October 2016 newsletter

BOLD VENTURES October 2016

Blind Outdoor Leisure Development
BOLD welcomes persons 18 and older with all degrees of vision: blind, low vision, partially sighted and fully sighted.
PO Box 8114
Pittsburgh, PA 15217
Terri Winaught, Editor
Email: boldwpa@gmail.com
Website: www.wpabold.blogspot.com
Update Line: 1-773-597-4222 (updates recorded each Friday.)

ONGOING FUN IN OCTOBER

You're encouraged to attend at least one-and hopefully several of the following events:

Tuesday the 4th: Board meeting from 6:30 to 8:30 PM at One Smithfield Street, Downtown Pittsburgh. So that Tammi Swiantek will know to expect you, phone 412-488-6298 by 10 PM on Sunday the 2nd.

Wednesdays the 12th and 26th: Mall Walking at the Monroeville Mall from 9 to 11 AM. Sign up with Joyce Driben the Thursday before: 412-521-4385 by 9 PM. If you sign up for a Mall Walking date and then can't attend, call Marty Mathews, 412-440-4909.
Thursdays the 6th and 20th: Mall Walking at the Ross Park Mall with 9 PM the Sunday before being the sign-up deadline. To mark your place with Pat DePasquale for Thursday the 6th, phone 412-492-1692, and-to sign up with Toni Kelly for Thursday the 20th-call 412-965-4443. Walking will be held from 9:30 to 11:30 AM on Thursday the 6th, and from 10 till noon on Thursday the 20th.

Thursdays the 6th, 13th, 20th, and 27th: Yoga at Squirrel Hill's Schoolhouse Studio, 2215 Murray Ave., from 2:30 to 4 PM. The reservation deadline with Veronique Schreurs, 412-225-4038, is the Tuesday before by 9 PM.

Saturday the 22nd: Tandem Biking at North Park, starting at 2 PM, and lasting till 5:30 or 6 PM. To reserve with Penny Fleckenstein by 9 PM, Saturday the 15th, 412-415-3871. Biking will be followed by a meal, with a cap of ten persons who are blind or have low vision; are excited about biking; are able to pedal for 30 minutes, and are willing to do so. Since the possibility of a small fee to defray costs might be implemented, ask Penny when reserving. The grove will be Westview 114.

To keep up with any changes, check the Update Line weekly: 1-773-597-4222.

PAST EVENTS

"We had guides for each of the hikers at Duff Park who were blind," Peggy Walsh reflected. Peggy added that the one-on-one guide ratio was thanks to hike leader Veronique Schreurs, Dom Ceresa, John Dern, Donna Allen and Ray Jablonowski.

"I also want to thank our sighted volunteers for driving, especially since Duff Park is in Westmoreland County, so Access wasn't an option," Peggy concluded. This Editor also thanks Peggy for taking reservations.

LOOKING AHEAD

With November's Board meeting being on Tuesday the 1st, Sunday, October 30th is the 10 PM deadline to call Tammi Swiantek: 412-488-6298. December's Board meeting will be on Tuesday the 6th.

Saturday, November 5th is when horseback riding is tentatively scheduled at Rolling Hills Ranch in Bridgeville. For details, see November's newsletter and call the Update Line closer to the event.

Saturday, November 12th is the tentative date for pre-holiday shopping either at Tanger Outlets in Washington County, or the Grove City Outlets (More info? November's BOLD Ventures). We are looking for someone to help plan, organize, and take reservations for shopping to take place.

As per Jim Musto's suggestion of a Bingo on a Sunday in November, this Editor will present that at October's Board meeting with details in November's newsletter.
On Sunday, December 11th, BOLD will hold its Holiday Party from 2 to 6 PM. Able to accommodate more than 50 partygoers, the Homestead Grays Room at One Smithfield Street is the location (more in November's and December's newsletters).

CULTURAL CONNECTIONS

Note on the Robert Morris University Speakers Series: Although tickets are required for these lectures, the seating is open, which means that seats are not assigned. Because that's the case, attendees are encouraged to be at Heinz Hall as early as possible. Address: 600 Penn Ave., Downtown Pittsburgh. All of the Speakers Series is held at Heinz Hall.

To ask Joyce Driben if she has any more Chamber Music Society tickets, call 412-521-4385.
What follows is a list of audio-described Tuesday evening operas for the 2016-2017 season, along with Art Song Recitals and Opera Up Close, held Sunday afternoons, for October and November:
La Traviata by Giuseppe Verdi on October 11, 2016 at the Benedum Center
Salome by Richard Strauss on November 8, 2016 at the Benedum Center
Richard the Lionheart by George Frideric Handel on January 24, 2017 at Pittsburgh CAPA School
As One by Laura Kaminsky on February 21, 2017 at the Pittsburgh Opera headquarters in the strip district, 2425 Liberty Avenue
Turandot by Giacomo Puccini on March 28, 2017 at the Benedum Center
The Summer King by Daniel Sonenberg on May 2, 2017 at the Benedum Center
Sunday, October 23, 2016 is when Salome will be presented as part of Opera Up Close at Pittsburgh Opera's Strip District Headquarters: 2425 Liberty Ave.
Art Song Recitals by Resident Artists on Sundays from 2:00-4:00 pm at 2425 Liberty Avenue.
November 20, 2016 is when the first one will be held.

Hand to God is the City Theatre's first play of the 2016-2017 season to be held on Sunday, October 16th. Time, 2 PM; Sensory Workshop for persons who are blind or have low vision, 1 PM; phone, 412-431-4900 or 412-431-2489; address, 1300 Bingham Street, South Side, Pittsburgh.

FUNDRAISING FACTS

A 50-50 raffle will be held at the December 11th Holiday Party. Tickets will cost $1; first prize will be half of the money collected, and additional winnings will be varied gift items. Since we sold $210 in tickets last year, let's see if we can give another BOLD member an equally festive holiday this year.

BOLD BITS


CONGRATULATIONS!! to Natasha Brown who was confirmed at First Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church on Sunday, August 28th. Receiving that sacrament means that a person can receive Communion at services.

Belated Happy Anniversary to Mike and Jona Gravitt who have been married a year as of August 22nd.
To read about a tandem bike trip Penny Fleckenstein took from Pittsburgh to Cumberland, Maryland, visit her blog: notyouraveragesinglemom.com. (Penny's post about this July trip along the great Allegheny Passage is divided into five informative segments.)
Pat McCloskey also blogs about outdoor recreation with an emphasis on skiing. To read his posts and learn about discounts on skiing equipment, visit: chroniclesofmccloskey.com.

Prayerful Get Well Wishes for John Perseo who was recently in the hospital for surgery, and Sam Wagner, who broke his ankle. Warm Wishes for a Rapid Recovery also to Penny Fleckenstein's sister who was recently diagnosed with a serious illness.

October's meal at the Pittsburgh Lutheran Center for the Blind will be from 5 to 7 PM on Saturday the 29th. To sign up with Center Director Sherri Crum by 6 PM Saturday the 22nd, phone 412-682-1800. If you sign up and then can't attend, Sherri asks that you call as soon as possible and definitely no later than 2 PM the day of the meal. At the beginning of each year, Sherri provides a list of policies and procedures.
Best Wishes for lots of wins and safe travel to everyone attending a Wilmington, North Carolina Darts Tournament in October. Safe travel to BOLD members who will be going to Harrisburg for a Pennsylvania Council of the Blind Convention in October.

Happy Birthday to Mark Grasak, Jim Musto, Margie Singer, and anyone else with an October birthday.

Thank you to Marty Mathews, Veronique Schreurs, and the Braille Team which Tina Wassermann leads for making this newsletter available and accessible.

THE END