BOLD VENTURES
January 2017
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.)
JOYFULLY BEGINNING A NEW YEAR
This Editor's resolution for you is to see what events listed below you think you'll enjoy:
Tuesday the 3rd: Board meeting from 6:30 to 8:30 PM at One Smithfield Street, Downtown Pittsburgh.
To let Tammi Swiantek know to expect you, call 412-488-6298 by 10 PM Sunday the 1st.
Wednesdays the 11th and 25th: Mall Walking at the Monroeville Mall from 9 to 11 AM. Reserve with Joyce Driben the Thursday before by 9 PM: 412-521-4385.
Thursdays the 5th and 19th: Mall Walking at the Ross Park Mall from 9:30 to 11:30 AM on the 5th, and 10 to noon on the 19th. To sign up by 9 PM on Sunday the 1st for Thursday the 5th, phone Pat DePasquale at 412-492-1692. To sign up for Thursday the 19th by 9 PM on Sunday the 15th, call Tony Kelley: 412-965-4443.
Thursdays the 5th, 12th, 19th and 26th: Yoga from 2:30 to 4 PM at Squirrel Hill's Schoolhouse Yoga Studio: 2215 Murray Ave. To sign up with Veronique Schreurs the Tuesdays before, 412-225-4038.
Sundays the 8th and 22nd: Downhill Skiing from 9 AM to 3 PM at Seven Springs, 9 being when to meet at the old ski school desk. To mark your place with Dom Ceresa by 9 PM the Tuesdays before, phone 724-527-1857. To cancel with Dom by 8 PM the Saturdays before, call 724-527-1857.
On Saturday January 14th a Self-defence class is being held by GTCB at BVRS at 1816 Locust Street. The class will be from 10:30 am to 12:30 pm. Participants are to be there by 10:15 so we can get them upstairs to the room. The person to sign up with is Al Pietrolongo at either ajpietrol@verizon.net or at (412) 522-9039.
The charge for each participant is $10.
IMPORTANT ADDITION: From 1 to 5 PM on Wednesday, February 1st, there will be a hands-on, tactile tour of the Children's Museum in Pittsburgh's North Side.
To mark your place with Peggy Walsh by 9 PM on Friday, January 27th, call 412-683-6070.
Since the Board is awaiting pricing information, ask Peggy when reserving, call the Update Line, 1-773-597-4222 closer to the sign-up deadline, or do both. One piece of info we do have, though, is that sighted guides may attend for free.
PAST EVENTS
BOLD members and guests who attended the December 11th Holiday Party thoroughly enjoyed it. Although 46 people signed up, only about 30 attended due to illness and last-minute cancellations. (see Fundraising Facts for raffle info).
Many thanks to reservationist Cindy Perseo, and all who helped by driving, guiding and serving. Mall Walking at the two malls continues to go well.
LOOKING AHEAD
February's and March's Board meetings will both be on Tuesday the 7th from 6:30 to 8:30 PM at One Smithfield Street. As always, let Tammi Swiantek know to expect you by phoning 412-488-6298 no later than 10 PM the Sundays before.
Tentative dates for swimming at the School for the Blind are February 11th, March 18th, and April 8th. Second Vice-President Penny Fleckenstein has been able to obtain a lifeguard, and the School for the Blind is generously allowing BOLD to use their pool for free (see February's newsletter and call the Update Line for reservation information and date confirmation).
Sundays the 5th and 26th are the ski dates for February, with the Sundays in March to be determined.
The sign-up deadline with Dom Ceresa for the first Sunday in February will be Tuesday, January 31st by 9 PM: 724-527-1857. The cancellation deadline with Dom for Sunday, February 5th will be 8 PM Saturday the 4th.
In February's BOLD Ventures, this Editor will begin giving information about the May 5-7 Camp Kon-o-Kwee Weekend.
To finish "Looking Ahead," aromatherapy and Bingo will be held from 1 to 4:30 PM on Saturday, March 4th. An aromatherapist Penny Fleckenstein recruited will discuss and demonstrate the benefits of varied scents from 1 to 2:30 PM. From 2:30 to 3:15, we will take a break during which pizza and pop will be served courtesy of BOLD'S Treasury. From 3:15 or no later than 3:30 till 4:30, Bingo will be held. This activity is being paired so that participants can attend just the aromatherapy session, just the Bingo or both.
To let Nancy Leverett know if you will be at just one or both of these events, 412-561-3972 by 10 PM Monday, February 27th. (Nancy deserves a "GREAT JOB!" for the creativity of pairing these outings.)
ADMINISTRATIVE ADD-ONS
If your $12 a year dues are still due, send a check or money order, payable to Western PA BOLD: 2269 Tilbury Ave., Pittsburgh, PA 15217. Write "2017 dues" in the check or money order's memo.
Our officers for 2017 are: President, Tammi Swiantek; First Vice-President, Nancy Leverett; Second Vice-President, Penny Fleckenstein; Recording Secretary, Karen Seligman; Corresponding Secretary, Terri Winaught; Treasurer, Veronique Schreurs, and Past President, Joyce Driben. Tons of thanks to these dedicated Board members.
CULTURAL CONNECTIONS
Saturday, January 7th, 2017, the Pittsburgh Opera will host their free Brown Bag Lunch Series from noon to 1. WHERE? Opera Headquarters: 2425 Liberty Ave., (Strip District), Pittsburgh, 15222.
If you will need a sighted guide, call Marilyn Egan by 5 PM, January 6th, 412-281-0912, x242.
Sunday, January 8th is when Opera Up Close will be held from 2 to 4 PM, and a Sensory Workshop for Richard the Lionheart will take place from 4 to 6 PM.
Both offerings will be held at Pittsburgh Opera's Strip District headquarters: 2425 Liberty Ave.
Whether you plan to attend either or both, contact Marilyn Egan at 412-281-0912, x242. Opera Up Close is free to Friends of the Opera and $5 for everyone else. The sensory workshop is free.
On Tuesday, January 24th, the Pittsburgh Opera will present Richard the Lionheart at CAPA (School for the Creative and Performing Arts): 111 9th Street, corner of 9th and Fort Duquesne Boulevard, Downtown Pittsburgh.
This audio-described performance, for which Braille programs will also be available, will start at 7 PM; cost $10 per ticket; have an intermission, and last about 3 hours.
To order tickets, Regina Connelly: 412-281-0912, x213.
The next audio-described City Theatre play, Royale, will be on Sunday, February 12th. Curtain time, 2 PM; Sensory Workshop for the blind and those with low vision, 1 PM; cost, $22 and the option of a free companion ticket; Box Office, 412-431-4900, and address, 1300 Bingham Street, South Side, Pittsburgh.
To conclude, Pittsburgh Symphony concerts will resume, so if you have any questions about dates or getting free tickets, Joyce Driben can be reached at 412-521-4385.
FUNDRAISING FACTS
The Holiday Party raffle generated $116, with congrats to Marty Mathews who won $58.
BOLD BITS
It is with sadness that this Editor reports the passing of longtime BOLD member Caroline O'Nan, 82, on November 27th, 2016.
During BOLD'S early years, Caroline frequently hosted Holiday Parties at her North Homewood Ave. apartment. Caroline was also an avid skier who lit up the lives of skiers with impaired vision by being a dedicated guide for many years.
"She certainly was a very active early sighted member and ski guide and a lovely person," Nancy Leverett said about Caroline. We certainly extend compassion, condolences, and prayers to Caroline's family, friends, and loved ones.
Condolences and plenty of prayers also to Ethel De Iuliis, whose niece died the week of December 12th, 2016 after battling cancer for years. Doris's death hit Ethel especially hard since they had always been as close as sisters.
Warm Wishes for rapid recoveries to Cindy Perseo, Carol Platt and Jim Winaught. Cindy has had such a bad ear infection that it affected her hearing; Carol was admitted to Shadyside Hospital in mid-December for a series of chronic, significant challenges, and Jim had neck surgery in which herniated discs were removed and vertebrae fused.
This Editor is pleased to report that Maurice Johnston is home after successfully completing rehab from a broken hip and hip surgery.
Compliments and congratulations to Nancy Leverett and Ashley Winaught: Nancy, a longtime, avid rower, was highly recommended to serve on Three Rivers Rowing Association's Board, and Ashley received her massage therapy license in December after graduating from a massage therapy program in August.
The Pittsburgh Lutheran Center for the Blind will hold January's meal on Saturday the 28th. To sign up with Sherri Crum between Saturdays the 14th and 21st no later than 6 PM, phone 412-682-1800.
Happy Birthday to David Cunningham, Joyce Driben, Penny Fleckenstein, Nancy Leverett, Cindy Perseo, Dave Popoleo, and anyone else with a January birthday.
This Editor thanks everyone whose hard work and dedication makes this monthly newsletter available in so many formats!
THE END