A Chronicle of Our Times: February 2007 – June 2007

This article was written by James Wudarczyk and was posted on October 14, 2007.

February 1, 2007 A fire that started at 5307 Dresden Way swept through four houses. American Red Cross workers assisted an undetermined number of people. One fireman suffered second-degree burns to his face. Cause of the fire was not immediately determined, but the arson squad was called to investigate.
Source: Moustafa Ayad, “Five-alarm fire destroys Lawrenceville row houses,” Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, February 2, 2007.

February 9, 2007 Saint Matthew Parish sponsored fish fries each Friday during Lent, including Good Friday, from 3 p.m. until 7 p.m. in the Saint Kieran church hall at 5322 Carnegie Street. Cost of dinner with fries, coleslaw, and dessert was $6. Fish sandwiches were available for $3. Our Lady of the Angels also sponsored Friday fish dinners during Lent in the parish’s Holy Family social hall from 11 a.m. until 2:30 p.m. and again from 4 until 7 p.m. Fish dinner with macaroni and cheese or haluski, coleslaw and beverage was available for $7. Sandwiches were also available for $4.
Source: “Parish Fish Fry Guide,” Pittsburgh Catholic, February 9, 2007.

February 9, 2007 Door of Hope Church listed their community events, which included a Valentine’s Day Party on February 10, Men’s Dinner on February 23 on February 23, and a Women’s Craft Day on February 24.
Source: “Door of Hope Community Events,” The Bulletin, February 2007.

February 16, 2007 The Pittsburgh Catholic carried an extensive interview with Bishop Paul Bradley. His priestly duties included assignments in the North Hills, Butler, Lawrenceville, and Bloomfield.
Source: “Tremendous blessing: a talk with Bishop Bradley, Pittsburgh Catholic, February 16, 2007.

February 17, 2007 Our Lady of the Angels sponsored a Venetian Carnivale for the benefit of Saint John Neumann School. The event took place in the grand bar room of Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Hall. The gala included a dinner buffet, live entertainment, silent and live auction, and a cash bar. Black tie was optional. Cost of the event was $75 per person.
Source: “Our Lady of Angels Venetian Carnivale,” The Bulletin, February 2007.

February 17, 2007 Butler Street was closed between 40th and 45th Streets after a frozen 36” water line broke. Location of the water main was near 45th and Butler Streets. The corresponding article included a good picture of the north side of Butler Street between 44th and 45th Streets.
Source: Richard Wills, “Water main break shuts down Butler Street,” Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, February 18, 2007.

February 18, 2007 Zone 2 police reported that Butler Street was reopened to traffic following Saturday’s water main break.
Source: “Lawrenceville: Butler Street section reopens after break,” Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, February 18, 2007.

February 18, 2007 Christine O’Toole’s book, Explore Pennsylvania Off Beaten Paths, includes shopping in the neighborhood of Lawrenceville as a unique place.
Source: “Explore Pennsylvania off the beaten path,” Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, February 18, 2007.

February 21, 2007 Our Lady of the Angels Parish sponsored its weekly Eucharistic adoration from 9 a.m. until 6:15 p.m. at its parish house chapel at 225 37th Street.
Source: “Calendar of Events,” Pittsburgh Catholic, February 16, 2007.

February 25, 2007 Architect Keith Cochran of the West End was retrofitting an 1830’s home, which he purchased in Lawrenceville, with high tech radiators that have their own thermostats.
Source: Richard Byrne Reilly, “Going green means more green for homeowners,” Pittsburgh Tribune-Review (Arts and Entertainment), February 25, 2007.

March 1, 2007 Grace Dobush gave a glowing review of Our Lady of the Angels fish fry.
Source: Grace Dobush, “Thank cod for the church fish fry,” Tribpm, March 1, 2007.

March 1, 2007 District Judge Carla Swearingen ruled that Lawrenceville resident Angelo Rodriguez would stand trial in the death of 17-year-old Adrienne Keil and for severely injuring Seldon Hawkins on January 27, 2007. Rodriguez was charged with driving a minivan onto a sidewalk, which resulted in the death of Keil and injuries to Hawkins.
Source: Bobby Kerlik, “Driver faces trial in student’s death,” Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, March 1, 2007.

March 3, 2007 A Texas man pleaded guilty of defrauding WESCO of more than $178,000. WESCO has a location in Lawrenceville.
Source: “Lawrenceville: Texas man pleads guilty to $178K mail fraud,” Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, March 3, 2007.

March 3, 2007 Lawrenceville United sponsored a Jimmy Buffet Party at the Lawrenceville Moose on Saturday, March 3 from 7 p.m. until 1 a.m. the following morning. Ticket donation was $15.
Source: “Lawrenceville United Jimmy Buffet Party,” The Bulletin, March 2007.

March 4, 2007 A picture of Mike Hepler, director of the Boys and Girls Club of Western Pennsylvania, appeared in the Pittsburgh Tribune Review as he unveiled a $300,000 indoor complex at the Shadyside/East Liberty facility.
Source: “2007 Pirates Spring Training Preview Section,” Pittsburgh Tribune Review, March 4, 2007.

March 4, 2007 Since most people do not want old industrial sites, it is very difficult to sell or lease the region’s brown fields. Most companies prefer to build new sites, rather than invest in clean up or retooling.
Source: C. M. Mortimer, “Location, Location,” (Business Section) Pittsburgh Tribune Review, March 4, 2007.

March 15, 2007 The Lawrenceville Historical Society’s public meeting series hosted Alan Becer, who presented a talk and slide show titled “An Appalling Disaster.” The subject of the talk dealt with the 1862 explosion at the Allegheny Arsenal.
Source: “LHS Presents: An Appalling Disaster,” The Bulletin, March 2007.

March 10, 2007 Vandals sprayed graffiti on 30 buildings between the 3600 and 4700 block of Butler Street. A home in the 3700 block of Hatfield was also defaced. According to police, Lawrenceville, the South Side, and Carrick were frequent targets for graffiti.
Source: Kim Lyons, “ “Graffiti vandals tag Lawrenceville,” Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, March 13, 2007.

March 14, 2007 An unidentified Lawrenceville woman was stabbed multiple times following an argument with a friend in Baldwin Borough.
Source: “Lawrenceville: Woman stabbed in argument with friend,” Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, March 15, 2007.

March 25, 2007 Two houses in Lawrenceville were featured in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Real Estate Section. The article included photographs of a newly built duplex at 3506 Penn Avenue and an 1892 town home at 247 Cobalt Way. According to the article, Lawrenceville housing offered “history, value and variety.”
Source: Gretchen McKay, “Something Old, New,” Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, March 25, 2007.

April 2, 2007 St. Matthew Parish sponsored a Tenebrae service of darkness, featuring the parish choir under the musical direction of Carol Spehar. The event, held at the parish’s St. Mary Church, 219 57th Street, focused on the seven episodes in the passion and death of Jesus. The parish also held weekly Stations of the Cross during lent at its St. Kieran Church, 5322 Carnegie Street, on Fridays at 7 p.m.
Sources: “St. Matthew, Lawrenceville,” Pittsburgh Catholic, February 16, 2007.
“Tenebrae Service at St. Mary Assumption Church, The Bulletin, April 2007.

April 2, 2007 Our Lady of the Angels Parish unveiled its new web site. In addition to Mass schedules and parish activities, the new site enabled on-line contributions to the church or Saint John Neumann School.
Source: “Our Lady of Angels Unveils New Website,” The Bulletin, April 2007.

April 2, 2007 The Carnegie Library on Fisk Street listed its monthly events, which included: “A Splendid Family Craft, Indeed” on April 2 12-5 p.m.; “A Splendid Story Time” for ages 3-5 on April 12 at 11 a.m.; “Preschool Story Time” for ages 3-5 on Thursday, April 19 at 11 a.m.; “Life Links Lecture: Healthier Today and Tomorrows, Aging Well for Adults, April 24, 3 p.m.; and “Puppet Show” on April 26, 11 a.m.
Source: “Free to the People,” The Bulletin, April 2007.

April 13, 2007 The Church Brew Works, located in the former St. John the Baptist Church, outlined plans for a $50,000 expansion to increase micro-brewing capacity from 8,000 cases a year to 13,000 cases. Owner Sean Casey indicated that he hoped to capitalize on the boom in Belgian ales. Expansion plans included two-30-barrel tanks. The owner indicated that he hoped to sell his Belgian-style beers for $108 per 12-pack of 25.4 ounces.
Source: Tim Schooley, “Church Brew Works plans to grow volume, variety with new tanks,” Pittsburgh Business Times, April 13-19, 2007.

April 13, 2007 Allen Chen and his partners were planning to open the first Asian-Latin fusion restaurant on Butler Street. They were investing $400,000 into the restaurant. Located in a new building with an 800-square-foot courtyard in the 3500 block of Butler Street, Chen projected $700,000 gross sales in the first year. Also, Fukui Architects, a Downtown firm, was also planning to relocate to Butler Street.
Source: Tim Schooley, “Eatery melding Asian, Latin foods plans to open in Lawrenceville,” Pittsburgh Business Times, April 13-19, 2007.

April 14, 2007 Lawrenceville resident Chris Hollingshead was featured in the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review for chairing “The 10th Annual Art All Night.” The event, scheduled in the Catlyst Building at 141 41st Street, started at 5 p.m. on April 28, 2007 until 2 p.m. on April 29. According to Hollingshead “Art All Night” started in 1998 and was the first of its kind in the country. Last year 883 people attended the event.
Source: “Newsmakers,” Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, April 14, 2007.

April 15, 2007 About 8 p.m., a man was shot multiple times in the upper torso in the 3900 block of Howley Street. The victim was in critical condition.
Source: “City: Lawrenceville—Police probe shooting,” Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, April 16, 2007.

April 15, 2007 James Crowder, 34, died after being shot multiple times in front of 3923 Howley Street at 8 p.m.
Sources: “Lawrenceville: Police make arrest in fatal shooting,” Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, April 17, 2007.
“Lawrenceville: Suspect gave fake name,” Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, April 19, 2007.

April 16, 2007 A man was charged in the fatal shooting of James Crowder, 34, of Farrell, Mercer County. Crowder was identified as the victim in the previous day’s shooting in the 3900 block of Howley Street.
Source: “Lawrenceville: Man charged in fatal gunfire,” Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, April 16, 2007.

April 18, 2007 The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review carried an in-depth article on the proliferation of art galleries in Lawrenceville. Among the galleries featured in the article were Dan Gaser’s Trinity Gallery, Elizabeth Monoian, and her sister, Barbara Monoian, whose art venture was known as the Society for Cultural Exchange, and Dave Calfo of the DNA Blue Collar Gallery.
Source: Kurt Shaw, “Mom-and-pop galleries take root in Lawrenceville,” Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, April 18, 2007.

April 20, 2007 To celebrate Earth Day, fourteen Lawrenceville businesses participated in distributing packets of flower seeds. The blossom tour started Friday, April 20, 10 a.m. – 6 p.m., and continued on Saturday, April 21 from 10 a.m. until 6 p.m. and Sunday, April 23 from noon until 5 p.m.
Source: “Celebrate Earth Day at L’ville Blossom Tour,” The Bulletin, April 2007.

April 20, 2007 Tracie Yorke Dance, an urban dance studio located in Lawrenceville, offered a series of free activities at the Ice House Artist Studios (100 43rd Street). The various lessons ran from April 20 through 29.
Source: “Celebrating Community Through Dance,” The Bulletin, April 2007.

April 27, 2007 Brillobox at 4104 Penn Avenue hosted “Unicorn Mountain Silent Auction at 6 p.m., with a party afterwards at 10 p.m.
Source: Michael Machosky, “The Amazing Comicon,” Ticket Section, Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, April 26, 2007.

April 28, 2007 Art All Night anticipated 10,000 people for the annual event. There were as many as 1,200 pieces of art on display.
Source: Rob Amen, “All Night Artistry,” Tribpm, April 27, 2007.

April 28, 2007 One thousand volunteers participated in repairs and renovations in Allegheny County. Sponsored by Rebuilding Together Pittsburgh, the group renovated 31 homes in Allegheny County, 14 of which were in Lawrenceville.
Source: Daveen Rae Kurutz, “Volunteer group lays better foundation, Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, April 28, 2007.

April 29, 2007 A two-alarm fire severely damaged a house in the 5400 block of Carnegie Street. No one was injured but a family of five was displaced. Damages amounted to $20,000.
Source: “Fire in Lawrenceville,” Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, April 30, 2007.

May 4, 2007 Emma Bagnato, a second grader from St. John Neumann Regional School in Lawrenceville, was featured on the front page of The Pittsburgh Catholic, as she placed a crown of roses a top a statue of Mary, during a May crowning ceremony. The event took place in Our Lady of the Angels Parish’s Holy Family Church.
Source: “For Mothers Everywhere,” Pittsburgh Catholic, May 11, 2007.

May 6, 2007 At approximately 8:30 p.m., a two-hour standoff ended after Dale Elkins, 40, of Saint John’s Way surrendered to police. Elkins was charged with shooting another man in the leg.
Sources: Brian C. Rittmeyer, “Standoff grips Lawrenceville,” Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, May 7, 2007.
Nate Guidry, “City man in custody following standoff,” Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, May 7, 2007.

May 6, 2007 A picture appeared of Boy Scouts Troop 75 from Lawrenceville and Troop 109 from Squirrel Hill as they raised a flag at the Fort Pitt flag bastion.
Source: “Mission Redd Up,” Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, May 6, 2007.

May 12, 2007 The Parish Nurse Ministry of Our Lady of the Angels Parish sponsored “A Gathering of Young Mothers,” which included a free continental breakfast, speaker, and Mother’s Day remembrance from 10 a.m. until 12:30 p.m. in the Holy Family social hall.
Source: “Young Mothers Gathering,” Bulletin, May 2007.

May 13, 2007 Jason Marrone, executive chef at the Church Brew Works, was featured in the food and travel section of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review when he announced the restaurant’s summer menu that featured several new items with an Eastern flair.
Source: Karin Wetzel, “Asian Pork,” Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, May 13, 2007.

May 13, 2007 The FBI was stepping in as former clients reported tales of improper paperwork at the closed Metropolitan Savings Bank.
Source: Thomas Olson, “Metropolitan mortgage mess,” Business Section, Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, May 13, 2007.

May 14, 2007 Reverend Donald Green, 60, a Lutheran minister from McCandless and executive director of Christian Associates of Southwestern Pennsylvania in Lawrenceville, was selected to serve as a guest chaplain of the United States House of Representatives.
Source: Mike Cronin, “Minister’s reach extends to Congress,” Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, May 14, 2007.

May 17, 2007 The Boys and Girls Clubs of Western Pennsylvania hosted a job fair for 7th and 8th graders and their parents in Teamster’s Temple. The purpose of the fair was to introduce students to job opportunities that did not require a four-year college degree.
Source: “Boys & Girls Club Presents ‘Careers Without Degrees,” Bulletin, May 2007.

May 17, 2007 Dr. Eric Davin, professor of history at the University of Pittsburgh, addressed the Lawrenceville Historical Society on “Labor and Politics in the 1930’s.”
Source: “LHS Presents 1930s Labor/Politics,” Bulletin, May 2007.

May 19, 2007 Volunteers gathered for a clean up of the streets of Lawrenceville and to plant flowers in selected areas of the neighborhood.
Source: “L’ville Spring Cleaning & Flower Planting,” Bulletin, May 2007.

May 23, 2007 Collin Gefert, a student at Saint John Neumann Regional Catholic School, was pictured as he volunteered to help place 14,500 in Allegheny Cemetery in honor of Memorial Day.
Source: “Paying respect,” Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, May 23, 2007.

May 28, 2007 The annual tradition of decorating the graves of veterans was highlighted in an article. Lawrenceville’s Allegheny Cemetery was one of the cemeteries featured in the article. Thomas Roberts, president of Allegheny Cemetery, was quoted on the importance of remembering people. Also, Bill Reynolds was pictured setting flags in place to honor the veterans.
Source: Chris Togneri, “Day for the Dead,” Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, May 28, 2007.

May 28, 2007 A newspaper reported that the Bethel Baptist Church, 221 43rd Street, was planning to hold its fifth annual Gospel Explosion the following Saturday at 3 p.m. with music ministries from several Tri-State area churches.
Source: “City Calendar: Saturday, Lawrenceville,” Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, May 28, 2007.

June 1, 2007 Kin-N-Time at 3801 Penn Avenue was offering a free day of painting pottery for honor roll students. Pre-registration was required.
Source: “Free Pottery Day for Honor Roll Students,” Bulletin, June 2007.

June 1, 2007 Kitty Julian’s column reflected on some of the unusual features of Allegheny Cemetery.
Source: Kitty Julian, “Allegheny Cemetery is full of life,” Pittsburgh Post-Gazette (Raves), June 1, 2007.

June 10, 2007 The third annual free Lawrenceville Garden Tour took place from 10 a.m. until 3 p.m.
Source: “Dreaming Spring at L’ville Garden Tour,” Bulletin, May 2007.

June 16, 2007 There was a notification that Saint Margaret Foundation and Canterbury place was sponsoring a class on using herbs for cooking and healing. Master gardener Mary Beth Trout was scheduled to teach the class. Admission was $10 and required advanced registration.
Source: “Herb class set in Lawrenceville,” Pittsburgh Tribune-Review (Living Section), June 16, 2007.

June 19, 2007 George T. Trosky was promoted to commander of Zone 2 Police Station, which covers the Hill District, Downtown, Lawrenceville, and Uptown.
Source: Jerry Boren, “Detective who faced charges to lead Zone 2, Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, June 19, 2007.

June 23, 2007 Our Lady of the Angels Parish sponsored its annual Giant Flea Market in the parish social hall at 256 44th Street from 9 a.m. until 3 p.m. A bag sale was held the following day from 10 a.m. until 1 p.m.
Source: “Our Lady of the Angels Flea Market,” Bulletin, June 2007.

June 29, 2007 The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review picked Dan Simkins, president of the Lawrenceville Historical Society, as newsmaker of the day for his work on the Doo-Dah Days Musical Festival. The event drew more than one thousand people in 2006.
Source: “Newsmaker: Dan Simkins,” Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, June 29, 2007.