Manchester
Ricola Michelle Cross to Steel Ventures LLC at 1428 Adams St. for $105,000.

Marshall-Shadeland
Jacqueline Boeh, to Hugo and Ernestina Payares at 2906 Wadlow St. for $135,000.

Observatory Hill
Robert Thomas to Janet Flecker at 3336 Delaware St. for $275,000.

Perry Hilltop
Kapaco Invest Group LLC to Alec Dean Logan and Elena Dawn Stipetich at 110 Milroy St. for $140,000.

Real Estate Transactions provided by <RealSTATs>.  Contact <RealSTATs> at 412-381-3880 or visit www.RealSTATs.net.

Alex Ventura to Luke Myers and Rachel Dimarco at 1312 Boyle St. for $459,000.

Lawrence Dicicco to Stephen Denosky at 114 E. North Ave. for $525,000.

Zachary Alan Bernazzoli to David and Valerie Gliem at 1516 Buena Vista St. for $680,000. Michael Johnson to Timothy and Rachel Daniels at 520 Alpine Ave. for $343,500.

Brighton Heights

John Fiedler to Michael Grguras at 3951 Oakdale St. for $35,000.

Beth Lazaara to Douglas D L and Jessica Baker at California Ave., parcel 0075-B-00358-0000-00, for $30,000.

Diane Marie Galardi to Invest Pro 888 LLC at 1437 Orchlee St. for $160,000.

HSBC Bank USA NA Tr to Manchester Living Matters LLC at 1156 Pemberton St. for $91,000.

Grace Cammarata to Fareri Homestead LLC et al. at 3921 Riddile St. for $189,000.

Sharon Marie Miller to NM&D LLC at 1014 Stanford Road for $180,000.

Estate of James Kaiser to Thomas and Lisa West at 408 Chandler Pl for $295,000.

Haven Home Builders LLC to Emilio Townsend and Megan Schillinger at 1536 Cooper Ave. for $188,000. Estate of Ann Caroline Restaine to Edward Disy at 1144 Goe Ave. for $210,000.

Garrett Brewer to Cartus Financial Corp. at 3448 Harbison Ave. for $180,000.

Cartus Financial Corp. to Kristen Locante at 3448 Harbison Ave. for $180,000.

George Pringle to Manchester Living Matters LLC at 1131 Pemberton St. for $98,000.

California-Kirkbride

Wayne Joyce to KGRANDBEAN LLC at 1417 Brighton Road for $175,000.

East Deutschtown

Creative Solutions Investments LLC to Jeffrey Bednarski II at 909 Rickenbach St. for $595,000.

Fineview

Estate of Robert Matthews Dixon to Devlinc Inc. at 2100 Federal Street Ext. for $155,000.

Historic Deutschtown

Daniel Bobovnyik to William Francis Sarro Jr. and Clara De Andrade Graciano Humberg at 1202 James St. for $425,000.

Ann Vilcheck to Euan and Angharad Morgan at 1000 Middle St. for $467,500.

Manchester

Marc Hillard Fogel to Dominic James Dicostanzo at 1003 Allegheny Ave. for $460,000.

1448 Beldale LLC to Secured Investment High Yield FD II LLC at 1448 Beldale St. for $5,430 by sheriff’s deed.

Rebecca Kritschil Chappell to Daniel Wilkerson at 1210 Sheffield St. for $335,000.

Marshall-Shadeland

Amber Kotari Imam to MS Capital Group Pittsburgh LLC at 10 Courtright St. for $1 (state deed transfer stamps indicate a value of $29,000).

Real Deals LLC to Central Florida Income Fund LLC at 3124 Frederick St. for $60,000 (state deed transfer stamps indicate a value of $180,000) by sheriff’s deed.

Estate of Frances Hein to Andrew McCue at 2917 Frederick St. for $20,405.

Bellflower Real Estate LLC to John and Brenda Hoover at 2923 Frederick St. for $215,000.

Carol Lee Croker to Joseph Hnat at 129 Mitchell St. for $49,900.

Joshua Haefele to TB Capital Group LLC at 912 Rothpletz St. for $45,000.

Observatory Hill

Oleksandr Zharkov to Cal Uren at 56 Bascom Ave. for $182,000.

Estate of Richard Werner to Chanessa Schuler at 403 Wabana St. for $215,000.

Perry Hilltop

Estate of Harry McKinley to Sean Link at 1977 Federal Street Ext. for $155,000.

Rosalie Wisniewski to Chad Minton at 409 Bark St. for $60,000 (state deed transfer stamps indicate a value of $180,000) by sheriff’s deed.

Grey Steel City LLC to Hoan Nhut Do Tan at 2917 N Charles St. for $65,000.

Spring Garden

Cynthia Boles to Jason Weaver at 1843 Spring Garden Ave. for $85,000.

Estate of Ronald Samuel to Barlow Investments LLC at 1237 High St. for $55,000.

Kathryn Anne Benson to Nicholas McGraw at 2300 Spring Garden Ave. for $11,000.

Spring Hill

Katherine Crystal Smith Sinagra to Deborah McNier at 54 Woessner Ave. for $1 (state deed transfer stamps indicate a value of $35,200).

Summer Hill

Joanne Schmidt to Hsuan Yu and Yi Ching Lin at 4642 Mt. Troy Road Ext. for $295,000.

Troy Hill

Victoria Stephen to Michael Weleski and Donato Demarco at 1833-1835 Ley St. for $420,000.

Louis Testoni to Cesare and Ann Marie Donatelli Frepoli at 79 Waterfront Drive for $1,100,000. James Campbell to Laura Byrd at 59 Waterfront Drive for $715,000.

Susan Cosentino to Roxanne Mahfood at 8 Waterside Pl for $615,000.

Doug Kamper, vice president of the East Allegheny Community Council (EACC), told The Chronicle that the council was facing issues getting Pumpkinfest organized without founder Barbara Burns, and made the decision to hold off on the event for a year.

“It sucks, we wish we could have done it this year,” Kamper said. “But we didn’t want to do it wrong or poorly.”

The 2026 Pumpkinfest, before its cancellation, would have been the first one since the passing of Burns, who co-founded the event in 1991. Burns died on Nov. 5, 2025 following a battle with illness at the age of 76, only a few days after the 31st Northside Pumpkinfest.

Check out the October 2026 issue of The Northside Chronicle for the full story.

Throughout college, Dominick built a reputation as both a leader and a community builder. As the Founder and President of the Ithaca D.I.Y. Festival, he organized and promoted concerts and large-scale events, coordinated volunteers, managed budgets, developed marketing campaigns, and built partnerships with performers, venues, and organizations. His work culminated in a three-day music festival featuring more than 100 performers and attracting approximately 500 attendees, while generating nearly $20,000 to support the event.

In addition to his event planning experience, Dominick served as a manager for Ithaca College’s Phonathon program, helping lead fundraising campaigns that generated more than $200,000 for the college’s Annual Fund while supervising and training a team of more than 30 student callers. His experience also includes customer service management, public speaking, volunteer leadership, and internships with nationally recognized organizations in the entertainment industry.

At the Chamber, Dominick will oversee communications, marketing, and event coordination while supporting initiatives that promote economic development and strengthen the Northside business community. His enthusiasm for creating meaningful experiences and telling the stories of local businesses makes him a tremendous addition to our team.

We recently sat down with Dominick to learn more about his background, what inspired him to join the Chamber, and what he’s most excited to accomplish in his new role.

Can you tell us a bit about your career path and how your experiences have shaped your professional journey?

I graduated from Lincoln Park Performing Arts Charter School with a concentration in Filmmaking Design and Photography before attending Ithaca College, where I majored in History. Outside of the classroom, I spent much of my free time attending local concerts and community events. Those experiences sparked my interest in event management and inspired me to think about how events could grow in scale and impact.

Eventually, I organized the Ithaca D.I.Y. Festival, which featured more than 100 local bands performing across four downtown venues over three days. During college, I also worked in Ithaca College’s Phonathon office, where I built relationships with alumni and encouraged them to support the college’s annual fund. That role strengthened my communication, fundraising, and relationship-building skills.

What drew you to the Northside | North Shore Chamber of Commerce and to this specific role as Event & Communications Coordinator?

To me, this position combines everything I loved working on in college—design and visual communications, event planning, writing, research, and helping businesses grow. It felt like the perfect opportunity to bring all of those interests together in one role while making a positive impact on the community.

With your background in event planning and fundraising, what aspects of this position felt like the right next step for you?

My previous experience in event planning and fundraising is both extremely applicable and very different from what I’ll be doing at the Chamber. I learned the fundamentals of organizing events and building relationships, but I worked with very different audiences. I’m excited to apply what I’ve learned to networking events and business-to-business engagement while continuing to learn and grow professionally.

The Chamber’s mission is to Promote, Connect, and Support our business community. Which of those pillars resonates most with you, and how do you hope to advance it in your role?

While all three are incredibly important, I think promotion is often the most overlooked. I’ve learned that one of the biggest factors in the success of an event or business is simply making sure people know what you’re doing — and, just as importantly, how well you’re doing it. I’m excited to help tell the stories of our members and increase awareness of everything happening throughout the Northside.

What are you most looking forward to accomplishing during your first few months with the Chamber?

I’m really looking forward to running events — especially being there to help them operate smoothly from beginning to end. Seeing an event come together successfully is one of the most rewarding parts of the job, and I’m excited to be part of that process.

Are there particular initiatives—like NorthSide- Works! or the Northside Cultural Collaborative— that you’re especially excited to work on?

I don’t know if I’m sharing any insider secrets here, but the upcoming NorthSideWorks! Career Exploration Events seem incredibly exciting. They have the potential to make a real impact by giving people a firsthand look at industries that can often be difficult to enter. I hope to help make these events well attended because they provide such valuable opportunities for our community.

What role do you see your event planning and communications skills playing in promoting the Northside as a great place to live, work, and visit?

Since joining the Chamber, I’ve already discovered the incredible variety of businesses throughout the Northside that many people may not know about. By helping these businesses connect with one another and by sharing their stories more effectively, I believe we can strengthen the business community and make the Northside an even more connected and vibrant place to live, work, and visit.

What are you hoping to learn or grow into professionally through this new opportunity?

I’m hoping to become known as someone who is dependable, reliable, and responsive — someone that Chamber staff, members, and community partners can count on to deliver high-quality events and communications.

Finally, what’s one fun fact or personal tidbit you’d like our members to know about you?

This past summer, I volunteered at eight D.I.Y. music festivals, including the Northside Music Festival. Event management is more than just my job — it’s one of my biggest passions. If any Chamber members ever need an extra volunteer to help with an event, I’d be happy to lend a hand!

Please join us in welcoming Dominick Petrucci to the Northside | North Shore Chamber of Commerce. We’re excited to have him on board and look forward to the creativity, enthusiasm, and fresh perspective he’ll bring as we continue working together to support and strengthen our business community.

Marshall-Shadeland
Maria Menzel to IRB Detroit LLC at 1120 Marshall Ave. for $125,000.

Observatory Hill
Brian Clonan to Grand Key LLC at 4137 Franklin Road for $49,900.
OGR Realty 3 L.P. to Raffaele Dilullo at 2401 Maple Ave. for $155,000.

Troy Hill
Estate of Selma Uhlig to Colton Edward McCloskey and Hanna Churella Dausch at 1841 Ley St. for $280,000.

Real Estate Transactions provided by <RealSTATs>.  Contact <RealSTATs> at 412-381-3880 or visit www.RealSTATs.net.

A large deficit, state budget cuts and decreasing enrollment at Pittsburgh Public Schools has led to a proposal that could close two Northside public schools in 2012.

The Pittsburgh Public School District hopes to transform itself from a system of small schools with varied educational quality to a system with fewer but better schools that operate more cost efficiently. To do this, the school board proposed a plan that would close eight schools, including the Northside’s Oliver High School and Northview PreK-8 The plan proposes that Oliver’s 344 students move to Perry High School.

Special education offices and the McNaugher Education Center would move into the Oliver building. Northview PreK-8 students would be divided and reassigned to Morrow PreK-8 and King PreK-8.

No plans have been announced for Northview’s building.

The plan also proposed that Brighton Heights’ Morrow Elementary split into a PreK-4 in the Morrow building with grades 5 through 8 in the Rooney building, which is currently not being used as a school.

The earliest possible board vote on this proposal would be November 22, 2011. If approved, the plan would take effect for the 2012-2013 school year The proposal is designed to decrease the estimated $41.2 million deficit that the district currently faces and to decrease the number of empty seats in Pittsburgh Public Schools from 10,191 to 5,902.

“I think the thing that we want to emphasize is that, as many people know by now, we have a serious financial situation on our hands,” said Pittsburgh Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Linda Lane. “We’re taking a number of steps to address the under-utilization of our schools and classrooms, and if this proposal passes, it will be the first portion of our plan to get our schools to be fiscally stable.”

If the proposal passes, Perry High School will go from being a full magnet, where all students have applied and take more challenging classes, to a partial magnet, where the school will house magnet-program students as well as regular feeder-pattern students.

The district hopes that combining Oliver and Perry would give an advantage to kids at Oliver who Lane said are “capable and willing” to take more advanced classes that are not offered at Oliver because of its small enrollment.

However, the district addressed that there would be challenges to merging Oliver and Perry.

“You don’t lightly go about combining two high schools,” said Lane, who also said that if the proposal passed, measures would be taken to help smooth the transition and to work with the students to help them get to know and accept each other.

Though Oliver High School currently has the smallest high school class sizes in the district, averaging 10 to 23 students per class, only 24.2 percent of students were at proficient or advanced levels on the PSSA reading tests and only 17.4 percent scored proficient or advanced in math last year.

At a special public hearing regarding the proposal on August 22, Oliver High School parent, Deshauna Ponton stood in opposition to the closing of Oliver High School.

She pointed out the school’s positive attributes, such as an award-winning ROTC program, a cosmetology program, family movie nights and evening computer classes for adults that she saw while her son attended Oliver. She also recalled his positive experience there.

“It was not an abnormality to receive a phone call at nine or 10 o’clock at night about my son to say he was doing poorly or doing well,” Ponton said. “My potentially failing student is now a college student who started his first day today.”

Pittsburgh Public Schools currently has over 10,000 empty seats in the district caused by population decreases and parents choosing alternatives to public schools. In the past 50 years, enrollment in the Pittsburgh Public School District has fallen from around 75,000 students to under 30,000.

At a special public hearing regarding the proposal on August 22, City Council President Darlene Harris addressed the possible consequences that school closings could have on the city.

Harris noted that as city council president, she knows the fabric of the city and understands that it is “stretched as far as it can go.”

Though she acknowledged the challenges of budget cuts and population decline, she warned the school board of the cutbacks, if not handled responsibly, may only further these problems because the schools are “a driving force in the city.”

“The more we cut, the more we close, the more population will go down,” she said. “The board holds the city’s future in its hands. We just have to decide correctly.”

The Northside Leadership conference advocated keeping Manchester PreK-8 open and for Morrow to be split into two buildings, both of which were included in the proposal.

Both the NSLC and the Northside Community Development Fund withheld comments regarding Northview until they had the feeder patterns for the neighborhood.

NSCDF Executive Director Mark Masterson requested that the school board “really take a look at the buildings that are closed,” in the Northside.

“Please don’t do what you did last time, as it was detrimental to the community,” he said.

He mentioned that the previous closings, like Observatory Hill’s Chatham Elementary in 2006, were “flawed” because the buildings were left unused.

President of Northview Heights Citizens Council Inc., Valerie Lauw, spoke at the hearing to address the closing of Northview PreK-8.

Lauw noted that she was in “total support of the public school system,” but questioned if closing Northview was the right choice for the neighborhood, which has grown by 200 residents in the past year.

“We all want to be close to our children, especially when they’re being educated,” she told the board, noting that filtering Northview students into King PreK8 and Morrow PreK-8 would limit parent involvement and create the additional expense of bussing the students out of the neighborhood for the district.

There will be a series of public meetings throughout the next three months for community members to address their concerns about the proposal.

“The committee hopes that Northsiders are going to speak up and say what they want and what they don’t want,” said NSLC Executive Director Mark Fatla.

Priory Hospitality Group CEO and president John Graf was joined by beverage-industry veteran Eric Heinauer and a third unnamed partner in taking on the battered brewery. The new ownership was announced in a press conference on Sept. 14.

“We’re all super excited because we came into acquiring Penn Brewery as fans,” Graf told reporters.

The Priory Hospitality Group is the company behind The Priory Hotel and Pittsburgh’s Grand Hall at the Priory, two major landmarks of the Deutschtown neighborhood. Graf told The Chronicle that the brewery fit right in with his existing business’s hospitality focus.

He also noted that the hotel and the brewery both opened in 1986, and that his dad — The Priory Hotel founder Ed Graf — would play St. Nicholas during Christmas-time festivities at the brewery.

Heinauer, meanwhile, has a long history in the beverage industry, including serving for more than 11 years at Penn Brewery under various roles, including director of sales. Other businesses he’s worked at include Pittsburgh Brewing Company, InBev, Straub Brewing and Wigle Whiskey.

Check out the October 2026 issue of The Northside Chronicle for the full story.

CeaseFirePA is holding a Community Safety Forum on Gun Violence Prevention through Secure Firearm Storage Conversations and Practice on Sept. 22 from 6:30-8:00 p.m. at the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh in Lawrenceville (279 Fisk St., Pittsburgh, PA 15201). You can RSVP by visiting their website at carnegielibrary.org/clp_location/lawrenceville/ 

With back-to-school season in full swing, I bring good news from Harrisburg. Statewide, this year’s budget delivered $678 million in additional K-12 funding, including allocations for both basic and special education programs, school infrastructure improvements, mental health resources, and investments in closing the funding gaps in lower-wealth school districts.

As always, if you need any assistance with other state resources, do not hesitate to reach out to our office at (412) 781-2750 or email RepPowell@pahouse. net. My team also has office hours from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on the second floor of the Shaler Municipal Building every Thursday.

Be well, Lindsay Powell

Brighton Heights
Sean Daugherty to DP Holdings One LLC at 1157-1159 Davis Ave. for $285,000.

East Deutschtown
West Aircomm FCU to Tripoli Blossom LLC at 847 Blossom Way for $719,550.

Spring Hill
Estate of Harry Edward Saputski to Brittany Hale at 1002 Goehring St. for $70,000.

Real Estate Transactions provided by <RealSTATs>.  Contact <RealSTATs> at 412-381-3880 or visit www.RealSTATs.net.

Emmanuel Episcopal Church, located at 957 West North Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15233, has announced the schedule for the 35th season of its free jazz concerts.

The jazz concerts are free and open to the public, and start at 5 p.m.

The schedule, as well as the theme for each day, is as follows:

Sept. 13: Rhythm

Oct. 11: Playing the Changes

Nov. 8: Interlude

Dec. 13: Transposition

Jan. 10: Harmony/Dissonance

Feb. 14: Chord Progression

March 14: Syncopation

April 11: Perfect Pitch

May 9: Improvisation 

For more information, visit emmanuelpgh.org/jazz-emmanuel-season-35/ or call (412) 231-0454.

Free health event to be held Sept. 12

Several organizations will come together to hold a Family Health Program at New Zion Baptist Church & Pilgrim Baptist Church, located at 1440 Juniata St., on Sept. 12, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

The event will involve wellness education programs, on-site health screenings and food distribution.

Organizations involved in putting on the event include Highmark Whole Care, UPMC for Life, Sisters Saving Ourselves Now Inc., The BUHL Foundation, ONE Northside, Northside Institutional COGIC, Kappa Chapter Inc. of Chi Eta Phi Sorority Incorporated, Pittsburgh Black Nurses in Action and Dollar Bank.

The event is free and open to the public. No advanced registration is required.

For more information, contact Jerry Ann Allen at jaa3418@hotmail.com or Rev. Dr. Judith Campbell Moore at drjudithcmoore@gmail.com.

Shore Thing wins international development award

Shore Thing, the floating venue anchored on the North Shore, was one of the nine winners of the 2026 Urban Land Institute Americas Awards for Excellence, recognizing notable development projects in North, South and Central America.

Built on 10 small barges, the space was one of nine winners of the award, as announced in a press release from Riverlife, the creators of Shore Thing.

Riverlife is an organization that promotes Pittsburgh’s riverfronts. Shore Thing was opened last year and, according to Riverlife, welcomed more than 50,000 people in its initial season.

A lot of people are putting their plans on hold because they believe much lower mortgage rates are right around the corner. But, based on today’s forecasts, that may not happen. And you should know that before you decide what to do.

Let’s look at why experts don’t expect a dramatic drop in rates – and the options that could help you buy anyway. Because even if rates don’t fall, you can still move. Here’s how.

1. Mortgage Rates Aren’t Expected To Fall in a Meaningful Way 

If you’re waiting for rates to fall, you’re not alone. A recent survey from Clever-Best Interest found 42% of people believe mortgage rates will drop below 5% this year.

The challenge is, that’s not what the experts who study mortgage rates every day are expecting.

Forecasts from Fannie Mae, the Mortgage Bankers Association, and Wells Fargo all show mortgage rates staying relatively steady in the low-to-mid 6% range through at least mid-2027 (see graph below): Why? Rates are influenced by inflation, the overall economy, Treasury yields, Federal Reserve policy, global events, and a lot of other moving pieces. And right now, those factors simply aren’t pointing toward the kind of dramatic rate drop many buyers are waiting for.

Could rates move a little? Of course. But if you’re holding out for a bigger drop, today’s forecasts suggest you may be waiting a lot longer than you expect.

2. Inflation Is Still Elevated – And That’s Working Against Lower Rates 

One reason experts aren’t expecting rates to fall much? Inflation. Generally speaking, high inflation is the enemy of lower mortgage rates.

And after a period of relative stability from mid 2023 to late 2025, recent data shows inflation has actually been trending higher lately (see graph below): In other words, one of the biggest ingredients needed for much lower mortgage rates simply isn’t in place today. That helps explain why experts aren’t forecasting the kind of meaningful decline so many buyers are hoping for.

3. Today’s Rates Aren’t High, They’re “Normal”

And this may be the biggest mindset shift of all. The reality is, while today’s rates may feel high compared to a few years ago, they’re not high. They’re normal.

Historically, mortgage rates have spent the majority of their time somewhere between about 5% and 10%. And data from Freddie Mac shows we’re actually well in that range today. It just feels high because we all remember the ultra-low rates homeowners got during the pandemic (see graph below): Now, this doesn’t suddenly make a 6% mortgage feel exciting. But it does remind us that waiting for super low rates again may not be a realistic strategy.

So... What Should You Do Instead?

None of this is meant to convince you that you have to buy today. You don’t. But if you need to because something in your life’s changed, there are still ways to find better affordability without waiting for mortgage rates to fall.

Check out newly built homes. Many builders are offering incentives to attract buyers, including price cuts, potentially lower rates, free upgrades, and more.

Ask about an adjustable-rate mortgage (ARM). If you don’t plan to stay in the home long-term, an ARM may offer a lower initial interest rate than a traditional 30-year fixed mortgage. It’s not the right choice for everyone, but it’s worth asking a lender if it fits your plans.

Look into mortgage rate buydowns. This is when you pay upfront to reduce your mortgage rate so you can get for a lower monthly payment without waiting for rates to fall.

Find out about assumable mortgages. An assumable mortgage allows you to take over the seller’s existing loan, including its lower mortgage rate.

The important thing is you shouldn’t assume waiting is your only option.

Talk with your real estate agent and lender about whether one of these strategies could be a good fit for you.

Bottom Line

If you’ve been putting your home search on hold because you’re convinced mortgage rates will be much lower soon, it may be worth taking another look at that strategy.

Let’s connect so you have an expert who can at least walk you through your options and decide whether waiting really puts you in a better position – or just keeps you on the sidelines a little longer. n

The annual festival of all things reggae music celebrated its sixth year with a day that, while overcast, otherwise served perfect weather for the outdoor event. Lead organizer Kevin Maskol said he was glad the cloud cover kept things from getting too hot, and a slight breeze both kept things cool and helped to carry reggae tunes throughout the venue.

Now going on for more than half a decade, Reggae at Riverview began as a relatively small event by Maskol and as a way to offer reprieve from the then-ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Since then, it has continually grown, managing to attract new attendees each year.

Felicity Wolfe, a Perrysville Avenue resident, attended Reggae at Riverview for the first time. Wolfe said she is a big fan of reggae music, but perhaps found the scenery the best part of all.

“I didn’t even know about this part of the park down here,” she said.

Reggae at Riverview is held around the Valley Refuge Center, located in the southeastern part of the park known as the Kilbuck Valley. This was a big year for the section of the park, as the Valley Refuge Center — which has served a key part in Reggae at Riverview — received a Construction Award for Rehabilitation at the 2026 Pennsylvania Historic Preservation Awards for renovation work which was completed last year under the direction of the Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy.

The Conservancy has supported Reggae at Riverview since 2023, and was more than happy to show off the completed renovations during the event.

“It is really special to be here after the project is complete,” said Erin Tobin, the Conservancy’s outreach coordinator. But, of course, the true centerpiece of Reggae at Riverview is the music. One of the acts performing this year was Lopaka Rootz, a reggae musician from Hawaii who first got in contact with Maskol after performing at Grandview Park in Pittsburgh two years ago.

Rootz, whose real last name is York, praised the festival, saying he enjoyed the natural venue and the “chill ambience” the park brought.

Rootz explained that he got into reggae music after attending a party where Ziggy Marley, son of the famous reggae musician Bob Marley, was playing. He described himself as “enamored” with the music genre.

“It’s a feeling,” he said. “You’ve got to feel it to play it.”

He described his particular flavor of reggae as a mix of California and Hawaii reggae.

On top of the music, this year’s festival featured spray painting lessons by a Rastafarian artist, Jamaican food vendors, handcrafted hula hoops and various other activities and vendors.

Reggae at Riverview is traditionally held during the first Saturday of August. For more information and updates on next year’s event, search for it on Facebook or follow the festival on Instagram, at @reggae_at_riverview.

Fineview
Nicholas Gee to Equity Homes LLC at 246 Lafayette Ave. for $105,000.

Historic Deutschtown
Yarnovich Capital LLC to Patricio Ernesto Brito and Christina Eugenia Gonzalez Zorrilla at 910 James St. for $329,900.

Manchester
Robert Harris to Brandon and Ryan Groom at 1513 Manhattan St. for $105,000.

Observatory Hill
Flerahus LLC to Jakub Skrzypczak and Margaret Mary McGaughey at 4016 Vinceton St. for $101,000.

Spring Garden
Patrick Adam Kissel Jr. to NSP Assoc. LLC at 2010 Spring Garden Ave. for $10,000.

Spring Hill
Brittne Lawson to Equity Homes LLC at 2328 Gershon St. for $20,000.

Real Estate Transactions provided by <RealSTATs>.  Contact <RealSTATs> at 412-381-3880 or visit www.RealSTATs.net.

While there is, of course, the nationally-known Pittsburgh Steelers, the neighborhood also has the Northside Steelers.

The difference between the two teams? About a 20-year age gap between the average player.

The Northside Steelers youth football team kicked off their season on Aug. 9 and will be playing through October. Part of the Northside Youth Athletic Association (NYAA), the team consists of local kids from ages 5 to 13 competing in the AFC Division of the Western Pennsylvania Youth Athletic Association.

“We have an unbelievable number of 107 football players and 63 cheerleaders (this year),” Audie Chapman, NYAA executive director and Northside Steelers head coach, told The Chronicle.

The team practices at Fowler Field, while home games are played at the former Oliver High School. Chapman said the team focuses on teaching every kid “from scratch” on how to play, building up their skills as they continue with the team.

“There’s a lot of kids here that have never played football before,” he said.

Beyond football capabilities, the practices also help build up the kids’ social skills and team work. In a time where many kids are staying indoors on the computer, the practices and games draw the teammates together for some outdoor fun and physical activity.

“Where else around [here] are you getting 107 kids together at any given time?” Chapman asked rhetorically.

In addition to the football players, the team also has its cheerleaders, whom Chapman called a “foundation” of the program.

“They’re the ones that are bringing the grandmas, the sisters, the moms and dads (to the game),” he said.

“The cheerleaders bring the crowd,” he said later. While sign-ups are closed for the team this year, registration for next year will open up in May and will end in July. For more information, visit nsyaasports.org.

“Around the Northside, there’s nothing like it,” Chapman said of the program. “When they age out of our program, they come back, still wanting to be involved.”

As for those who want to watch a Northside Steelers game, their schedule can be found below: l Sept. 5, against Homewood, home game 

• Sept. 12, against Hill, home game (HBCU Day)
• Sept. 20, against Penn Hills, away game
• Sept. 27, against Sto Rox, home game
• Oct. 3, against Lincoln, away game
• Oct. 10, against West Side, home game (Homecoming) 

Tickets to attend a game are $5.

I’m happy to share that at the end of July, Council passed legislation I introduced to strengthen Pittsburgh’s parking regulations. Bill 2026-0771, removes an outdated exception in the City Code that allowed vehicles to stop or park in prohibited locations for the purpose of “protecting a vehicle.” This update provides greater clarity in the parking code and supports more consistent enforcement, helping keep sidewalks, bike lanes, crosswalks, and other restricted areas clear, safe, and accessible. While this is an important step forward, I recognize that more work remains to ensure our streets remain safe and accessible for everyone who uses them. My office will continue working with city departments to identify additional improvements that enhance safety throughout our neighborhoods.

Short-Term Rental Regulation Bill 20260009 was briefed at the Planning Commission last month, with a hearing scheduled for Sept. 8 at 2 p.m. After the Planning Commission issues its recommendations to Council, a separate public hearing will be scheduled. As a refresher, the bill would prohibit new short-term rentals in residential zoning districts while establishing where short term rentals are permitted throughout the city. The companion licensing legislation, Bill 2026-0008, will remain on hold until the zoning bill completes this process and returns to Council. I encourage anyone interested in this issue to stay engaged and participate in the public process. For the latest information on the Planning Commission’s decision, meeting materials, and opportunities for public comment, visit: pittsburghpa.gov/Business-Development/City-Planning/Public-Notices.

The 10th Annual Garbage Olympics will take place on Sept. 19 from 9-11 a.m. with a closing ceremony at Spirit (242 51st St.) from noon to 2 p.m. featuring free food from their kitchen sponsored by the Clean Pittsburgh Commission. To learn more, register a team, or join an existing team, visit www.pghgo.org/.

Pittsburgh Regional Transit (PRT) is holding a public comment period for its proposed Bus Line Refresh project until Sept. 30. A public hearing is scheduled for Sept. 10 from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the Heinz 57 Building, 345 Sixth Ave. This is a great opportunity to share your feedback directly with the organization as they move forward with a final proposed network. For details about the project and how to provide public comment, visit engage.rideprt.org/buslineredesign.

This month, the Department of City Planning will host five final public workshops for residents to review the draft Comprehensive Plan and share critical feedback before revisions are applied and the plan moves into the approval and adoption process. To find out more and register for a workshop, visit pgh2050.com/#welcome-join-us-and-share-your-voice-at-upcoming-events.

I’m thrilled to share that the City of Pittsburgh and the Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy received a 2026 Pennsylvania Historic Preservation Award from Preservation Pennsylvania for the rehabilitation of the Valley Refuge Shelter in Riverview Park. The project received a Construction Award for Rehabilitation, recognizing exemplary work to preserve Pennsylvania’s historic places while adapting them to serve communities for generations to come. The Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy has been a tremendous partner for residents of the Northside, investing in projects at both Allegheny Commons and Riverview Park, and I look forward to continuing this relationship.

If you have any questions or concerns, call us at (412) 255-2135, email us at district1@pittsburghpa.gov, find us on Facebook, and sign up for our newsletter (pittsburghpa.gov/City-Government/City-Council/Districts/Bobby-Wilson-District-1). My staff and I look forward to hearing from you!

The renovation project will receive a Pennsylvania Historic Preservation Award from Preservation Pennsylvania, an organization that assists with various historic preservation projects across the state, at an award ceremony on Sept. 16 in York, Pennsylvania. Specifically, the City and Conservancy will receive a Construction Award for Rehabilitation, “recognizing exemplary work to preserve Pennsylvania’s historic places while adapting them to serve communities for generations to come,” according to a press release from the City.

“As I understand it, the state preservation awards are not handed out easily,” said Brandon Riley, Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy’s Community Projects and Engagement Director.

“We’re really proud and excited that the Valley Refuge Shelter was selected,” he said later.

First built in the late 1930s, the shelter was in need of some major renovations after decades of use. The structure’s roof and flagstone flooring had deteriorated, and its restrooms were not Americans with Disabilities Act compliant.

The renovations were launched and completed last year, with the shelter having its first major event only a few weeks after reopening with the 2025 Reggae at Riverview music festival on Aug. 2, 2025.

Erin Tobin, the Conservancy’s Outreach Coordinator, said the renovations were a careful act of both preserving the historic look of the shelter, and updating it for modern use and convenience.

“It’s a cool thing to be able to balance all of those different needs and to honor the history of such a cool place in Riverview Park,” she said.

While the City and the Conservancy are receiving the award, Riley said many different organizations were involved in getting the work done. Besides those two, Friends of Riverview Park, the Pittsburgh Department of Public Works, state funding agencies and private foundations all played a part in both paying for and ensuring the project was completed.

“If everyone chips in something, you can get a lot more done,” he said. The rehabilitation used funding from the City of Pittsburgh’s Parks Tax Fund, as well as a Keystone Historic Preservation Grant from the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission and private support.

Despite the major accomplishment, the Conservancy is not resting on its laurels. Tobin said the organization will soon begin work on a renovation of Watson’s Cabin in Riverview Park. The cabin is the former home of Samuel Watson, the farmer who sold the land to create the park, and was used as a shelter until it was largely destroyed in a fire.

For more information about that upcoming project, visit engage.pittsburghpa.gov/watsons-cabin.

The City and Conservancy are one of 21 recipients who will be recognized at the awards ceremony.

Brighton Heights
William Kavals to Nicholas Koroly at 3509 Fleming Ave. for $115,000.
Clinton Branchen to Beck Jacobson at 1259 San Pedro St. for $267,500.

East Deutschtown
Penn Pioneer Enterprises LLC to Staywalt Properties LLC at Vista St., parcel 0024-E-00201-0000-00, for $10,000.

Manchester
Melvin Adams to David and Lauren Abt at Stedman St., parcel 0022-P-00240-000A-00, for $12,500.

Marshall-Shadeland
Steve Bernardi to Meghan Gwinn-Linder at 12 Boston St. for $148,500.
Thomas Hartman Jr. to P8 Hold Co. 1 LLC at 3158 Shadeland Ave. for $34,000.

Observatory Hill
Donald Stone to PB4 Enterprises LLC at 259 Watson Blvd. for $52,500.

Real Estate Transactions provided by <RealSTATs>.  Contact <RealSTATs> at 412-381-3880 or visit www.RealSTATs.net.

Pittsburgh’s Department of Mobility & Infrastructure (DOMI) held a public design workshop on Aug. 5 at the Manchester Citizens Corporation to allow attendees to review three plans to transform State Route 65 and reconnect Manchester and Chateau. Despite a heavy rain storm occurring that day, the event drew a packed crowd of people to give their feedback.

Beginning construction in 1960, a 1-mile portion of State Route 65 bisected Manchester and Chateau, leaving residents with few non-vehicular options to cross over from one neighborhood to the other, despite them being adjacent to one another.

Kris Chandler, a principal planner with DOMI and project lead, said such occurrences were common during the construction of the national highway system, saying many of these major roadways were built through Black and low-income communities, effectively cutting neighborhoods up.

The United States Department of Transportation is funding a feasibility study to lessen the barrier represented by the highway through its Reconnecting Communities Pilot Grant Program. While DOMI’s project will not definitively result in construction, Chandler said the plan is to take the feedback given by the public to inform future decisions to address the highway.

Attendees at the workshop were given score cards in order to grade the three plans presented by DOMI under a variety of criteria. In addition, DOMI is collecting feedback via the project’s Engage page, at engage.pittsburghpa.gov/state-route-65-feasibility-study.

The three plans presented by DOMI went under the names Cross Connections, Boulevard and Street Grid.

Cross Connections would keep the elevated structure of State Route 65, but would create four additional multimodal crossings beneath it, making it easier for cars, bikes and pedestrians to get from Manchester to Chateau and vice-versa. The plan would replace the foundation of the elevated highway with large pillars instead of solid concrete in order to enable these crossings, as well as allowing for the building of green spaces.

Boulevard, meanwhile, would lower State Route 65 to ground level and restrict traffic to two center-running lanes with limited access to local streets. The adjacent Beaver Avenue would also be moved farther east, creating new open land plots for development and around 200,000 square feet of green space. The plan would create six street connections from Manchester to Chateau, using traffic lights to allow for safe crossing and to slow traffic on the road.

Finally, Street Grid would remove the elevated highway and replace it with two street-level roads. This would recreate the historic street grid-like pattern between Manchester and Chateau. The plan would make five street connections between the neighborhoods, and would create four new city blocks for potential development, as well as creating around 390,000 square feet of green space.

The planning study project is lasting through the end of September.

Public reaction

The Chronicle spoke with various members of the public in attendance at the workshop to see how they felt about the plans presented.

Charis Walker, a resident of Manchester for 12 years, said she found herself leaning towards Boulevard most out of the three plans, though wasn’t strictly opposed to any of them.

“I like something about each of them,” she said.

Walker said Boulevard stuck out due to creating more space for redevelopment by shifting Beaver Avenue over.

Betsy Coleman, who has lived in Manchester for 52 years, said she favored Cross Connections, as she wanted to keep State Route 65 elevated. She thought it the most convenient for people coming and leaving from the area, as well as being the safest for pedestrians and cyclists.

Jess Jackson, a Manchester resident of 16 years, was unable to choose which was her favorite, saying all plans “have their positives.” However, she said her biggest concern was about traffic speeds with whatever plan is put into action.

Jess’s husband Drew Jackson, also in attendance at the meeting, said he most favored Street Grid, seeing it as creating the best connections between the neighborhoods while slowing traffic down the most to safe levels.

However, he said that whichever plan comes out of the study, he most hopes that it is actually taken up by the city, expressing some worry that a plan could be made but never carried out.

“I hope they come to fruition,” he said.

The Second Annual Northside Sandwich Week will take place Oct. 19 to Oct. 25, culminating in a final event on Oct. 26 at The Priory Grand Hall where the next Sandwich King or Queen will be crowned.

Tickets are available now! Purchase them here for $25. In addition, you can add on $19.99 to get a six-month subscription to The Northside Chronicle, giving you even more ways to support The Chronicle and letting you try out a subscription for cheaper than it usually costs!

So far, a total of nine competitors have signed on to take part in this year’s event. Returning from last year are Breadbox (Last year’s runner up), Ida’s Sandwich Shop (Who took third place in 2025), and Wise County Biscuits & Cafe!

Meanwhile, our new contenders include Bistro-to-Go, Smash Burger, The Sandwich Shop, The Eastman, De Fer Coffee & Tea and Modern Cafe.

We’re also proud to announce that the hosts of the YaJagoff! podcast will be back to emcee the event, continuing the wonderful job they did last year.

All of these restaurants will compete to see who can make the Northside’s best sandwich!

We also have a few spots open for any restaurants looking to take part. Those who wish to do so should contact The Chronicle at editor@thenorthsidechronicle. com or at (412) 321-3919.

What is Sandwich Week

Northside Sandwich Week was an annual fundraiser run by the Northside Leadership Conference until 2020, when it came to an end due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Last year, The Chronicle revived the event, bringing back a favorite event of the year on the Northside.

Participating restaurants enter a sandwich to the competition. During Sandwich Week, each restaurant will offer a special deal on their specific sandwich.

Then, on Oct. 26, a final judging event will take place at The Priory. During the event, attendees will get a chance to taste bite-sized samples of each sandwich and vote on their favorite.

These votes, alongside votes from a panel of judges, will be used to determine the three best sandwiches on the Northside, with the top vote-getter being crowned Northside Sandwich King or Queen.

More information

The Northside Chronicle will be releasing more information about Sandwich Week on our social media platforms throughout September and October, including the sandwiches from each restaurant and what deals they’ll be offering.

Follow us on Facebook and Instagram (@nschron) for more. We also have a Facebook and Instagram account set up specifically for Sandwich Week, so be sure to follow those profiles as well to get all the details as soon as they come out.

The October issue will also have more information. We want to thank all our participating restaurants for taking part in this event. Sandwich Week has become an important event for The Chronicle, and a big way to support our mission of offering Northside-exclusive news to all our readers.

Without fundraising from events like Sandwich Week, we wouldn’t be able to keep up with all we do. So, if you’re a big fan of The Northside Chronicle and want to lend us support, please follow all our Sandwich Week news as it comes out, check out all the participating restaurants and buy a ticket once they go up for purchase. We promise it’s an event you won’t want to miss. 

California-Kirkbride
Wayne Joyce to KGRANDBEAN LLC at 1417 Brighton Road for $175,000.

Observatory Hill
Oleksandr Zharkov to Cal Uren at 56 Bascom Ave. for $182,000.
Estate of Richard Werner to Chanessa Schuler at 403 Wabana St. for $215,000.

Troy Hill
James Campbell to Laura Byrd at 59 Waterfront Drive for $715,000.
Susan Cosentino to Roxanne Mahfood at 8 Waterside Pl for $615,000.

Real Estate Transactions provided by <RealSTATs>.  Contact <RealSTATs> at 412-381-3880 or visit www.RealSTATs.net.

Coasta Properties LLC to Christopher James Nygren and Chiara Montera at 1218 Sherman Ave. for $455,000.

Tosdice LLC to Daniel and Tina Paduck trustee at 1112 Palo Alto St. Unit A for $280,000.

RSM Design LLC to David Webster and Kimberley Hilliard at 922 W North Ave. for $1,594,000.

Pittsburgh City to Daniel Hendrickson at W Jefferson St., parcel 0023-E-00140-0000-00, for $200 (state deed transfer stamps indicate a value of $1,194).

Brighton Heights

Patrick Gray to Paul and Susannah Barsom at 3603 California Ave. Unit B for $150,000.

Joshue Bertram MacCarty to Peter Paul Depasquale and Christina Morrissey at 3565 Gerber Ave. for $23,000.

Ryan Flynn to Emily Kinkead at 3514 Shadeland Ave. for $339,000.

Seth McClarey to Amber Betancourt at 3518 Simen Ave. for $265,000.

John Fiedler to Michael Grguras at 3951 Oakdale St. for $35,000.

Beth Lazaara to Douglas D L and Jessica Baker at California Ave., parcel 0075-B-00358-0000-00, for $30,000.

Diane Marie Galardi to Invest Pro 888 LLC at 1437 Orchlee St. for $160,000.

HSBC Bank USA NA Tr to Manchester Living Matters LLC at 1156 Pemberton St. for $91,000.

Grace Cammarata to Fareri Homestead LLC et al. at 3921 Riddile St. for $189,000.

Sharon Marie Miller to NM&D LLC at 1014 Stanford Road for $180,000.

California-Kirkbride

High Cirrus Development LLC to NJ 1 LLC at 1605 Brighton Place for $550,000.

East Deutschtown

1254 Dean Street LLC to West Aircomm FCU at 845 Blossom Way for $350,000 by sheriff’s deed. Katie Binetti to Brittany Ditto at 842 Phineas St. for $230,000.

Penn Pioneer Enterprises LLC to Boris Tafkov at 861 Vista St. for $15,500.

Fineview

Marlin Nabors to Tyler and Shanleigh Knittel at 304 Lafayette Ave. for $630,000.

Titans Real Estate LLC to ISAM Properties LLC at 2014 Letsche St. for $31,000.

Estate of Robert Matthews Dixon to Devlinc Inc. at 2100 Federal Street Ext. for $155,000.

Historic Deutschtown

Nebeyou Abebe Yohannes to MAHI One LLC at 1316 James St. for $61,600.

Daniel Gorsich to Nicholas and Talia Buttgereit at 1402 James St. for $317,500.

Katherine Susanne Tarara to Kekaimalu Chin and Mary Elizabeth Diercks at 514 Cedar Ave. for $335,000.

Daniel Bobovnyik to William Francis Sarro Jr. and Clara De Andrade Graciano Humberg at 1202 James St. for $425,000.

Marshall-Shadeland

David Pollard to GCAT 2019 RPL1 Trust at 3141 Brighton Ave. for $50,000 by sheriff’s deed.

James Dittler trustee to Thaman Rentals & Renovation LLC at 1237 Dickson St. for $45,000.

Julia Dentice to Alex Deise at 1402 Dickson St. for $212,500.

Carmen Arana to Dahntahn Realty LLC at 1184-1186 New Hampshire Drive for $24,900.

Estate of Ronald Nyman to GAE Shelby LLC at 3318 Shelby St. for $83,000.

Estate of Melanie Guiste to Jacob Mahaffey and Elizabeth Norris at 1256 Superior Ave. for $240,000.

John Nash Jr. to Thisprop LLC at 3234 Central Ave. for $50,000.

Amber Kotari Imam to MS Capital Group Pittsburgh LLC at 10 Courtright St. for $1 (state deed transfer stamps indicate a value of $29,000).

Real Deals LLC to Central Florida Income Fund LLC at 3124 Frederick St. for $60,000 (state deed transfer stamps indicate a value of $180,000) by sheriff’s deed.

North Shore

Blackburn IV LLC to Cedar One Assets LLC at 210 Federal St. for $1,075,000.

Observatory Hill

Bao Ping Zheng to Wei Zhu at 12 Perryview Ave. for $83,779.

WC Home Acces Owner OH 1 LLC to BAHA Properties LLC at 42 Watson Blvd. for $190,000.

Perry Hilltop

Mitchell Gray Thompson to BINA PA LLC at 2652 Norwood Ave. for $72,500.

PRF 100 LLC to Shavonne Lowry at 303 Elsdon St. for $170,000.

Betty Smith trustee to Anglican Diocese PGH at 2860 Perrysville Ave. for $279,900.

Estate of Harry McKinley to Sean Link at 1977 Federal Street Ext. for $155,000.

Rosalie Wisniewski to Chad Minton at 409 Bark St. for $60,000 (state deed transfer stamps indicate a value of $180,000) by sheriff’s deed.

Grey Steel City LLC to Hoan Nhut Do Tan at 2917 N Charles St. for $65,000.

Spring Garden

Cynthia Boles to Jason Weaver at 1843 Spring Garden Ave. for $85,000.

Spring Hill

SM Painting Restoration LLC to Maple Capital Investments LLC at 2149 Harbor St. for $82,300.

Katherine Crystal Smith Sinagra to Deborah McNier at 54 Woessner Ave. for $1 (state deed transfer stamps indicate a value of $35,200).

Summer Hill

Joanne Schmidt to Hsuan Yu and Yi Ching Lin at 4642 Mt. Troy Road Ext. for $295,000.

Troy Hill

James Dunn trustee to June Bay PA LLC at 1360 Herman St. for $135,000.

Autumn Kirila to Jordan Sanchez and Brooke Austin at 1834 Ley St. for $244,000.

Michael Kolbrener to Steven Fey at 71 Waterfront Drive for $760,000.

Sean Ferry to Omnia Investments LLC at 1845 Ley St. for $130,000.

Victoria Stephen to Michael Weleski and Donato Demarco at 1833-1835 Ley St. for $420,000.

Louis Testoni to Cesare and Ann Marie Donatelli Frepoli at 79 Waterfront Drive for $1,100,000.

The renovation project will receive a Pennsylvania Historic Preservation Award from Preservation Pennsylvania, an organization that assists with various historic preservation projects across the state, at an award ceremony on Sept. 16 in York, Pennsylvania. Specifically, the City and Conservancy will receive a Construction Award for Rehabilitation, “recognizing exemplary work to preserve Pennsylvania’s historic places while adapting them to serve communities for generations to come,” according to a press release from the City.

“As I understand it, the state preservation awards are not handed out easily,” said Brandon Riley, Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy’s Community Projects and Engagement Director.

Check out the September 2026 issue of The Northside Chronicle for the full story.

The sixth annual East Commons Community Friends to Garden Dinner will take place on Aug. 29, from 5-11 p.m.

The party is a fundraiser to support the East Commons Community Garden, such as funding additional garden beds and free community events that take place at the garden.

Tickets are $75 and can be purchased at deutschtown.org/friends-to-gardendinner/.

Tickets for the event include a welcome cocktail/mocktail, cocktail hour, hors d’oeuvres, a dinner buffet and desserts. There will also be a silent auction, prize raffles and a 50/50 raffle.

The East Commons Community Garden was created in 2018 on the site of three abandoned city tennis courts. The 17,000-square foot site houses 54 raised garden beds, and is tended to by more than 75 volunteers.

The party is limited to guests over 21 and will be held rain or shine.

Back to school fair to be held in Fowler Park

The Northside Community Back 2 School Family Festival will be held on Aug. 16, from 1-5 p.m., at Fowler Park.

The event is organized by Legacy Community Options For All People (LCOP), a religious social services organization based on the South Side.

Backpacks and school supplies will be available for attendees. There will also be free food, live music, family activities and carnival games/amusement rides.

For more information, visit legacycop.org/backtoschool.

Historic Deutschtown
Ann Vilcheck to Euan and Angharad Morgan at 1000 Middle St. for $467,500.

Manchester
Rebecca Kritschil Chappell to Daniel Wilkerson at 1210 Sheffield St. for $335,000.

Spring Garden
Kathryn Anne Benson to Nicholas McGraw at 2300 Spring Garden Ave. for $11,000.

Real Estate Transactions provided by <RealSTATs>.  Contact <RealSTATs> at 412-381-3880 or visit www.RealSTATs.net.

The result is 1897, a limited-edition American wheat beer brewed with cinnamon and named in honor of the Chamber’s founding year.

Hosted on-site at Penn Brewery, the brew day gave participants an opportunity to learn about the craft brewing process firsthand while rolling up their sleeves and taking part in the production of the Chamber’s signature beer.

Penn Brewery’s three-vessel brewing system allowed participants to follow the process from grain to fermenter.

The process began with the mash, where the grains were mixed with hot water to convert the natural starches in the malt into fermentable sugars. The mixture was then moved through the lauter stage, separating the liquid from the spent grain. The resulting sugary liquid, known as wort, was collected and transferred for the boil.

During the boil, hops were added to contribute bitterness and aroma to the beer. Following the boil, the wort entered the whirlpool, a process that helps separate the hops and other solids from the liquid. It was at this stage that the beer’s signature ingredient — cinnamon — was added, giving 1897 its distinctive character.

The wort was then chilled and aerated before being transferred to the fermenter, where yeast works its magic, converting the sugars into alcohol and creating the finished beer.

For the Chamber, the experience was about more than brewing a beer. It was an opportunity to celebrate local businesses, bring members together, and showcase the craftsmanship and history that make Pittsburgh’s Northside a special place.

The 1897 beer can design was created by Fine Humans Creative Agency, the winner of the Chamber’s beer can design contest. The design, paired with the cinnamon wheat ale brewed by Chamber members on-site at Penn Brewery, creates a limited- edition product that celebrates both the Chamber’s history and the neighborhood’s brewing heritage.

Preorder 1897 and support the Chamber

Beer lovers can get their hands on this limited- edition brew while supporting the Northside | North Shore Chamber of Commerce. The Chamber is holding a pre-sale fundraiser, with a portion of the proceeds from the beer sales benefiting the Cham- ber.

1897 is available for preorder as a limited-edition six-pack, with pickup beginning Aug. 27 at Penn Brewery.

To reserve your beer, visit the Penn Brewery online ordering system and select the 1897 Limited Edition Northside Northshore Chamber of Commerce 6-pack. When ordering, customers are asked to enter their name and phone number in the Special Requests field.

The Chamber encourages residents, businesses, and visitors to support this collaboration and raise a glass to the organization that has been connecting and supporting the Northside business community since 1897.

Penn Brewery celebrates a gold-medal winning tradition

The Chamber’s brew day also provided an opportunity to celebrate Penn Brewery’s continued success on the national and international beer competition stage.

Most recently, Penn Brewery’s Eisbock earned a Gold Medal at the U.S. Open Beer Championship in Cincinnati, Ohio. The beer was submitted for a blind tasting competition, where judges evaluated it alongside entries from breweries competing in the same category without knowing the brewery behind each beer.

Producing an Eisbock is a challenging brewing process. The style is created by freezing the beer and removing a portion of the water in the form of ice, concentrating the remaining beer and intensifying its flavors, alcohol content, and body. The process requires precision and careful attention to balance.

The gold medal marks a back-to-back win for Penn Brewery in 2025 and 2026, adding another accomplishment to the brewery’s long history of award-winning beers.

Penn Brewery Biermeister Chris Rudolph is already looking ahead.

“We’re going for the trifecta for next year,” Rudolph said.

The brewery also celebrated a win at the Great American Beer Festival in Denver last fall for its Oktoberfest beer, adding to its reputation for producing traditional German-style beers alongside its broader lineup of craft offerings.

Raise a glass to local

The Northside | North Shore Chamber encourages the community to visit Penn Brewery, support a local business, and experience the brewery’s beers and hospitality firsthand.

Penn Brewery’s bar is open Thursday through Friday from 4-8 p.m., Saturday from 3-8 p.m., and Sunday from noon to 4 p.m., with a limited bar menu available.

The brewery will also celebrate Oktoberfest Sept. 18–20 and Sept. 25–27. Friday and Saturday celebrations will run from 5-11:30 p.m., while Sundays will feature a Family Day from noon to 7 p.m.

From brewing a limited-edition beer with Chamber members to bringing home gold medals from national competitions, Penn Brewery continues to be a part of the Northside’s vibrant business and cultural landscape.

The Chamber’s 1897 beer offers the community another way to celebrate that connection—one cinnamon wheat ale at a time.

Cheers to local business. Cheers to local beer. And cheers to 1897!

Brighton Heights
Estate of James Kaiser to Thomas and Lisa West at 408 Chandler Pl for $295,000.
Haven Home Builders LLC to Emilio Townsend and Megan Schillinger at 1536 Cooper Ave. for $188,000.
Estate of Ann Caroline Restaine to Edward Disy at 1144 Goe Ave. for $210,000.
Garrett Brewer to Cartus Financial Corp. at 3448 Harbison Ave. for $180,000.
Cartus Financial Corp. to Kristen Locante at 3448 Harbison Ave. for $180,000.
George Pringle to Manchester Living Matters LLC at 1131 Pemberton St. for $98,000.

Manchester
Marc Hillard Fogel to Dominic James Dicostanzo at 1003 Allegheny Ave. for $460,000.
1448 Beldale LLC to Secured Investment High Yield FD II LLC at 1448 Beldale St. for $5,430 by sheriff's deed.

Marshall-Shadeland
Estate of Frances Hein to Andrew McCue at 2917 Frederick St. for $20,405.
Bellflower Real Estate LLC to John and Brenda Hoover at 2923 Frederick St. for $215,000.
Carol Lee Croker to Joseph Hnat at 129 Mitchell St. for $49,900.
Joshua Haefele to TB Capital Group LLC at 912 Rothpletz St. for $45,000.

Spring Garden
Estate of Ronald Samuel to Barlow Investments LLC at 1237 High St. for $55,000.

Real Estate Transactions provided by <RealSTATs>.  Contact <RealSTATs> at 412-381-3880 or visit www.RealSTATs.net.

Organized by Ben Soltesz, the festival held performances from more than 75 bands over the course of the threeday event, backed by a lineup of food trucks and cuisines from local vendors like Kona’s Ice of Pittsburgh West and PGH Crepes.

Festivities began around 6 p.m. on July 10, with music from local rock bands like the Redlines who performed at the Iron City Beer Stage on Foreland and indie artist Danny Golden who performed on the festival’s second stage, WYEP stage at Allegheny City Brewing.

Saturday saw a mixture of different performers across different genres like pop singer-songwriter Lindsay Liebro, and celtic punk band Bastard Bearded Irishman.

A mix of longtime festival goers and newcomers attended, including Jim Cook, a North Hills resident, who was joined by a friend for Saturday’s festivities. Cook says he heard about the festival from NEXTpittsburgh, a local publication.

“They [NEXTpittsburgh] sent me a list of what’s going on in Pittsburgh this weekend,” Cook told the Chronicle. “I saw it and I said, ‘I have to go.’” Cooks says he enjoyed his time at the festival as it was a way to get out of the house and see “the fresh air and the people.”

The last day of the event started at 11 a.m. and was Gospel focused, mainly taking place at Allegheny Commons. Rob Geyer, who attended Sunday’s Gospel event, talked about how he believes the festival is a “positive presence” for those on the Northside. He hopes the Gospel music “emanates” throughout the area for all to hear.

“It [the festival] gives a nice counter to some of the dark experiences that happen here,” Geyer said. “It just brings a nice light to some areas that need it.”

Noel Kowalkowski, who attended Sunday’s event as a presenter for the Urban Impact Foundation, a local nonprofit organization serving local teens in areas of the performing arts and education, says she also felt the impact of the community.

As she looked around the festival, she spoke about her love of seeing the community come together and having something that is “just Northside.”

“The Northside has so much because we have like Deutschtown and we have a bunch of different kinds of people and a bunch of different artists and art,” Kowalkowski said. It’s nice to see us all here together and to have something and just show off the Northside.”

“It was definitely a big switch-up with my life, “ Germaine told The Chronicle. “Five, six years ago, I never imagined myself in boxing and going out of town, being nationally ranked.”

His rank? Number one. Germaine claimed first place at the Golden Gloves of America Junior & Youth Nationals in the 17-18-year-old male division at 143 pounds. The Golden Gloves is one of the highest levels of competition available to young boxers in the United States. The championship was held July 7-11 in Allen, Texas, with boxers from ages 8 to 18 participating.

Germaine was boxing with Team 412, a non-profit boxing organization based in Pittsburgh. In 2024, Delbert “Sonny” Taylor, who grew up on the Northside, competed in the 2024 United States Olympic Boxing Trials while boxing with Team 412.

James Hoy, head coach and founder of Team 412, described the Golden Gloves as one of the two biggest events for youth boxing, the other being the Junior Olympics. Germaine also competed at that event, earning a bronze medal.

Germaine’s final bout of the Golden Gloves was a rematch of an opponent he defeated at the 2026 Junior Olympics. Germaine faced off against Nolan Huntley of Toledo, Ohio, to claim the championship.

Despite his previous victory, Germaine knew he had something to prove going into the fight.

“The last time I beat him, everybody said I got lucky,” he said. “Anybody I beat, it was never luck,” he added later. Though he felt confident he could win, Germaine said that hearing his name called as the victor made him feel one thing: relief.

“After being in the finals, there was a lot of nervousness,” he said, “and after hearing my name and my corner, it was just a big relief of stress.”

Hoy had high praise for Germaine, calling him an “amazing athlete” with work ethic that goes “through the roof.”

“I think you get what you deserve, but you also get what you’ve earned, and he’s done both of those,” Hoy said.

The coach recalled that when Germaine first started boxing for him, he weighed around 195 pounds, and Hoy was not sure he would be able to compete. However, Germaine showed dedication and quickly got into shape.

“He’s the fastest, best conditioned kid I’ve ever coached,” he said. Germaine had equal praise for his coach, saying that Hoy “makes sure everybody is perfect.”

“You can’t really go wrong with the good type of coaching he does,” he said. “He doesn’t let off for one second.”

Germaine says he plans to continue boxing and wishes to compete in the full Olympics one day. He’s also considering potentially becoming a professional boxer.

Germaine was not the only Team 412 boxer to do well at the competition. Teammates Niko Wilson took silver at 114 pounds and D’mir Flemings won bronze at 119 pounds. Neither is a Northsider.

After the Department of Public Works closed the Spring Garden Playground due to its noncompliance, I’m happy to announce that I identified funding to fully replace the playground with t he goal of construction beginning this fall. An Engage Page found here: engage.pittsburghpa.gov/spring-garden, is now live with two current design options available to review and fill out the survey, which closes on Aug. 14.

A traffic calming project is coming to the Spring Hill neighborhood at Itin and Rhine Streets and will include speed tables and a designated parking lane. Before construction begins, the Department of Mobility & Infrastructure is coordinating with PGH2O to ensure its planned catch basin replacement project will not conflict with the work. Details on the project can be found here: engage.pittsburghpa.gov/rhine-and-itin-traffic-calming.

The Spring Hill Park is currently under construction, with the top half of the park expected to be completed by fall 2026. Work will continue on the field, and an expected completion date is spring 2027. I’m very grateful for the work done by the Department of Public Works and look forward to celebrating this transformational project’s completion. More details can be found here: engage. pittsburghpa.gov/spring-hill.

There are some great events this month in the Northside that I would recommend to attend, starting with Reggae at Riverview Park, on Saturday Aug. 1 from noon to 8 p.m., at the Valley Refuge Shelter. This is the sixth year for this free, family-friendly event which features numerous musicians, vendors, Caribbean food, art, and much more. For more details, follow the event on Instagram at reggae_at_riverview.

Also on Aug. 1, is the Observatory Hill Inc. House Tour, “Ins and Outs of Observatory Hill,” from noon to 5 p.m. Visitors will be able to explore a number of charming and historic homes which are lovingly maintained by their proud owners. Each stop gives one the ability to see the craftsmanship that went into making Observatory Hill a standout Northside neighborhood. To purchase tickets, visit ohipgh.org/events.

Lastly, National Night Out will be held on Aug. 4 from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m., with various events throughout the Northside. This is a great opportunity to connect with the community and public safety representatives. To learn more, visit pittsburghpa.gov/Safety/Public-Safety/National-Night-Out.

If you have any questions or concerns, call us at (412) 255-2135, email us at district1@pittsburghpa.gov, find us on Facebook, and sign up for our newsletter (pittsburghpa.gov/City-Government/City-Council/Districts/Bobby-Wilson-District-1). My staff and I look forward to hearing from you!