash tree grew, the tree which japa beads come from.  It is said that japa beads have special healing powers.

“I think the only power from japa beads is to get peacefulness,” Singh said.  “I believe when your body is calm and your mind is calm your body functions much better.”

Japa beads start at $20 but depending on what they are made from they may become more expensive.

From Bollywood to Our Backyard

Shingar holds a collection of around 500 Bollywood movies, which are the largest assortment in the region.  Bollywood was the nickname given to the Indian film industry that is centered in Mumbai, formerly known as Bombay.  Singh said that India is the leading country in the world when it comes to film production and that there are five or six Bollywood films released every week.  Just like Hollywood, they have famous actors, such as Anil Kapoor, and renowned directors, like Guru Dutt.  Bollywood movies go from $10 to $30 in the store.

“The Bollywood movies are very family based actually,” Singh said.  “They show more [family] relationships and things like that.  Every movie has to have six or seven songs, it doesn’t work without songs.”

Celebrating Religion

The store also sells detailed paintings of Hindu gods and goddesses.  There is a painting of Durga, goddess of strength wearing a crown, and riding a tiger while holding a curved sword among other things with her eight arms that goes for $35.  Another painting depicts Saraswati goddess of knowledge and music, holding a veena, a sitar-like instrument, accompanied by a peacock to her right, which is also $35.  These are just a few of the paintings that are meticulously imbedded with Hindu symbols.  Prices on the paintings vary depending on size.

Romi the Yogi

Although Shingar sells countless goods unique in the area, from Hindi artwork, to authentic Indian clothing, to Bollywood videos, the man behind the counter makes a visit to the store memorable for customers.

“Do I have a favorite part of the store? Romi of course.  He’s just an awesome business person,” said Fathima Clothey, another regular Shingar shopper.  She said that Singh had made her a custom two-piece outfit for her birthday consisting of a tan bottom and top with a scarf that she really liked.

While Singh’s shop is filled wall to wall during store hours, there are times when the shop is transformed into a space where he can teach yoga.  Singh has practiced yoga for over 30 years, but he has recently taken on the venture of teaching.

“My dream [is to teach] yoga.  I want to teach yoga and Tai Chi.  That’s what I want to share with people,” he said.

Singh hasn’t been teaching publicly for that long but already has a small following.  He teaches in his shop and will also go to people’s homes if they want private lessons.  Group classes start at $20 and private lessons start at $50.  There are also packages of classes available.  Singh can be reached at 412-853-0752 for more information.

“I think if they’re not lying, most of [my students] loved it,” Singh said about his lessons.

Singh doesn’t have plans for expansion of the store.  In fact he said that eventually he wants to open up a school to teach yoga and Tai Chi.  When he is able to do that, he will leave Shingar in the hands of his wife so he can focus solely on teaching.

“They say a yogi should be able to control his senses like a turtle gets inside its shell,” Singh said.

For now, Singh’s senses will be busy with the sights, smells and sounds inside his store.

A granite sign on the Braddock Municipal Building lawn at 415 Sixth Street states “Lest We Forget” in memory of all United States veterans; a slogan that indirectly recounts the days where UPMC’s Braddock hospital stood tall on the main street through town. Since its closure in January 2010, the residents of Braddock have struggled to receive medical assistance in the form of any establishment in the once-flourishing steel town.

Despite the odds, the Braddock Free Clinic’s opening in August of 2011 has offered residents an alternative to the vacant hospital they were so familiar with.

“It was great,” reminisces 30-year-old Braddock resident Dave Rosenstraus, who was a patient at the clinic when it first opened this past August due to back problems. Rosenstraus waxed nostalgic about his trip, remarking that it closely resembled a standard hospital waiting room visit. What made the Free Clinic different was its first question posed: “Do you have health insurance?”

The Clinic does not offer services of any kind to those with any form of health insurance, reserving the resources they have for the uninsured. Crudely taped to the front door of the Municipal Building is an 8.5×11” flyer that reads, “It is our pleasure to serve you by providing basic healthcare to those who need it but cannot afford it.” As it goes on, it explains that in order to even be seen by one of the volunteering doctors on site, a patient’s household income must be at or below 350% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines. This means that a one-person household must make lower than $37,905 per year to be waited on (two-person: $50,995; three-person: 64,085).

Rosenstraus says he had a positive experience at the Braddock Clinic, citing a short wait time and good advice given to him by the doctor on call that August day. Despite the overall good visit, the Clinic has its quirks.

“The ‘doctor’s office’ was actually in the Code Enforcement office,” says Rosenstraus of the makeshift patient area. He further tells the story of being asked a few simple questions by the doctor who then a drawer on wheels carrying medical supplies, used as a provisional medical cart.

“The Clinic is beneficial to our area because there are a lot of elderly people in Braddock, along with poorer populations who don’t have access to good food and healthcare,” he says, “which usually leads to having more ailments.”

Rosenstraus’ housemate Alex Sanchez describes a similar experience at the Free Clinic this past January. He was concerned about knee problems he was having, and was promptly recommended by the doctor on call to have x-rays done at UPMC’s McKeesport facility, an admittedly ironic twist on the Braddock healthcare saga. Sanchez notes that of his $500 bill that amassed from all of the services he received at the Free Clinic and at UPMC McKeesport, he paid a staggering $80 for the care. And according to the queue he witnessed leaving the Clinic, the services seem to have caught on.

“When I got there around 11 A.M.,” says Sanchez, “it was just me and one other person. By the time I left after noon, there were about 15 people in the waiting room.”

Rosenstraus and Sanchez are just two of the many Braddock residents to have used the services of the Braddock Free Clinic since its inception in August. But with its limited time available to residents (the Clinic’s only hours are Saturdays and Sundays from 9:30 A.M. to 2:30 P.M.) as well as its limited resources, it fills a section of the void left by UPMC Braddock. While the ensuing battle that happened between residents and UPMC officials during the closing of the hospital was anything but pleasant, receptionist Brenda Haines of Elizabeth says that the people of Braddock don’t say too much about the loss of the town’s hospital over two years ago.

“They’re just looking for services,” Haines explains, knowing all too well the behaviors of the patients. She has worked at the Free Clinic since its opening and has seen the program grow to include many different aspects. Haines listed around 15 specialists that volunteer their services to the people of Braddock, including cardiologists, practitioners of internal medicine, and many more. The two explicitly left out by Haines that the Clinic does not have are dentistry and gynecology, but she states that they are currently on the search for those that will offer these services.

“It doesn’t take the place of UPMC,” Rosenstraus says, “but it’s a good way for people to get themselves checked out.”

A few years ago, when friends Ian Shiver and Welch Canavan took a chance by moving to Braddock, Pennsylvania, a former steel mill town outside of Pittsburgh, they couldn’t foresee standing at a garage door leading to a punk show on a Saturday night in a desolate town collecting money for three out-of-town punk bands.

That is one portion of the work Shiver and Canavan have amassed as two members of the Some Ideas Collective, a grassroots and self-sufficient group of musicians and artists that not only book musical acts in Braddock, but also work alongside community members to revitalize the town.

“The purpose behind the collective,” Shiver explains, “is to take all of our resources that on their own wouldn’t necessarily be very much and combine them into something big, something hopefully great.”

These resources, which include physical, financial and mental, make up the Some Ideas Collective and give it the gas it needs to bring the group’s ideas to life. The collective is spread across the mile-long municipality, with most of its inclusive roster harbored in one house along Maple Way, with the Edgar Thompson Steel Building looming just a few yards away.

Although they didn’t know what to expect, they, along with a few other friends, moved to Braddock to start up Some Ideas. The Collective started in 2009 when its members moved from major metropolitan areas such as Washington D.C., Baltimore, Philadelphia, and Richmond, to the nationally-acknowledged distressed area with a 2010 census of just 2,159 residents.

While only living in Braddock for roughly three years, the Collective has already brought much attention to the blossoming culture of the town, which includes more than just Some Ideas. The first annual Braddock Fest took place last May, assembled by 61B Booking, a separate entity that is comprised of the same people and falls under the general umbrella of Some Ideas. The two-day festival brought many renowned metal and hardcore bands to town such as Boston thrash titans Converge, southern metal legends Corrosion of Conformity, and newcomers Trap Them. The festival was also featured in the Pittsburgh City Paper, accompanied by an interview with Some Ideas member, co-founder of alternative fuel supplier Fossil Free Fuels, and president of the Braddock Economic Development Corporation Dave Rosenstraus, unofficially touting the event as his 30th birthday celebration.

Combining the attendance for both days of Braddock Fest presents over 500 people, something the Collective was shocked by in the best way possible. They could not have imagined when initially hatching the idea for the festival. And as Some Ideas continues to grow with each individual that moves to Braddock and becomes involved with the endeavors taken on, the already-established members are more than happy to receive the extra help for any overwhelming projects, which includes a community garden the Collective will be maintaining this summer.

“Anyone within our collective who is interested is welcome to operate within and be supported by us,” Shiver comments, “but Welch, Dave and I are the three that have shown the most interest.” He explains that Braddock Fest, the biggest undertaking by 61B Booking since its inception, took a myriad of helping hands to happen. “Everyone else has helped in different ways with different shows, and we’re hoping that continues.”

The March 31st at hip-hop studio Square One in Braddock hosts three bands from far distances: Cloud Rat from Michigan, Loma Prieta from California, and Birds In Row from France. The show has brought out close to 100 people, who have crammed tightly into the small, open venue. The good turnout guarantees that each band will earn enough gas money to get to their next gig. Almost everyone in attendance sang along to each band’s unique take on blistering fast hardcore punk music and expressed themselves through rapid motion from one wall to the other, flailing to the rhythm of the spastic metal-tinged punk being played. Each band expresses their gratitude to the Some Ideas Collective during their set, praising them for putting the show together and for helping them for this one night of their extensive tour schedule.

Square One is just one of the resources Some Ideas have at their disposal in the small town. They have regularly and effectively used Square One, the Braddock Library theater, art space Unsmoke Systems, an empty warehouse rented by the Collective that houses only a skateboard ramp and an ample performance space, as well as Collective member Dave Rosenstraus’ house and recording studio on Charles Way as show spaces for bands from all over the world.

“Eventually we hope that the project will grow to include a hosting of our creative efforts and possibly even a collective business that can sustain us,” Canavan explains of the overall plan to turn their small idea into something big. While there are no concrete long-term goals, there have been talks of opening of a vegan bakery and coffee shop along Braddock Avenue. And as the Collective grows as a business, the relationship between each member of the Collective also flourishes.

“My favorite experience of the Collective is growing together and becoming closer with each member,” says Canavan. “Some nights we just sit around and put each other in stitches. At those moments, I couldn’t ask for more.”

The zombie apocalypse will fall on the Pittsburgh area soon. Droves of citizens will flee from the giant group of the undead. The only strange thing is, these zombies don’t want your brains; they want your flags.

Run For Your Lives, a zombie-themed 5k obstacle course race, will be making its first appearance in western Pennsylvania on September 1st. The event will be held at the Switchback Raceway in Butler County.

Kelly Horvath, a 28-year-old resident of Highland Park, has enrolled in the race as a racer and is eagerly anticipating her participation. After being told about Run For Your Lives by her brother, also entered as a racer, the two deemed it “too good to pass up” and quickly registered.

“I’ve always loved zombies and horror films,” laments Horvath.

The Run For Your Lives race was created by Ryan Hogan and Derrick Smith, two childhood friends from Bel Air, Maryland. After conceiving the idea of holding a 5k race to fund Hogan’s apparel line Warwear, located online at www.warwear.com, they found inspiration through television show The Walking Dead to present the race with a zombie theme, pitting race contestants against zombies placed throughout the course. Anyone who enters has the option to take on the role of a racer or a zombie faced with the task of “killing off” the contestants. To emulate the health required to survive a zombie apocalypse, Hogan and Smith implement a flag football-type belt with health flags hanging from it. These are the direct target for the participating zombies, and if a competitor makes it to the finish line with at least one health flag left on their belt, they are presented with a survival medal.

While she has no prior relay experience, Horvath has found what seems to be a suitable process to prepare for the race: a brisk walk in the morning and a jog around Highland Park at night. This, coupled with the mental preparation, will have Horvath ready for the event.

“If this is your first 5K obstacle race,” explains Ashley Boarman, the public relations senior account executive for Hogan and Smith’s Reed Street Productions, “Hogan and Smith encourage participants to start running a few weeks in advance to ensure completion of the course. Run For Your Lives is challenging, but definitely not impossible.”

For the more experienced runner looking to take part in the race, the creators suggest adding dodging moves and maneuvers into their regular training routines to ensure that the contestant gets through the course with all of their health flags intact.

“Also, it doesn’t hurt to watch a lot of zombie movies,” Boarman adds.

The inaugural race was held on October 22, 2011 at Camp Ramblewood in Darlington, Maryland with a staggering attendance of around 10,000 competitors, zombies, and spectators, according to Boarman.

Smith adds that at every race, the crowd is as enthusiastic and in-character as possible, adding to the festive and lighthearted atmosphere of the event.

“It’s always fun to see what people will show up wearing. Every race we’ve had is like Halloween,” Smith says. He explains that many attendees dress in a costume and are not specifically limited to zombie garb. People that have attended Run For Your Lives relays have dressed in a wide array of costumes such as Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Mario Brothers, and at one event, featured a zombified version of Elvis Presley.

“There’s definitely great [opportunities for] people-watching if nothing else.”

Horvath remains steady in her training and is eagerly anticipating September 1st. While she’s not sure what to expect at the Switchback Raceway on the day of the event, she enjoys the fact that many of the zombie portrayers stay in character for the duration of the event.

“It’s a good way to get people psyched up about [the race]. I’m expecting to have a really bizarre time,” she laughs.

For more information on the Pittsburgh race, the Run For Your Lives website can be found at www.runforyourlives.com.

By Audrey Prisk
Point Park News Service

Laura Hokanson, 23, has been running since high school, but has been working out with her older brother since January for the test of her life when she competes in the Pittsburgh marathon Sunday.

Hokanson has been diligently planning every element of her experience, but one aspect of it — the weather– is out of her control.

“High of 69, low of 51,” Laura Hokanson, 23, reads the projected weather for Sunday off of her iPhone. “I wish it was cooler.”

This Sunday, May 6th, the City of Steel will echo with the pounding of over 25,000 pairs of tennis shoes as the 23rd annual Pittsburgh Marathon begins at 7:30 am.

This year’s marathon race, sponsored by Dick’s Sporting Goods has already sold out, according to their online website, pittsburghmarathon.com, but the high volume of runners doesn’t dampen the spirits of one participant.

Heat can be an issue for runners trying to stay cool throughout the 26.2 miles, so there will be fluid and medical aid stations posted along the course, according to pittsburghmarathon.com

Hokanson has been running long distances since freshmen year of high school, but running a marathon is different. Her older brother, Jim Hokanson, 28, has been helping her train for what will be her first marathon and his fifth. Jim has a hard time running through the heat.

“That’s why I wish it was colder weather, because he has a hard time regulating his temperature,” explained the younger Hokanson.

Originally from Wisconsin, both Hokanson’s now live and work in the Pittsburgh area, running together to train and to stay healthy. Laura began training for the marathon by running six miles every Saturday morning and working her way up to 26 miles. She has also made sure to stretch more and go to bed before 11 pm.

Jim has all the experience in this brother-sister partnership, but he knows that Laura is the faster runner.

“I already know that she’s just going to hit mile five and take off,” Jim joked.

Laura has been debating whether or not to stick with Jim’s pace or go with her own.

“I just know it won’t be as fun without him,” Laura said. “So I have to decide what I want to do.”

The Pittsburgh Marathon race course extends across each of the three rivers, traveling through 13 neighborhoods and ending with a downhill five-mile finish in the heart of downtown. Spectators and volunteers are allowed to line the course to cheer on the runners, as well as pass out water and Gu, a flavored gel that boosts energy and hydration. Road closures will begin downtown Saturday afternoon and go through Sunday evening; all road closure information can be found at pittsburghmarathon.com.

Another way people can keep tabs on the runners is through Runner Tracking Services on the Pittsburgh Marathon website. Spectators can track runners by searching the website for their name and then choosing to receive alerts via text messages, e-mail, Facebook or Twitter.

Brooke Wheeler, Laura’s close friend, has already signed up to follow Laura using text messages from the Runner Tracking services.

“I followed the instructions on the website and got a text message right away,” Wheeler said. She also plans to line the course along East Carson Street and hand Laura a pack of Gu.

The marathon is not the only event happening this weekend; participants had the opportunity to sign up for the UPMC Health Plan Pittsburgh Half Marathon and the FedEx Ground Pittsburgh Marathon Relay which are all happening Sunday, and the 5K and Kids Race, which happen on Saturday. Runner Tracking Services are only available for the marathon and half marathon.

Cash prizes will be awarded to the top male and female marathon finishers, but all participants will receive a medal, according to pittsburghmarathon.com.

The last thing on Laura’s mind is receiving an award for finishing; she’s thankful for the opportunity to run her first marathon.

“I’ve always wanted to run a marathon, but I probably wouldn’t have without Jim; he’s a huge encouragement,” she smiled.

For more information on this upcoming weekend’s events, visit www.pittsburghmarathon.com

The ambassador to the Fairmont Hotel in downtown Pittsburgh frolics around the lobby, while the bellhops greet incoming guests unobtrusively making their presence known.

Unlike a revered head of state, this ambassador is a white Boxer/Labrador named Edie, who roams about the hotel greeting anyone, especially those willing to give her a rub, or take her for a walk.

“She creates a sense of warmth and comfort in our lobby and makes guests feel at home,” Julie Abramovic, Fairmont Pittsburgh Public Relations Manager and caretaker of Edie, says.

Edie serves as the Canine Ambassador to Fairmont Pittsburgh, located downtown at 510 Market Street. She is part of an ambassador program started as a way to provide hotel guests with the pet companionship that they miss from home. And now it continues for anyone who just wants that certain happiness that only a dog could bring.

Most days, Edie walks around with her favorite toy grasped in her mouth waiting for someone to grab it off of her and play fetch, and gets excited when someone takes her for a walk around the city. Edie holds a regular work schedule, Monday through Friday, just like other employees at the hotel but her primary job is simply a greeter.

The canine companionship not only benefits visitors from out of town, but local folks as well. Tony Houghton, downtown Pittsburgh resident, stops in the Fairmont about three times a week to take Edie for walks. Houghton usually walks her for about an hour taking her to the Point and along the river.

“If she had her choice I’m sure she would want to walk for three hours,” Houghton jokes.

When playing with guests in the lobby or going out for frequent walks gets too tiresome, Edie has a padded bed she relaxes on behind the concierge desk.

Edie was born in March, 2010, ironically the same year that Fairmont Pittsburgh opened.

Just a puppy, she was acquired by Circle Tail, Inc., an assistant dog program out of Pleasant Plain, Ohio, which trains dogs for special needs services. Although she passed her training, her personality was too friendly and outgoing to be in such a serious role.

Len Czarnecki, former general manager of Fairmont Pittsburgh, came from other Fairmont Hotels that have had the pet ambassador programs and saw what a success they became. In September, 2011 he brought the one-year-old dog on board to become Canine Ambassador to the hotel. During the time when she doesn’t work, Edie stays with her owner, Abramovic, at her place in Regent Square.

Edie is quite fitting as her name because she is charismatic, classy and draws attention to herself, just like the 1960s actress, Edie Sedgwick. Sedgwick was Pittsburgh artist Andy Warhol’s inseparable counter-part from that time period.

“We just wanted something that paid homage to Pittsburgh and there’s a lot pop-art influences in our hotel,” Abramovic says.

Edie attracts people from all ages. According to Abramovic, the Fairmont gets busy in the beginning of the week with mostly business people. And at the end of the week into the weekends, they see more families and children, who obviously love the company of a dog around to play. She is somewhat popular now, and so are some of her admirers. When sports teams stay at the hotel the players all get acquainted with Edie, so before they leave to get on the bus they always request that Edie sees them off.

Since Edie is the famous face of the Fairmont, she is constantly requested to pose for photos. Fairmont employee, Kaitlin Bledsoe and personal photographer for Edie, shoots the pictures in the lobby of the hotel. Edie needs to maintain her feminine qualities for the portraits, so she is always given elegant collars and decorations to wear.

Edie proves that hotel comfort does not just mean sleeping on a nice bed.

By Alex Stumpf
Point Park News Service

For Charles Hall, sitting on a stool in a corner dance room feverishly pounding his congas in Kiesha Lalama’s jazz dance class at Point Park University is not a direct way of chasing a dream, but he’s enjoying every minute of this musical trip because it drives him to “go somewhere.”

The East Liberty Native musician has paid his dues playing in venues throughout the region all the way to Los Angeles, but he’s more than happy with his day job as a percussion accompanist at Point Park University’s highly acclaimed dance program.

“I didn’t go to school to learn dance accompaniment. I came about it through a somewhat organic means,” said Hall. “I wanted to find for myself the most effective way to service the dance instructor and the closest connection that I could make to with the dancers on the floor. It came to mind the best way to that with them would be to dance with them with my instrument.”

It’s that attitude that has helped Hall be able to live through music.

Hall’s journey to Point Park actually started in Pittsburgh. After being raised in East Liberty, he moved to Los Angeles chasing a record deal for upright bass. He worked for a litigation support unit while there, but he eventually got fed up with the job and quit. He took his frustrations out by banging on a drum, and like a light bulb switching on in his head, he realized he could make a career out of playing the drums. He opened up the yellow pages and started looking immediately for a job in dance accompaniment and has been doing it for the past 18 years.

“When I arrived back in Pittsburgh from Los Angeles, I started to try to find the places in town that were catering to dance,” said Hall. “And being from Pittsburgh, I remembered that Point Park had a dance program. They were one of the first people that I called.”

While he is touted as a percussionist, vocalist and a bassist, he has been “caught” several times tinkering on the piano.

Hall has been an important but not very celebrated part of the music at Point Park ever since his return. He specializes in drums, but he has been known to sing while playing as well. He puts energy into his work, bouncing up and down in beat to his drums, singing and smiling whenever he’s playing. Sometimes he gets a round of applause from the dancers after they have completed a number, but he’s more than content with staying in his back corner quietly and letting the professors run the show.

“My instrument does 98% percent of my talking for me,” said Hall. “The vocalizing is something that I believe the instructor should do, and I’m one of the silent partners that tries to support only using my instrument….I’m not shy, but I keep my mouth shut unless I’m supposed to say something.”

Hall genuinely enjoys his job mainly due to the creativity that surrounds it.

“The connection between the two arts is my favorite part,” said Hall. “When I was introduced to dance later on in my life, I found this wonderful explosion of these two art forms coming together. I still feel that explosion every day.”

He accompanies twelve dance classes a week nowadays on a somewhat reduced schedule so he can work on his own music, such as an original musical that he has been putting together over the past five months on the Old Testament Book of Job entitled The Songs of Job. Though he is writing the musical, he says he would classify himself more as “spiritual” rather than religious. The songs for the musical began to be written over ten years ago, but they are just now beginning to take shape.

“I did not know what the melodies were for initially, but I held onto them in reserve, not using them for anything else until this gentle spirit spoke to me and told me these songs were supposed to be part of a musical, which eventually became The Songs of Job,” said Hall.

One of the songs featured in the musical sounds as though it is a march. The piano piece booms every fourth note, and Hall begins to sing in a quiet voice, “I want to take back every last word that I’ve said…”

He also works as a music instructor in both percussion and bass guitar. Whenever teaching he continuously brings up a phrase he bases his music off of: “Go Somewhere.” He believes that music should be more than notes; it should be an experience that can transport the listener to a new state of mind. He preaches this mindset to all of his students, from his six year old granddaughter to first year pupil Garrett Steagall, a freshman dance major at Point Park.

“If you can’t make them feel it…you will NOT groove,” said Hall to Steagall in the middle of their Friday afternoon lesson. “Go somewhere.”

“He’s helping me fully invest myself and converting that to my dancing,” said Steagall.

Though Hall no longer plays in bands, he does occasionally jam with another Point Park percussion accompanist name P. J. Roduta. Hall grew tired of the band scene a while back, but has been known to play with Roduta at venues such as The Space Upstairs, an East End Dance Company that celebrates free-jazz movements and sounds. The two’s connection comes from their similar feelings on how the instrument should be played and their familiarities with each other’s intangibles.

“Charles and I are constantly recognizes nuances in each other,” said Roduta. “We adjust what we’re doing on our intangible output.”

Roduta also buys into and embraces the “go somewhere” mentality, and the two of them are very candid with their playing. Hall claims that music needs to be at least 50 or 60% organic, or that he does not think about it; the beats he’s playing do not come from his mind, but rather the heart.

“(Going somewhere) means that I am letting the music create the soundscape. We create this different world that we’re playing together,” said Roduta.

And as Hall smacks his congas and tries to create a world with Steagall, he closes his eyes and a smile comes across his face.

He’s going somewhere.