By Ranger Stevie | Columnist

Hello everyone and happy August! It is Ranger Stevie and if you made it to our column, welcome!

Before we get into the good stuff, my challenge for you while out in Allegheny Commons Park in the month of August is to look up. Over the past few weeks the family of red-shouldered hawks has been so active. There is a mother with two babies learning to hunt. Watching the squirrels taunt the baby hawks is pretty hysterical.

It’s interesting to hear the family and watch them interact. I mostly see them near the train tracks in West Park. I hope you get to see them and enjoy them as much as I do. I will be doing a Hawk Program this month on Aug. 21 (details below).

June was a hard month for Northsiders. We lost a piece of the Northside and I’m not sure any of us were really ready for it. If you knew Gus and you were anything like me then you had to believe that he would live forever. To many of us, Gus will.

Gus’s presence will always be at the park. When I would go to check in on Gus he would always say,” What’s going on toots?” I never thought last summer would be my last time hearing him say that. Gus was committed not only to the ice balls but to the people.

After 90 years people didn’t come for the ice balls, they came for Gus. Even if it was just a brief interaction there was something so special and he will be so very missed. Mike is still running the Ice Ball Cart Friday through Monday through summer. Time and days may shift so please be sure to check out their Facebook to stay up to date — Gus & Yiayia’s

Blonde or albino squirrel

Last month we shared a photo of Mr. Blondie. We asked you all if you thought this squirrel was a blonde squirrel or an albino squirrel. With some help from the Aviary we finally got an answer!

Although Mr. Blondie has a lot of characteristics of an Albino squirrel, he doesn’t have them all, which makes Mr. Blondie a blonde squirrel!

Eastern Grey squirrels come in an array of color variants from black to the common Eastern Grey. Some can be darker than others and some can be lighter but they are almost always found in urban environments. If you get the chance to see Mr. Blondie be sure to say hello as he is extremely friendly.

Programs & volunteer opportunity

Now that I have settled in at the Commons I am planning on providing different programs monthly for kids and adults as well as volunteering opportunities. If you missed last month’s programs we did some photography around Lake Elizabeth and a History Hike of the monuments here in the commons. Read below for a list of programs for August.

• Aug. 1 — Walk with a Ranger, 10,000 steps before 10 a.m. starting at 8 a.m. at Lake Elizabeth.
• Aug. 13 — Tabling Tuesday at the Allegheny Commons Off Leash Dog Park, 9 a.m. to 10 a.m.
• Aug. 21 — Hawk Program Meeting at Deer Statue in West Park, 8 a.m. to 10 a.m.