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2009

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I am a Baby Boomer, a former teenage hippie run-away, who now lives a quiet,

contented life in Shadyside. In the sixties Bob Dylans’ song, ‘The Times They

Are a Changing’ energized the hippie movement and many thought Dylan was

speaking directly to them. His poetry turned out to be timeless - his message is

still ringing true today, and is as pertinent as it was decades ago.

The old adage, ‘The only constant in life is change’ is a fundamental truth. The

idea of change needs to be in our minds, then on our lips, and finally in our

actions. My personal action for change includes injecting a bit of positive,

uplifting energy into the world, vis à vie my local community, by offering this

free Good News publication. It is my hope that people from everywhere, and

anywhere, on the planet will want to share their happy moments, their great

blessings, the love and joy they experience, and yes, the miracles, in their

lives. Share so that you can help uplift others, share because it will feel good

to do so, and share with the knowing that,“All that you give in life will be

returned by life - somewhere, by someone, at some time.”

NIM

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Published by:

Editor: Katina Kefalos, katinakefalos@gmail.com

www.nimbepublishing.com

www.shadysiderentals.net

First Hello

“We must be the change we want to see.’ Gandhi

A Shadyside-based newsletter, whose

mission is to share Good News.

Vintage Photo of Walnut Street provided by Bill McNeil

Every good wish,

Katina Kefalos, Owner/editor

People In The Know:Carl Kurlander

Submit your story for possible publication katinakefalos@gmail.com; www.nimbepublishing.com

In this funny and heartfelt love letter to Pittsburgh, St. Elmo's Fire screenwriter Carl Kurlander comes home to the real life "Mister Rogers' Neighborhood." He talks to many of the City's most famous neighbors - Franco Harris and Teresa Heinz Kerry (to name just a few) - about the city's recent resurgence, making it a feel-good comeback story that builds to an emotional finale with Pittsburghers from Times Square to Beverly Hills singing the City's unofficial theme song "Won't You Be My Neighbor."

DVD available at Kards Unlimited in Shadyside.

Permission granted to reprint article - Thinkshadyside.com.

It was the Night and Nightmare Before Christmas: Sugar fell down a sewer drain. Not the sort of sugar you put in your coffee. This sweet Sugar is the living, breathing Yorkshire terrier entrusted to my safekeeping when her parents are away. My plan was to deliver her home after our scheduled walk, along with a festive bag of gourmet doggie cookies. Today however, I might be delivering the news to the Hempfields that their beloved Sugar is gone—bobbing her way through the mire of Pittsburgh's finest waste on her way to the mouth of the Mon.

Frequently, during our walks, I'd recall my childhood fear of falling into one of those ominous, seemingly bottomless sewer drains at certain corners. Now all of a sudden, in the course of Sugar's walk, that Ultimate Fear is realized— for her, not me. Just after we step off the curb to cross icy Bellefonte Street, Sugar slips and does a backslide into the gaping hole behind her. I feel her leash go taught and turn to see that she has disappeared down into the drain! Just the slightest tip of the plaid Christmas bow in her forelock is visible.

Sparked by adrenaline I ditch the dog treats and pull her leash toward me, gently hand over hand, praying that her tiny head won't slip through the loose collar. All the while, my mind whizzing with “what ifs”. What if she does slip through and plunges into the abyss? Whom do I call first? Pittsburgh Water and Sewer Authority? The police? The Animal Rescue League? The Hempfields, God forbid? That dog is the light of their childless life. This would be the bitter end of my business. From now on, people would refer to me not as Allison but as “The Woman Who Flushed The Yorkie.”

On my knees, I reel up Sugar like a trout, inch by inch out of the drain, until— finally!---I'm able to grab the scruff of her neck. I collapse with her in my arms, sobbing with relief. In typical canine fashion, Sugar is cluelessly unfazed by her very real brush with death. Instead, she's quite happy and energized by the adventure, wiggling and wagging, interested only in the bag of spilled treats on the ground. Completely boggled and dazed by what just happened, I manage to get her home. Leaving a warm holiday note for the family along with the bag of dog cookies, I give thanks for my incredible luck. A few days later I received a voice-mail from Mrs. Hempfield thanking me for the “fabulously delicious” cookies, adding that they enjoyed them so much they wanted to know where to get more of them. Dare I tell them the truth that they came from the posh dog bakery down the street? I decided to finesse that in favor of the tried-and-true credo of leaving things the same as--or better than--when I found them. Those dog cookies were all natural and organic, after all! Allison Drash is a Shadyside native and professional personal assistant. She can be reached at allisondrash@aol.com.

VISIONS OF SUGAR PLUMMETING IN HER HEADBy Allison Drash

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Promoting your heart health

Promoting weight loss when and if you need it

Supporting your immune system health

Supporting a healthy metabolism

Providing you with an immediate energy source

Helping to keep your skin healthy and youthful looking

Supporting the proper functioning of your thyroid gland

Coconut Oil: the widely misunderstood oil

that has enormous health

TIP: Use moth balls to keep mice away.

There is only one oil that is stable enough to resist heat-induced damage, while it also helps you promote heart health, maintain normal cholesterol levels and even supports weight loss — coconut oil.

Health Tip:

The younger generation has opened a new restaurant in Bloomfield. Owned by Nicholas Mineo, son of Dominic, (of the Shadyside Market fame) the establishment is called, Sausalido. Wrap yourself in the essence of Napa Valley and treat yourself to fine dining while supporting the local community at the same time.

Stop by 4621 Liberty Ave., or visit www.sausalido.net to preview their menu. Phone: 412-683-4575

The Mineo family has given birth again... well, in a manner of speaking.

I was 44 years old, single and living in Columbus, Ohio. Many blessings had come my way, but a happy, healthy long-term relationship was not one of them. In March 1999 my father asked me to join him in a cross-country drive to CA. He would be driving a church-sponsored van, loaded down with tools, to San Diego to meet with a group of students who would be building homes for the poor in Mexico. At the last minute his driving partner backed out and I decided to drive with him. Unexpectedly, I said to my Dad, "My only goals for this trip are that we have FUN and that we both experience God's love for us." After five days of driving, singing, and laughing across country we finally checked into a San Diego motel.

The following day we rented a truck to hold all the luggage heading to Mexico. Dad had made this trip before so I assumed things would go smoothly. We picked up the truck and I followed him in the van to the airport to pick up the students. The truck hit the overhead chains as we drove into the terminal, which set off an alarm indicating that the vehicle was too tall to go any further. This was the same concrete overpass that Dad had driven under in previous years, but this year the truck set off the alarm. Traffic backed-up quickly, and a police officer was on the scene in minutes. Dad panicked and began yelling. A very calm, patient officer successfully assisted Dad in turning the truck around and situated where it needed to be. Meanwhile, I was standing by the van when the officer returned to check on me - once, twice, and then three times. On his third trip around to see me he inquired as to whether I would be ‘pounding nails in Mexico.’ I replied that my trip ended in San Diego. The officer me if I was single and I quickly replied yes. Smiling broadly, he extended his hand and said, "My name is Bob. How do you like me so far?”

The next three days Bob and I were constantly together - something akin to a long first date. Our story, and subsequent marriage two years later, involved tremendous change for both of us. Many highs and lows, abundant joys and scary struggles, have unfolded since that miraculous moment nine years ago. We are about to embark on a new adventure together - holding seminars for others to learn our secrets for a successful, happy partnership. Our company is called Straight To The Heart.

I certainly did get the best miracle of my life . . . and got to feel God's love for me in a big and unexpected way, just as I had asked for that day in the driveway prior to heading for San Diego. ( nsullivan55@gmail.com)

Destiny and My True Love submitted by Nancy Sullivan

Harry Levine, architect, and Shadyside resident for over 29 years, blends the left and right hemispheres of his brain when designing a project. Harry can t h i n k a n a l y t i c a l l y a n d objectively, as he synthesizes symbols and images through his intuition, which give his projects a unique, holistic ‘feel’ to them. For a remarkable assembly of lines, squares, circles, and ideas resulting in one of-a-kind concepts contact Harry. This gentle soul is channeling some kind of genius.Be sure to call Harry for any size job, or consult. You will be glad you did.

e-mail: hl.arch@verizon.net website: harrylevine.tk

Local Talent

A new soul has arrived on the planet . . . Rania Harris, Food Goddess, and owner of

Rania’s Catering in Mt. Lebanon, has become a grandmother again! Her son Nicholas, and his wife Phoebe, have become parents for the first time. Stephen Nicholas arrived in November, weighing in at a whopping 9.5 pounds.

Congrats to the family!

Although Pittsburgh home sales have dipped 16% this year, the properties have retained their value. This " P ," as it's called by locals, is attributed to the city's steady population growth and the construction of new, high-value homes. Source: yahoo RealEstate on Nov 21, 2008. For your real estate needs consider Shadyside resident, Lili Kashi. E-mail:

Cell: 412.512.2387l.

Pittsburgh

aradox

lkashi@howardhanna.com,

www.shadysiderentals.netVisit for your rental needs.

Robert Pataks’ passion are gifts Mother Earth has given to us. These wondrous gems and stones that were forged for eons, while buried deep in the earth, also have healing attributes. Bob, owner of the Shadyside Mining Co., 412-688-8088, offers a natural way to raise your vibration,and help you to feel better. His fine selection of stones, crystals, and jewelry bring to mind the ancient civilizations who revered these items and used them in various ceremonies.

Did you know crystals have their own unique vibrations?1) Addictions/Alcoholism - Amethyst2) Abundance, Happiness, Joy - Citrine3) Love-universal - Rose Quartz4) Psychic Awareness - Amethyst, Kyanite, Lapis Lazuli, Copal5) Balance Body/Mind/Spirit - Smoky Quartz, Kyanite, Moonstone

Merchant Pick of the Month Special Thanks

. . . to Annette Patterson for carrying my NIMBE gift books, and offering a postal service that is within walking distance. Visit A&A Mailing on Copeland Way or www.nimbepublishing.com, to learn more about these unique, inspirational booklets. Mail NIMBE in place of a greeting card, envelope included. They make great gifts priced at only $5.00/ea.

Good news for Pittsburgh real estate:

The Kefalos family will be offering their first deluxe, completely renovated, luxury apartment in March, 2009. This fully furnished, two bedroom apartment, will include the entire second floor - almost 1,600 square feet of beauty, in a 'grande olde mansion' on Fifth Ave in Shadyside. Marble, ceramic, or porcelain tile will be featured in both bathrooms, kitchen and laundry room.

Original mahogany woodwork and doors are located throughout the house and apartment. The entire living area will showcase beautiful, refinished hardwood floors featuring the original wood planks from almost 100 years ago. Spacious rooms, high ceilings, light streaming in the large wood windows, and an entire wall of stained glass windows adorning the second floor landing, makes this apartment living at its finest. No lease will be required and short term is acceptable. Please visit or call Katina Kefalos @ 412-687-8039 with any inquiry you may have regarding this unit, or our other rentals.

Rent: $3,000 including all utilities, Internet and cable. Available: March 2009

www.shadysiderentals.net

Thanks to bill McNeil for his contribution to

this special insert of Shadyside Nostalgia -

In Bills’ own words . . . For many years people have wondered about my love and fascination for the neighborhood we call "Shadyside." I can offer a brief insight as to how Shadyside became my passion and my favorite part of Pittsburgh. A love affair with a neighborhood that has lasted to this day began as a young man

collecting everything from Shadyside that I could find. In 1959 I was a young high school student in West View and I somehow

acquired a copy of the VILLAGE VOICE from Greenwich Village in New York. The ads for the coffee houses with espresso and folk music simply captivated me. A short time later while reading the entertainment section of the Pittsburgh Press I spotted similar ads for coffee houses with espresso and folk music in Pittsburgh. They were located in the east end of the city, somewhere I had never been before. My friend, Paul Bott, told me he had a relative in that part of town so he agreed to venture there with me. We had to take two streetcars to get to Ellsworth Avenue where the coffee houses were located. They were great and everything I hoped they would be. The names were "The Bastille" and the "Lamplight". While

in the area I decided to see all the streets I had time to visit and after the personal tour I planned to one day move to Shadyside. After getting back to West View I started collecting pictures, ads, and articles on everything that pertained to Shadyside.

To date, I have been collecting off and on for forty-nine years. I first became a part of the neighborhood in 1961 when I was enrolled as a student at the University School on Howe Street. My first move to the area was in 1969. Over the years I lived on Summerlea, Ivy and Ellsworth Avenue. There was a great business surge in the 60's and 70's and I want to thank the names Handler, Shiner, and Blattner for their incredible efforts. My original childhood dream finally came true and I did, indeed, become a real part of my favorite place in all of Pittsburgh. I now reside in Michigan, but my heart will always be in my beloved neighborhood. My love goes out to all those that I have known and have been a part of my life in Shadyside.

Bill - 1993

Bill - 2008

Newsletters that preceded Good News.

Photos property of Bill McNeil.

Take a look at thesemenus and prices:

Ralph Colaizzi (Kards Unlimited) in 1972.

Ralph Colaizzi in 1990’s.

A LOOKINTO THE

PAST

Dick Handler, former ownerof the Gazebo

Photo provided by the Handler family.