November 2026 newsletter

BOLD VENTURES NOVEMBER 2026

Western Pennsylvania Blind Outdoor Leisure Development

This BOLD Ventures is sponsored by Terri Winaught in honor of Jim Winaught.

Thanks Terri for being a generous supporter of BOLD!

November, a month with two Thanksgivings. First, remember to honor and thank any veterans you know on Veterans Day the 11^th. Then, of course, there is the big thanksgiving celebration. Let’s take time to give thanks for the good things in our lives!

It’s that time of year, not just for fall fun and all of the holidays, but it’s time to pay BOLD dues.

The dues for 2027 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 2027. Also, if there has been any change in your contact information, please send it to Nancy Leverett at nancy.leverett1@verizon.net. Thanks for paying your dues!

NOVEMBER CALENDAR

Monday, November 2, 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 Carol at 484-318-9145 by Saturday, October 31.

Thursday November 5, 12, and 19, from noon to 1:30, Ice skating at the Mount Lebanon

Ice Center, 900 Cedar Blvd., Pittsburgh, 15228. Cost is $7. Sighted guides, blind and low-vision skaters need to sign-up with Tammi by 8 pm on the Sunday before each date. Contact her by leaving a voicemail or text at 412-951-6528 or email at tswiantek@comcast.net.

Saturday, November 7th 8:30 am to 6 pm, Grove City shopping trip.

No charge. For BOLD Ones who have signed up for shopping, please arrive by 8:30 at St. Andrew Lutheran Church, 304 Morewood Ave, Pittsburgh, PA, 15213. If needed we will be able to use the church’s facility for seats and restrooms. At Grove City, we will be individually guided by Therapeutic Recreation students from Slippery Rock University. We will arrive at 10 at the Lee-Wrangler entrance to the outlets to be paired with our student guide to spend the day shopping, shopping, shopping! There is a food court for lunch, but everyone is responsible for the cost of their own lunch. We will gather at 4:30 at Lee-Wrangler to fill out and sign the student service hour forms and board the bus for the trip back. We should arrive back in Pittsburgh at St. Andrew Church around 6. Schedule Access Trips for 6:30. If you like and are able, you can bring money to help tip our driver or to treat your student guide to lunch. If you would like to find out what stores are at Grove City call 724-748-4770 and choose option 2 or go to www.premiumoutlets.com/outlet/grove-city.

Mondays, November 9 and 23, from 10:00 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 should sign up by noon the Monday prior to the walk by calling Peggy at 412-683-6070 or text/call her at 412-977-2351. To sign up for walking on November 9, contact Peggy by noon Monday, November 2. And for walking on November 23, contact Peggy by noon November 16. Be sure to sign up so that if there is any change or cancellation for mall walking, you will get the information. (Note, for mall walking to occur we need a minimum of four mall walkers.)

Wednesday, November 11, 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. Good luck!

Sunday, November 22, starting at 4 pm, New Event, BOLD goes tailgating,

Ray Jablonowski’s home, 4551 Parade St. Pittsburgh, Pa, 15207. Cost is free. Are you a Steelers fan, or even if you are not so much, come join us along with some friends of Ray’s for some fun. The Steelers will be battling the Philadelphia Eagles. The party starts at 4, the game starts at 4:25, and you are free to leave whenever you like. (But, no, ray is not having a sleepover.) Pizza, hoagies, snacks and a variety of beverages will be provided. If you like you can bring other traditional tailgating food. There will be fun for all even if you are not a football fanatic! Make your reservation with Monique by 8 pm Wednesday, November 18 by calling or texting 412-812-3113. Let her know if you will be bringing any food.

UPCOMING EVENTS

Sunday, December 13, approx. 1 pm, Cookie Baking.

Save the date for some festive fun with cookie baking! You will be able to take home some of the cookies we bake. More details to come in December’s BOLD Ventures.

Sunday, January 17, Afternoon, BOLD After the holidays Party.

Mark your calendars for this fun annual event. We will also be electing members to the BOLD Board. Watch upcoming BOLD Ventures for all of the details.

CULTURAL ACTIVITIES

If you have any questions about getting tickets for the Pittsburgh Symphony,

the pops, and the opera call Tony at 412-310-2508 or email tony.diana.rock@gmail.com.

Audio Described Performances

Audio description (AD) is available for Saturday and Sunday

matinee performances of the PNC Broadway in Pittsburgh Series. AD is also available for select performances of other series and by request 14 days in advance. The service begins with show notes 15 to 20 minutes prior to the start of the performance and requires an assistive listening device, available at Guest Services. To see the list of this season’s Broadway shows go to: Broadway Shows. If you have any questions about shows and AD call the Cultural Trust at 412-f456-6666.

BOLD BITS

Friday, November 6; 4:30 to 7 pm, Somatosensory

Exhibit opening party at Lamp, 4724 Baum Blvd. Come explore an exhibit of sculptures that are meant to be enjoyed through touch. There will be food. If you can’t make the opening, the exhibit will be available at LAMP, Monday through Friday, 9 am to 5 pm, through Friday, November 27.

Happy November Birthday to:

Bill and Tom Burgunder, Debby Hill, Rich Kuzma, Donna McKendree, Mark Pugh and anyone else celebrating a November birthday!

NEWSLETTER RECORDING: Thanks to the diligent 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

To unsubscribe from receiving BOLD newsletters and announcements send a blank email to: w-pa-bold+unsubscribe@groups.io

October 2026 newsletter

 

BOLD VENTURES OCTOBER 2026

Western Pennsylvania Blind Outdoor Leisure Development

 

This BOLD Ventures is sponsored by Mark Lee.

Thanks Mark for your BOLD support!

 

Mark Lee is the awesome Library Services Administrator/Director of the Library of Accessible Media for Pennsylvanians (LAMP). LAMP provides talking books and other accessible materials for people who are print disabled across Pennsylvania.

 

October is coming and so is Halloween. The idea of trick-or-treating has been around

in some form since the middle ages. But it is not really clear where the term came from. However, it got firmly established in the U.S. by the posting of a Peanuts comic strip in 1951. Enjoy October!

 

Would you like to see your name in lights, and enjoy your fifteen minutes of fame?

Well, we don’t have a BOLD marquee, and we can’t promise that much fame, but you can be recognized as a hero by being a BOLD Ventures sponsor. Your sponsorship will help us make BOLD Ventures available in various formats--email, braille, print, and large print, and voice recording. Choose from two levels of sponsorship. For a $50 donation you can get your name and a short greeting in BOLD Ventures. For $75 you can get your name, a short greeting and a color picture of your choice in the newsletter. For more information and to set up your sponsorship, contact Debby at 412-742-4288 or dm-hill@comcast.net.

 

OCTOBER CALENDAR

 

Every Thursday in October, from noon to 1:30, Ice skating at the Mount Lebanon

Ice Center, 900 Cedar Blvd., Pittsburgh, 15228. Cost is $7. Sighted guides, blind and low-vision skaters need to sign-up with Tammi by 8 pm on the Sunday before each date. Contact her by leaving a voicemail or text at 412-951-6528 or email at tswiantek@comcast.net.

 

Monday, October 5, 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 Carol at 484-318-9145 by Saturday, October 3.

 

Wednesdays, October 7, 14, and 21, from 12:15 to 1:30 pm, Golf Training at Topgolf

in Bridgeville, 400 Presto-Sygan Rd, Bridgeville, PA 15017, Located just off of I79 South. Cost is free. Consider taking a shot at this new activity. Many sighted folks don’t think people who are blind or have low vision can or should play golf or even be around a golf course. Well, we need some brave BOLD members to prove them wrong! Visually impaired Golfer Dave J. will provide beginning lessons for Blind Golfers. All equipment will be provided, as will a ride to and from the facility provided by BOLD member Glenn. There are 3 slots available for each of the 3 sessions. To make a reservation for one or more of the sessions, contact Glenn by 8 pm, Thursday, October 1, by calling 412-370-5478 or emailing ghmcintyre@yahoo.com .

 

Mondays, October 12 and 26, from 10:00 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 should sign up by noon the Monday prior to the walk by calling Peggy at 412-683-6070 or text/call her at 412-977-2351. To sign up for walking on October 12, contact Peggy by noon Monday, October 5. And for walking on October 26, contact Peggy by noon October 19. Be sure to sign up so that if there is any change or cancellation for mall walking, you will get the information. (Note, for mall walking to occur we need a minimum of four mall walkers.)

 

Wednesdays, October 14 and 28, 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!

 

Saturday, October 24, from 10 am to noon, A morning with horses,

Storm Harbor Equestrian Center, 245 Harmony Rd., Slippery Rock, PA 16057. There will be two levels of participation. First level includes spending time grooming, handling and feeding the horses treats. The second level includes grooming, handling and feeding treats to the horses as well as a riding lesson and time riding a horse. Everyone (participants and volunteers) must complete the Participant Packet. Riding participants must have the medical history form completed and signed by a medical professional. There is a maximum of 20 participants. If you haven’t already signed up, get in touch with Carol as soon as you can so that you can receive and complete the paperwork on time. To make your reservation call/text Carol at 484-318-9145 by 8 pm, Saturday, October 10.

 

Monday, October 26, Virtual RS Games Night with SE Wisconsin BOLD.

7 pm, setting up and practicing with RS Games. 8 pm, the games begin--let’s play Uno. No reservations required, however, for more information contact Rachael at 904-335-7880 or Joel 562-391-3908.

 

 

UPCOMING EVENTS

 

Saturday, November 7th 8:30 am to 6 pm, Grove City shopping trip.

There is no charge for transportation on the bus but bring some extra cash to tip the bus driver or treat your guide to lunch. Please arrive by 8:30 at St. Andrew Lutheran Church, 304 Morewood Ave, Pittsburgh, PA, 15213. If needed we will be able to use the church’s facility for seats and restrooms. At Grove City, we will be individually guided by Therapeutic Recreation students from Slippery Rock University. We will arrive at 10 at the Lee-Wrangler entrance to the outlets to be paired with our student guide to spend the day shopping, shopping, shopping! There is a food court for lunch, but everyone is responsible for the cost of their own lunch. We will gather at 4:30 at Lee-Wrangler to fill out and sign the student service hour forms and board the bus for the trip back. We should arrive back in Pittsburgh at St. Andrew Church around 6. Schedule Access Trips for 6:30. If you would like to find out what stores are at Grove City call 724-748-4770 and choose option 2. Reserve with Peggy by 9 pm, Sunday, October 18 at 412-683-6070 or call or text her at 412-977-2351.

 

Sunday, November 22, Afternoon, Pittsburgh Steelers Tailgate Party,

Ray Jablonowski’s home. Mark your calendar, more details in November’s BOLD Ventures.

 

Sunday, January 17, Afternoon, BOLD After the holidays Party.

Mark your calendars for this fun annual event. We will also be electing members to the BOLD Board. Watch upcoming BOLD Ventures for all of the details.

 

CULTURAL ACTIVITIES

 

If you have any questions about getting tickets for the Pittsburgh Symphony,

the pops, and the opera call Tony at 412-310-2508 or email tony.diana.rock@gmail.com .

 

Audio Described Performances

 

City theatre, IN CLAY, October 4 1 pm, pre-show description of

production elements and a voice id with actors. The play begins at 2 pm. 1300 Bingham Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15203. Based on a true story, In Clay is a dazzling solo musical that unearths the overlooked artistry of ceramic artist Marie-Berthe Cazin. Set in the early 20th Century to a vibrant Parisian Jazz score, the arrival of a childhood friend ignites a story of passion, resilience, and art. Braille and large print programs will be available. For tickets call the Box Office at 412-431-2489. Let them know if you will be using audio description.

 

Audio description (AD) is available for Saturday and Sunday

matinee performances of the PNC Broadway in Pittsburgh Series. AD is also available for select performances of other series and by request 14 days in advance. The service begins with show notes 15 to 20 minutes prior to the start of the performance and requires an assistive listening device, available at Guest Services. To see the list of this season’s Broadway shows go to:

Broadway Shows. If you have any questions about shows and AD call the Cultural Trust at 412-f456-6666.

 

BOLD BITS

 

Happy October Birthday to:

Dan Cornell, Norma Caquatto, Cindy Flerman, Mark Grasak, Jim Musto, and anyone else celebrating an October birthday!

 

NEWSLETTER RECORDING: Thanks to the great 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

 

To unsubscribe from receiving BOLD newsletters and announcements send a blank email to:

w-pa-bold+unsubscribe@groups.io

September 2026 newsletter

BOLD VENTURES September 2026

Western Pennsylvania Blind Outdoor Leisure Development

Here comes September, which used to be the end of summer vacations for students and teachers. But many students and teachers are already back at school, and their leisure time is over. However, the BOLD planners did not take a vacation, and so once again we have a fine line-up of fun events for September. Enjoy!

Would you like to be BOLD, famous, and a BOLD hero?

Then become a BOLD Ventures sponsor. Your sponsorship will help us make BOLD Ventures available in various formats--email, braille, print, and large print, and voice recording. Choose from two levels of sponsorship. For a $50 donation you can get your name and a short greeting in BOLD Ventures. For $75 you can get your name, a short greeting and a color picture of your choice in the newsletter. For more information and to set up your sponsorship, contact Debby at 412-742-4288 or dm-hill@comcast.net.

AUGUST CALENDAR

Monday, August 31, from 6:30 to 8:30 pm, Board Meeting in-person at Western PA

School for Blind Children, 250 N. Bellefield Avenue, Oakland. We are having our September meeting a week earlier due to the Labor Day holiday on Monday September 7. Any non-board Members who want to attend must call Carol at 484-318-9145 by Saturday, August 29.

SEPTEMBER CALENDAR

Every Thursday in September, from noon to 1:30, Ice skating at the Mount Lebanon

Ice Center, 900 Cedar Blvd., Pittsburgh, 15228. Cost is $7. Sighted guides, blind and low-vision skaters need to sign-up with Tammi by 8 pm on the Sunday before each date. Contact her by leaving a voicemail or text at 412-951-6528 or email at tswiantek@comcast.net.

Saturday, September 12, from noon to 5 pm, picnic at

Ray Jablonowski’s home, 4551 Parade St. Pittsburgh, Pa, 15207. Cost is free. Enjoy an afternoon of playing Corn Hole, Bocce Ball, various word games, and other games. There will be pizza and hoagies. Also, sighted volunteers are needed to help out at the event, so if you can help be sure to make a reservation. Everyone should make a reservation by calling Linda at 412-681-9686 by 8 pm Wednesday September 9.

Sunday, September 13, from 9:30 am to 1:30 pm,

tandem Biking, Eliza Furnace Trail. Meet at the Eliza Furnace Trailhead in the POGOH Hub parking lot, Swinburne Street, 15207. No charge for the ride and pizza lunch from Pizza Pronto of Oakland. The ride begins in south Oakland in the city of Pittsburgh, so it will be possible to get to the trailhead by Access. We need some sighted bikers to captain the tandem bikes and provide rides to and from the trailhead. Scotto will be there early to give tips and instructions of being a tandem captain and pair up captains and stokers. We will provide tandem bikes, however, if you know of a tandem we can use, please let us know about it. If you are a willing captain with questions, contact Scotto at scottog@yahoo.com. Thanks to the University of Pittsburgh for partnering with BOLD and providing five captains and five additional students who will ride along with the group on single bikes. Also, thanks to Terri Winaught for her outreach work that made our partnership possible. Everyone should make their reservation by 9 pm Sunday, September 6. Sighted captains contact Scotto at scottog@yahoo.com; blind and low-vision stokers contact Carol by calling or texting her at 484-318-9145.

Mondays, September 14 and 28, from 10:00 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 should sign up by noon the Monday prior to the walk by calling Peggy at 412-683-6070 or text/call her at 412-977-2351. To sign up for walking on September 14, contact Peggy by noon Monday, September 7. And for walking on September 28, contact Peggy by noon September 21. Be sure to sign up so that if there is any change or cancellation for mall walking, you will get the information. (Note, for mall walking to occur we need a minimum of four mall walkers.)

Wednesday, September 16, 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!

Sunday, September 27, from 12:45 to 3 pm,

A visit to the National Aviary, 700 Arch Street, 15212. Cost $10 per person. Enter through the east entrance on Arch Street. Go to the guest services desk where one of the Aviary’s education team will welcome us and provide the itinerary. We will participate in an educational program and then have a personal private tour. After the program there will be time for you to further explore on your own. There will be items for us to feel. There is a minimum of 15 participants, so bring any interested family members and friends. Wheelchairs will be available for anyone who needs them. Make your reservation by 8 pm Saturday September 12 by calling Jeff at 412-487-9469 or emailing him at going4walk@duck.com.

UPCOMING EVENTS

Wednesdays, October 7, 14, and 21, from 12:15 to 1:30 pm, Golf Training at Topgolf

in Bridgeville, 400 Presto-Sygan Rd, Bridgeville, PA 15017, Located just off of I79 South. Cost is free. Consider taking a shot at this new activity. Many sighted folks don’t think people who are blind or have low vision can or should play golf or even be around a golf course. Well, we need some brave BOLD members to prove them wrong! Visually impaired Golfer Dave J. will provide beginning lessons for Blind Golfers. All equipment will be provided, as will a ride to and from the facility provided by BOLD member Glenn. There are 3 slots available for each of the 3 sessions. To make a reservation for one or more of the sessions, contact Glenn by 8 pm, Thursday, October 1, by calling 412-370-5478 or emailing ghmcintyre@yahoo.com.

Saturday, October 24, from 10 am to noon, A morning with horses,

Storm Harbor Equestrian Center, 245 Harmony Rd., Slippery Rock, PA 16057. There will be two levels of participation. First level includes spending time grooming, handling and feeding the horses treats. The second level includes grooming, handling and feeding treats to the horses as well as a riding lesson and time riding a horse. Everyone (participants and volunteers) must complete the Participant Packet. Riding participants must have the medical history form completed and signed by a medical professional. There is a maximum of 20 participants. If you are interested in this event call/text Carol at 484-318-9145 by Tuesday September 15, so the paperwork can be sent to you, and you will have plenty of time to complete it.

Saturday, November 7, time TBD, shopping at the Grove City Outlets.

Transportation will be provided at no cost. Mark your calendars, more information to come in the October BOLD Ventures.

CULTURAL ACTIVITIES

If you have any questions about getting tickets for the Pittsburgh Symphony,

the pops, and the opera call Tony at 412-310-2508 or email tony.diana.rock@gmail.com.

BOLD BITS

Congratulations to happy parents Ryan and Chelsea Leverett-Ptak

on the birth of their daughter Elaina, who was born on July 28th, and congratulations to doting grandparents Bruce and Nancy. Mom and baby are doing well!

My BOLD Take by Maggi Ostrowski:

We all know about the fun, delicious, challenging, cultural and educational activities that BOLD offers, but we don’t always realize that BOLD is also a conduit for us to participate in activities that other organizations have to offer. Take rowing for example. Several BOLD members are members of the Three Rivers Rowing Association (TRRA) Adaptive Team, and it was BOLD who introduced them to the sport. Well, did you know that several of our BOLD members were introduced to blind and low-vision tennis some five years ago, and those members participated in the inaugural BLV tennis tournament held in Bradys Run Park this month? Players, volunteers, and coaches gathered from across the US and enjoyed the camaraderie and competition of this sport, which is finally catching up with the rest of the world’s participation. Thank you BOLD for all you do!

You may know her as the BOLD correspondence secretary, or the president of the PA Council of the Blind, or as the almost famous newsreel interviewee from the NFL Draft visit to LAMP, but here Debby is, along with Tammi, as B1 Athletes attending the first USBTA national tennis tournament.

Photo of Debby and Tammi ready to return serve during doubles play at the USBTA national championships held at Brady Run in Beaver County.

My BOLD TAKE By Terri Winaught:

As all of you BOLD ones know, Happenstance Cafe generously donated 1 percent of their proceeds for the entire month of July to BOLD. When I visited Happenstance on Thursday, July 30 and enjoyed a delicious lunch and impeccable service, I used that opportunity to thank the staff and owner for their generosity. “We were happy to do it,” they responded. The owner then added: “We appreciate BOLD’S   mission, having heard about BOLD from the Three Rivers Rowing Association,” (They also did a Fundraiser for TRRA) I was also delighted to learn from Cafe management that they fundraised for the same charity for several months, so stay tuned for news about the next time BOLD and Happenstance Café join forces.

Happy September Birthday to:

Jerry Blum, Justin Hasson, Ceinwen King-Smith, Susan Oberlander, Stu Weissman and anyone else celebrating a September birthday!

NEWSLETTER RECORDING: Thanks to the fine 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

 

To unsubscribe from receiving BOLD newsletters and announcements send a blank email to:

w-pa-bold+unsubscribe@groups.io