BOLD VENTURES December 2025
Western Pennsylvania Blind Outdoor Leisure Development
This BOLD Ventures is sponsored by Nancy Leverett.
Nancy, thanks for your sponsorship, and much thanks for your dedication and fine work as BOLD’s President these past four years! And Nancy says “Enjoy the color picture of me and my guides when we had fun dressing up at BOLD ice skating.”
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Caption: Kathryn, Nancy, and Ann look sparkling in fancy ice-dancing dresses, enticing all of us to try ice skating. |
A BOLD Holiday Rhyme!
In this, there is no secret,
It’s the holiday time of the year.
May yours bring you joy and peace
And friends and family near!
Best wishes and enjoy the holidays!
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Show your support for BOLD, it’s time to pay dues.
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In BOLD part of our getting ready for the new year is paying dues. The dues for the upcoming year are $15. There are two ways to pay your dues. You can send a check payable to WPA BOLD to WPA BOLD, PO Box 10307, Pittsburgh, PA 15234. Or if you like you can use either PayPal or a credit card at the donate button at the bottom of this Newsletter or on our website www.wpabold.blogspot.com and use the “donate” button. If you use our website, be sure to write a note saying that you are paying your dues. If you are new to BOLD and paid your dues after September 30th, you are covered for 2026. Also, if there has been any change in your contact information, please send it to our Corresponding Secretary Debby Hill at dm-hill@comcast.net. Thanks for paying your dues!
On Sunday January 18, 2026, at BOLD’s holiday party we will be having elections for three board offices. Here is the list of offices to be filled and the people who are running: President, Carol Lubecki; First Vice-President, Stephanie Cataldo; Corresponding Secretary, Debby Hill. We hope you can be there on January 18 for this important meeting and fun event. The details are in the Upcoming events of this BOLD Ventures.
DECEMBER CALENDAR
Monday, December 1, from 6:30 to 8:30 pm, Board Meeting in-person at Western PA School for Blind Children, 250 N. Bellefield Avenue, Oakland. Any non-board Members who want to attend must call Nancy at 412-561-3972 by Saturday, November 29.
Tuesdays, December 2 and 16, from 10 am to 1:30 pm, Mall Walking at the Monroeville Mall. Cost is free. Lunch is on your own at the food court. Sighted guides and visually impaired walkers sign up by noon the Tuesday prior to the walk by calling Peggy at 412-683-6070 or text/call her at 412-977-2351. So, to sign up for December 2, contact Peggy by noon Tuesday, November 25, and for December 16 contact Peggy by noon December 9. Be sure to sign up so that if there is any change or cancellation for mall walking, you will get the information.
Wednesday, December 3 and 10, from 7 to 9:30 pm, SE Wisconsin BOLD virtual bingo, for all the sign-up information leave a voicemail or text Tammi at 412-951-6528 or email at tswiantek@comcast.net. Have fun!
Thursday December 4, 11, & 18, from noon to 1:30, Ice skating at the Mount Lebanon Ice Center, 900 Cedar Blvd., Pittsburgh, 15228. Cost is $7. If you’re looking for some exercise, consider Thursday ice skating. The ice is great, and accommodations can be made for all experience levels. If you’ve been thinking of trying skating, but you are worried about getting a ride, go ahead and sign up, and we may be able to find you transportation. We need sighted ice skaters to be guides on and off the ice. Sign-up by 8 pm on the Sunday before each date by leaving a voicemail or text for Tammi at 412-951-6528 or email at tswiantek@comcast.net.
Saturday, December 6, from 11:30 am to 1 pm, Molly’s trolleys heated bus tour of Pittsburgh, starts and stops at 21st Street and Smallman Street. (For Access riders, the street address to use is St. Stanislaus Kostka Church, 57 21st Street, 15222.) Come join us for a 90-minute tour of our city. The tour will include Pittsburgh history, current happenings, and some trivia. Our tour guide will welcome all of your questions. The tour also includes an optional ride on the Duquesne incline, and time spent at the Mr. Rogers’ statue. Drinks and snacks will be provided or bring your own on the trolley. After our tour we will have an optional lunch with BOLD covering the cost of pizza or gluten free pasta and pop. BOLD has a reservation for 1:30 at PaPa J’s, 2016 Smallman Street, 15222, an Italian restaurant at the corner of 21st and Smallman St. To make your reservation contact Jeff by 8 pm Sunday, November 30, and please indicate if you are staying for lunch and if you want gluten free pasta. Jeff can be reached at 412-487-9469 or emailing him at going4walk@duck.com .
Sunday, December 7 9 am, Downhill Ski Guide Training at Seven Springs. Meet in the Rathskeller part of the lodge behind Emo’s Pit and the main skiers’ lodge. If you are interested in being a guide for BOLD’s vision impaired downhill skiers this season, contact Scotto Gray, BOLD’s Director of Downhill Skiing, at scottog@yahoo.com by Thursday, December 4 to sign up and get more information. If Seven Springs is not open on December 7, the training will be held on Sunday, December 14.
Wednesday, December 10, from 7 to 8 pm, Holiday Stress Discussion on the BOLD conference line 385-799-9487. Although the holiday season can be a joyful time, it can also be a time of stress. Joyce Driben, a BOLD founder and retired social worker, will lead the discussion. Come join the call and let’s talk about ideas and get some support for surviving holiday stress. Reservations are not required, but if you would like to make a reservation call Terri at 412-441-0925.
Sunday, December 14 9 am, Downhill Skiing at Seven Springs Resort. Meet in the Rathskeller part of the lodge behind Emo’s Pit and the main skiers’ lodge. No cost for ski equipment and lift tickets. Everyone is responsible for their own lunch. If you are interested in being a guide for BOLD’s vision impaired downhill skiers on December 14, contact Scotto Gray at scottog@yahoo.com by Thursday December 11 to sign up and get more information. Low-vision and blind skiers make your reservation for the December 14 ski day by 9 pm Tuesday, December 9 with Nancy at 412-561-3972.
Wednesday, December 17, from 7:15 to 9:30 pm, SE Wisconsin BOLD virtual Family Feud, for all the sign-up information leave a voicemail or text Tammi at 412-951-6528 or email at tswiantek@comcast.net. Have fun!
UPCOMING EVENTS
Sunday, January 18, 2026, from 2 to 5:30 pm, BOLD Holiday Party and board election. St. Andrew’s Lutheran Church, 304 Morewood Ave, Pittsburgh, PA, 15213, in the spacious accessible hall. Catered dinner by The Chef and I Catering at 3:00 followed by membership meeting to vote on Board Officers. Optional bring an appetizer or dessert to share. There will be more details in the January BOLD Ventures, but be sure to mark your calendar so we can celebrate the new year together.
Ski Dates, thanks to Scotto we’ve got downhill ski dates for 2026. They are: Sunday, January 25, 2026, Sundays, February 1 and 22, 2026, and Sunday, March 15, 2026.
CULTURAL ACTIVITIES
Anyone interested in getting information about the availability of tickets for the Pittsburgh Symphony or chamber music concerts, please call Tony at 412-310-2508 or email tony.diana.rock@gmail.com .
BOLD BITS
Sad news: Patricia Hopkinson, a BOLD Member, passed away in early October. Our condolences to her husband Ron Hopkinson and her family.
Terri Winaught, BOLD’s fundraising chairperson, would like to thank everyone for attending and making purchases at the Tupperware party on October 11. From the sales BOLD will receive $284.25.
Happy December Birthday to: Ernie College, Celeste Compomizzi, Karen Seligman, Brad Tebbs, and anyone else celebrating a December birthday!
NEWSLETTER RECORDING: Thanks to the good work of Marty Mathews, anyone can hear a recording of this newsletter by calling 401-252-0029 Access Code: 265365#.
Contact Us
WPA BOLD
PO Box 10307
Pittsburgh, PA 15234
Donate: Donate
Email: boldwpa@gmail.com
Website: www.wpabold.blogspot.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/wpabold
Editors: Debby Hill & friends