BOLD VENTURES
February 2020
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
Editorial team: Veronique Schreurs, Nancy Leverett, Terri Winaught, Peggy Walsh
Email: boldwpa@gmail.com
Website: www.wpabold.blogspot.com
BOLD Dues: Thank you to the many people who sent in their dues!
If you haven’t yet, please send a check or money order for $12 for your 2020 BOLD dues made out to W PA BOLD to our treasurer: Veronique Schreurs, 2269 Tilbury Ave, Pittsburgh PA 15217. This keeps you getting the Newsletter that has the upcoming events. Many of which are free or very discounted for BOLD Members.
FEBRUARY CALENDAR
Saturdays, February 1 & 15, from 10:00 to 12:00, swimming, a $5 donation is optional, at the Western Pennsylvania School for Blind children: 201 North Bellefield Ave., Oakland. Reservationist, Penny Fleckenstein: 412-415-3871 by 10 PM the Wednesday before. Swimmers may bring snacks, and pizza is provided for lunch.
Tuesday February 4 from 6:30 to 8:30 PM: Bold Board meeting at the Human Services building, 1 Smithfield St., downtown. All are welcome to attend. Please call Tammi 412-488-6298 by 9pm Sunday February 2 if you plan to attend.
Downhill ski dates for 2020, January 26, February 9 and 23, and March 15 and 29.
Scotto Gray is the person to email for downhill skiing: scottog@yahoo.com. If you’d like to be a sighted guide or a visually impaired skier, email him & leave your phone number also.
Wednesday February 12, 1-4pm: come have fun with us at the Children’s Museum, discounted cost of $7.00, sighted guides: free. The address: 10 Children’s Way Allegheny Square, Pittsburgh, PA 15212. This is an adult activity to touch and feel and examine with our hands. There is a café where lunch can be purchased but it can be crowded at noon. Reserve with Joyce Driben by February 7 at 412-521-4385.
Wednesdays February 5 & 19: Mall Walking will be held at the Monroeville Mall from 9 to 11AM. To sign up with Peggy Walsh the Thursday before: 412-683-6070.
For Ross Park Mall walk information (first and third Thursday): please call Andrea Schwartz at 724-444-0064.
Yoga Thursdays February 6, 13, 20 & 27: Yoga at Squirrel Hill Schoolhouse Studio: 2215 Murray Ave, from 2:30 to 4 PM. Cost: $10 per person ($15 optional if the group is small). Reserve the Tuesday before with Veronique 412-225-4038.
CULTURAL CONNECTIONS
Sunday February 2, Blind Vision Impaired Introductory Workshop at 1:00 PM at City Theatre, 1300 Bingham St., Southside 15203, and at 2:00 Audio Described Performance: “DOWNSTAIRS”: the play confronts family secrets, regrets & madness in search of The Good Life. To order $22 ticket with or without companion, & learn length of play call 412-431-4400, Ext. 3.
Most Pittsburgh Opera events will be held at their headquarters, 2425 Liberty Ave., Strip District 15222. The main number is 412-281-0912.
Saturday February 8, Brown Bag Lunch Concert from 12:00 to 1:00 PM.
Sunday February 9, Blind/Vision Impaired Workshop from 3:30 to 6:00 PM, for THE LAST AMERICAN HAMMER.
(Exception: for the location Sunday February 16, Opera Up Close will be part of a fundraiser at Carnegie Library, Oakland in the Music Room, call for details.)
To reserve in advance for these events call Marilyn Egan, Ext. 242.
Tuesday February 25, 7:00 PM, the actual opera THE LAST AMERICAN HAMMER. To order $11 ticket and learn length of Opera call Regina Connelly at 412-281-0912 Ext. 213.
PAST EVENTS
On December 15, 2019 when BOLD’S annual holiday party was held, there was also a 50/50 raffle. With $171 in raffle tickets having been sold, winner Randi Shelton received $85.50. On behalf of the Fundraising Committee, Terri Winaught would like to thank everyone whose generous support made this amount possible. Terri also thanks member Diana Rock for helping to sell tickets.
Thanks to Veronique, Bill Burgunder, Bruce Leverett, Alison Leverett Davin, Sue Jeffreys and the many other people who helped serving the food.
Dom Ceresa was honored for being the past Coordinator of Skiing. He was given a plaque that has a shiny black finish with silver logo and writing etched into the plaque.
The skier logo is on the top left and next to it are the words Western Pennsylvania Blind Outdoor Leisure Development. Then under that it said, “Thank you Dom Ceresa, for your dedication, service, and leadership as the Coordinator of BOLD’s Blind Ski Program from 2012-2019. Your friendship and knowledge enabled years of smiles, challenges, and outdoor fun for the blind skiers and volunteer guides!”
Scotto Gray was introduced as the new skiing coordinator.
LOOKING AHEAD
Start thinking about going to camp Kon-o-kwee from Friday May 8 till Sunday May 10. Cost: $60, including bus fare. Reserve with Peggy Walsh 412-683-6070 by April 8, 9pm. Note that the buildings and all the grounds are smoke free! People will depart on Friday May 8 from the Human Services Building, 1 Smithfield St. downtown, arrive by 5:30pm. Returning to the same location on Sunday May 10, set up your Access for 1pm.
BOLD BITS
For interesting events at the Carnegie Library for the Blind (CLP-LBPH), 4724 Baum Boulevard, Pittsburgh, PA, 15213: call 412-687-2440 for information.
Compassion and condolences to Kimberly Smythe whose brother died in January, and wishing her the healing that such a loss always requires.
Welcome to new Bold member Angela Hadbavny.
Congratulations to Natasha Brown and Josh Kinder who got engaged in January.
Happy Birthday to Sherri Crum, Missy Demchak, Mitch Demchak, Maurice Johnston, Jamie Robinson, Aimee Yunt and anyone else with a February birthday.
Thanks to all who contributed to the making of this newsletter.
PERSONAL PERSPECTIVE By Terri Winaught
To say that a lot of BOLD members and guests attended BOLD’s 2019 Holiday Party would be an understatement since we were about 70 strong.
The food which Bill Burgunder ordered from the Cooked Goose was both excellent and plentiful.
Additional tokens of gratitude go out to everyone who helped with setting up, serving, guiding people as needed, cleaning up, and making it easier for people to get to this event by driving. We couldn’t conclude this Perspective, though, without commending Ceinwen King-Smith for the superb job she did entertaining throughout by playing a variety of songs and carols on her keyboard.
Just as we couldn’t conclude this Perspective without acknowledging Ceinwen, neither could we fail to mention that the generosity of two anonymous benefactors enabled there to be no cost to attend this wonderful celebration.
PERSONAL PERSPECTIVE by Nancy Leverett
Celebration of life on January 11 to honor our members who died in 2019: Carol Platt, John and Karen Good, and Bob Ziegler. We were joined by Karen and John’s 3 daughters Becky, Julie, and Suzanne and granddaughters Kaitlyn and Courtney and Bob Ziegler’s wife Mary and her sister. We laughed and cried and told stories about our departed friends. It was especially touching when Becky thanked Mary Ziegler for her husband Bob’s participation in BOLD as a volunteer and how important it was for her parents and their family to be able to experience all the things they did because of volunteers like Bob.
We ended with Terri Winaught singing beautifully a variation of the 23rd Psalm and Ave Maria.
THE END