BikePGH seeks feedback on Woods Run mural

Bike Pittsburgh (BikePGH) is gathering public input for a planned street mural to be painted in front of the Woods Run Carnegie Library.

The organization held the second of a planned three public input sessions at the library on Nov. 9. Eric Boerer, who is overseeing the project for BikePGH, said the mural is intended to help reduce the speed of cars traveling along the road, increasing safety for those utilizing the bike lane.

“Street murals are a great way to calm traffic,” he said.

The mural is funded through a grant from AARP, formerly known as the American Association of Retired Persons. BikePGH is partnering with Pittsburgh’s Department of Mobility and Infrastructure (DOMI) for the project, and artist Ashley Kyber is developing the design of the mural.

At the Nov. 9 input session, attendees were given maps of the street in front of the library and were able to draw their own rough designs of what they’d like the mural to look like. Kyber said the project is operating with the theme of “Bikes and Books,” but attendees were able to deviate from that theme if they so wished.

A third public input session at the library is planned for Dec. 2, from 2-4 p.m. Boerer said BikePGH hopes to begin work on the mural sometime in spring of 2024.

Contractor for Davis Ave. bridge announced

DOMI has announced a contractor to take on the construction of the Davis Avenue pedestrian/bike bridge which will connect Brighton Heights to Riverview Park.

DOMI announced in late October that Gregori Construction Inc. has been contracted for the project, which will begin construction in spring of 2024 and will continue through early fall of that year.

For more information about the project, visit engage.pittsburghpa.gov/davis-avenue-bridge.

Tom Friday’s Market under new ownership

Tom Friday’s Market, a staple of the Brighton Heights community, is under new ownership following an announcement by owner Tom Friday Jr.

Friday announced the sale on Nov. 16 in a video posted on the market’s Facebook page. Tom Friday’s Market has been open since 1955 and operated out of its current location since 1971, and was opened by Friday’s father, Tom Friday Sr.

Friday, in the video, said it was a “real honor” to serve the community, and thanked all of his customers.

“I love to work with the public,” he said. “I love serving the public. It’s always a pleasure to me when someone gets a roast or good piece of meat and comes back to tell you how good it was.”

Friday further thanked his workers, especially those who kept the store operating during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. He also confirmed that the store will continue to operate largely the same under the new owners.

“I think it’s going to be good,” he said. “They’re going to try and improve it. So I think you’ll be happy. Maybe they’ll do some remodeling, maybe they’ll do some online ordering and some other ideas. I’m going to give them some ideas I wanted to try and do in the future, but time ran out basically.” According to a Nov. 17 article by the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, the new owners are Alex Ansari and Ali Sajit, who also own Coraopolis Cash Market.

Wise County Biscuits opens café in Allegheny West

Bakery Wise County Biscuits, which regularly attends farmers’ markets in the Pittsburgh area, has opened its own café in Allegheny West.

A ribbon cutting ceremony for the café, located at 911 Galveston Ave., was held on Nov. 17.

Coach Bill Shay (second from right) stands with his family around the newly unveiled bust in his honor at the Community College of Allegheny County. Photo by Sean P. Ray

The café is open Wednesdays through Mondays every week, from 7:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.

Bust of Coach Bill Shay at CCAC unveiled

A bust of Coach Bill Shay, who holds the record as the winningest college basketball coach in Western Pennsylvania history, was unveiled at Community College of Allegheny County’s (CCAC) athletic facility in a ceremony on Nov. 18.

The bust was funded through a GoFundMe campaign organized by CCAC alumni who played under Shay. The coach headed the college’s basketball team for 39 years, with 803 wins to 358 losses across the seasons.

Shay and his family were in attendance at the ceremony, surrounded by multiple former players and fellow coaches. In addition to the bust, leftover funds were used to establish a scholarship in Shay’s honor.