BOLD welcomes persons 18 and older with all degrees of vision: blind, low vision, partially sighted and fully sighted.
April 2014 Newsletter
BOLD VENTURES
April 2014
Western PA BOLD (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
Number for updates: 1-773-597-4222(Updates recorded each Friday)
Email: wpabold@gmail.com
Website: wpabold.blogspot.com.
BOLD group on Yahoo: wpabold@yahoogroups.com. (Posts must wait for Moderator approval.)
Terri Winaught, Editor (To offer feedback on BOLD Ventures, phone 412-263-2022, home; call or text 412-737-8004, cell; or email t.winaught@verizon.net.)
ALL ABOUT APRIL
As always, April will be awesome and feature the following activities: La Boheme, an audio-described opera on Tuesday the 1st; Mall Walking on Wednesdays the 2nd, 16th, and 30th; Ice Skating on Thursdays the 3rd and 17th; Board meeting on Tuesday the 8th, at which time fundraising product orders will be delivered starting at 5:30pm, one hour before the meeting; Tuesday Music Club also on the 8th; Don Quixote, a ballet with audio description on Sunday the 13th; Indoor Games on Tuesday the 22nd; a hike with Ray Jablonowski in Schenley Park on Saturday the 26th and “Grounded”, an audio-described City Theatre play on Sunday the 27th; Regarding sign-up deadlines, always let Tammi Swiantek know the Sunday before a Board meeting that you will attend; reserve with Joyce Driben the Thursday before Mall Walking by 9pm; and mark your place with Mark Senk for Ice Skating the Tuesday before. Tammi's number is 412-488-6298; Joyce can be reached at 412-521-4385; and contact Mark at 412-386-6513.
Although the Camp Kon-o-Kwee weekend is in May, the sign-up deadline with Joyce Driben is Wednesday, April 16 by 10 pm. This is also the $60 payment deadline with Veronique Schreurs: 2269 Tilbury Ave., Pittsburgh, PA 15217. The $60 check or money order is to be made out to Western PA BOLD. (As of this writing, 16 campers have signed up. If we don't get the minimum of 20 by the deadline, though, we will have to cancel this event.
To sign up for Indoor Games to be held on Tuesday the 22nd from 4 to 8 p.m., telephone Penny Fleckenstein at 412-415-3871by 10 p.m. on Friday the 18th. When reserving, let Penny know what game or snack you will bring. Penny will also give you her address at that time.
PAST EVENTS
When Mall Walking was held on February 19th, Joyce Driben reported that we had the largest attendance ever (more in Personal Perspective).
Ice Skating and attendance at cultural events continue to go well.
LOOKING AHEAD
May's and June's Board meetings will be held on Tuesdays the 6th of May and 3rdof June respectively. Our new location is still being researched, with the time remaining 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. (The two possible locations are the South Side branch of the Carnegie Library, and the Western Pennsylvania School for Blind Children.) If a location isn't chosen at the April Board meeting, Veronique Schreurs has graciously offered to host May's meeting at her home in Squirrel Hill.
Regarding our pickup and drop-off location for the camping weekend, Pat Turner has arranged with Moorhead Towers to keep them as the location. To leave on Friday, May 9th, campers must arrive no later than 5:45 p.m. If anyone has not arrived when the bus is ready to leave, we will unfortunately have to go camping without him/her. The bus will leave camp on Sunday, May 11th between 11 and 11:30 am, with the anticipated arrival time in Pittsburgh being between 12:30 and 12:45 p.m, so feel free to schedule an Access for 1 or anytime after.
For first-time campers, bring a light jacket, heavy sweater or both since mornings and evenings get cool. A pair of long pants is also suggested and two pair of shoes due to possible muddy conditions if it has rained alot.
Since there is no nurse at camp, please bring all medications, including anything that counteracts something to which you are allergic. To repeat these reminders, Joyce Driben will call campers the week of this outing. This Editor will also post them on the Update Line: 1-773-597-4222, the week of May 9.
Final things to keep in mind are that there will be few, if any chairs at Moorhead, so you are encouraged to bring a folding chair, or anything else you might have, like a cane or walker with a seat. Also, due to remodeling, you are asked not to walk through the building or go to anyone's apartment. As for using bathrooms, there is a restroom in the lobby which will be unlocked. Finally, Moorhead now has a different main entrance, that new entrance being to the left of the old one. Upon entering, the intercom is still on the right.
The Thursdays in May and June for Ice Skating are the 1st, 15th, 5th, and 19th respectively. The Wednesdays in May and June for Mall Walking are the 7th, 21st, 4th, and 18th respectively.
To prepare for the Summer Rowing Season, the Three Rivers Rowing Association is offering free workouts on their rowing machines. Info? Joy Nix: 412-298-2315. You can also email joynix@threeriversrowing.org., and visit www.threeriversrowing.org for more info. (Some of BOLD'S excellent rowers are: Tom Burgunder, Nancy Leverett, Eugene Mariani, Marty Mathews, Jeff Mulkern, Tammi Swiantek, and Tobi Williams.)
Finally, the May 31st live auction and pizza social will be from 1 to 4 pm at the Human Services Building: 1 Smithfield Street, Downtown Pittsburgh. When arriving, you will need to sign in with the guard at the front desk, who can also direct you to the Liberty Room where this event will be. Persons taking Access will be dropped off at the rear entrance.
ADMINISTRATIVE ADD-Ons
Many thanks to the members who have renewed since March's newsletter. For the benefit of anyone who hasn't, make a $12 check or money order out to Western PA BOLD and send it to: 2269 Tilbury Ave., Pittsburgh, PA 15217.
PERSONAL PERSPECTIVE
As indicated in Past Events, the February 19th Mall Walking event had the best attendance since its beginning.
"Twelve people attended Mall Walking on the 19th," Joyce Driben stated.
"As much as this activity is good exercise, it is just as much a social event," Joyce added. What makes this event so good for socializing is that some of us shop at the Mall and many of us eat lunch together, either at the mall's food court or a nearby restaurant in Monroeville. We also have a member who loves feeding my Seeing Eye dog some biscuits and having my dog lick his face," Joyce said.
Joyce concluded by sharing that many people at the Mall have come to recognize some of our walkers because of how often they have seen us.
If you've never thought Mall Walking could be so much fun, try it: You just might like it!
If you'd like to be interviewed for or write a Personal Perspective, phone 412-263-2022. (Future Personal Perspectives will include one in May's newsletter on the March 16th Indoor Games/ sing-along, and one in June's BOLD Ventures on Penny Fleckenstein's April 22nd game day.)
CULTURAL CONNECTIONS
When the Opera La Boheme is audio-described on Tuesday, April 1st, the venue will be the Benedum Center: 7th Street and Penn Ave., Downtown Pittsburgh. To order a $10 ticket, phone Randy Adams at 412-281-0912, x213. Start time is 7 p.m.; intermission is 15 minutes; and program length is about 3 hours.
The Tuesday Music Club will perform on April 8th at 12:30 p.m. The location is Calvary Episcopal Church: 315 Shady Ave., Shadyside, Pittsburgh. For specifics on the concert and to see if there are any special programs for the Passover/Easter season, phone 412-682-0439 or visit www.tuesdaymusicalclub.org. Music Club staff can also tell you when a concert is free and when it is a fundraiser.
The Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre will end their season excellently with an audio-described presentation of Don Quixote on Sunday April 13th at 2 p.m. In addition to audio-description, PBT will also host a sensory workshop for the blind and vision impaired an hour and a half before the ballet. To order tickets, phone 412-454-9105 and ask for Alyssa Herzog-Melby. To get a 50 percent discount by requesting a headset ahead of time, contact the ticketing manager at 412-454-9107.
On Sunday, April 27th, the Pittsburgh City Theatre will present Grounded, at 2 p.m. This play will be preceded by a 1 p.m. sensory workshop for persons who are blind or vision impaired.
To buy tickets or ask about special accommodations like wheelchair accessible seating, phone 412-431-4900. Also feel free to ask if the play will be followed by a feedback session with the performers. The City Theatre's address is 1300 Bingham Street, South Side Pittsburgh.
May's City Theatre play will be Gravity and Space (more in May's newsletter).
Also in May, the Pittsburgh Youth Symphony Orchestra (PYSO) will offer their last concert on Saturday, May 17th at 4:30pm. Although the symphony will be free, tickets are still required which you can get by calling 412-392-4872. You can also visit www.pyso.us and print a ticket.
Joyce Driben continues to receive free Pittsburgh symphony tickets for Friday evening, Saturday evening, and Sunday afternoon concerts. To ask about dates and request tickets, phone Joyce at 412-521-4385.
FUNDRAISING FACTS
Many thanks to the Zion Lutheran Church whose members donated generously on Mark Pugh's behalf. Appreciation also to the Monroeville Lions Club who recently also made a significant contribution.
To correct some product errors in March's newsletter, the kinds of fudge are: chocolate, chocolate peanut butter, chocolate with nuts, cookies 'n cream, and maple walnut, all of which are gluten free except cookies 'n cream.
Gourmet pretzels, which are pretzel rods covered with chocolate, caramel, and candy pieces, cost $3.50; a four-ounce bag of chocolate-covered popcorn costs $4.95; peanut brittle costs $6; a 1/3 pound solid milk chocolate sitting Easter bunny costs $6.95; half pounds of fudge cost $6.75; almond English Toffee Crunch costs $8.95 for 8 ounces; and a gift basket-which contains all of the items-costs 31.95. Orders will be distributed in the lobby of United Cerebral Palsy: 4638 Centre Ave., an hour before April's Board meeting.
The May 31st live auction and pizza social will be held at the Human Services Building: 1 Smithfield Street, Downtown Pittsburgh in the Liberty Room on the lower level. To sign up with Terri Winaught by 10 p.m. on Saturday, May 24th, phone 412-263-2022. Also think about what you can donate, and thanks in advance for being generous. (Some of the items already being donated are: a food chopper; Chinese necklaces; cups; dishes; and drinking glasses.)
Terri is also working on additional fundraisers, with info to follow in future newsletters.
BOLD BITS
Get Well Wishes to Carol Platt who was recently hospitalized with pneumonia. Although Carol is back home, it will take several weeks before she will be fully recovered.
Condolences and prayers to Carrie Fisher whose father died unexpectedly in March. (The death of a loved one is always hard.)
Best Wishes to Joyce Driben, Marty Mathews, and Veronique Schreurs who will be singing with the Tuesday Music Club on April 8th. This Editor has no doubt about the excellent job they will do and the assets they are to the Tuesday Music Club. (Closer to April 8th, this BOLD Bit will be on the Update Line: 1-773-597-4222.)
A belated welcome to Linda Davis who rejoined BOLD in December, 2013, and belated Birthday Wishes to Dave Popoleo, whose birthday was in January; Sam Wagner, whose birthday was in February; and Diane Popoleo, whose birthday was in March.
CONGRATULATIONS!
to Ceinwen King-smith who won a $40 cash prize on Saturday, March 1st. Ceinwen won this first-place prize for a hand-made costume with Mardi Gras beads she wore to a party at the Bulgarian Association.
There will be no April meal at the Pittsburgh Lutheran Center for the Blind, but they will serve two meals in May (see May's BOLD Ventures).
Terri Winaught would like to invite everyone interested in attending to the Friday, April 4th Kean Idol Competition in which she will be singing. Tickets cost $10 and the venue is the Kean Theater: 5847 Meridian Road, Gibsonia, 15104, Saint Barnabas Health System. To order tickets, phone Lauren Tasos: 724-443-0700. Let Lauren know you are ordering on Terri's behalf.
On Wednesday, April 9th from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., Computing Workshop will be sponsoring a career and interest fair at the Squirrel Hill Branch of the Carnegie Library: 5801 Forbes Ave. The focus of this event is not only to provide job leads but also information about classes, persons willing to mentor others with similar career interests, and volunteer opportunities.
For more information, or to request assistance at this event, phone Terri Winaught at 412-737-8004.
Happy Birthday to Carrie Fisher, Karen Good, Ray Jablonowski, Jim Wiseman, Larry Wiseman, and anyone else with an April birthday.
If you have a BOLD Bit, bring it to a Board meeting; phone this Editor at 412-263-2022; or email t.winaught@verizon.net.
Also feel free to use the above contact information to give this Editor newsletter feedback.
MARCH CALENDAR
Wednesday the 26th: 10 p.m. reservation deadline with Tammi Swiantek, 412-488-6298, for the Frick Park hike Veronique Schreurs will lead on Saturday the 29th. Remember to let Tammi know if you want Veronique to meet you at the Forbes and Dallas bus stop.
Thursday the 27th: 9 p.m. Mall Walking sign-up deadline with Joyce Driben: 412-521-4385.
Saturday the 29th: Frick Park hike from noon to 2:30. The closest bus stop is Forbes and Dallas; the buses that stop there are the 61A and 61B; and the address for Access is 2025 Beechwood Boulevard.
APRIL CALENDARTuesday the 1st: The audio-described opera La Boheme will be performed at the Benedum Center, 7th Street and Penn Ave., from 7 p.m. until about 10. In addition to headsets for audio-description, Braille and Large-Print programs will also be available upon request.
Tuesday the 1st is also the 10 p.m. deadline to sign up for Ice Skating with Mark Senk: 412-386-6513.
Wednesday the 2nd: Mall Walking will be held at the Monroeville Mall with a 9am start time. The food court entrance is where walkers will meet.
Thursday the 3rd: Ice Skating will be held from 2 to 3pm at the Mount Lebanon Recreation Center: 900 Cedar Boulevard, Mount Lebanon.
Sunday the 6th: 10pm deadline with Tammi Swiantek, 412-488-6298, to let her know you will attend April's Board meeting.
Tuesday the 8th: 12:30pm Tuesday Music Club concert at Calvary Episcopal Church: 315 Shady Ave. (Best Wishes again to Club members Joyce Driben, Marty Mathews, and Veronique Schreurs.)
Tuesday the 8th is also when fundraising orders will be distributed in the lobby of United Cerebral Palsy: 4638 Centre Ave., Oakland, starting at 5:30pm in the lobby.
Finally, and also at United Cerebral Palsy, BOLD'S Board will meet in Room 301 from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Guests are always welcomed and encouraged to attend, and we will continue to deliver fudge during the meeting in Room 301. (This will also be BOLD'S last Board meeting at UCP.)
Thursday the 10th: 9pm Mall Walking reservation deadline with Joyce Driben: 412-521-4385. Appreciation also to Karen Good for setting up OPT trips to Mall Walking through the Greenfield Senior Center.
Sunday the 13th: Passion Sunday and beginning of Holy Week.
The Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre will audio-describe Don Quixote at 2 p.m. in the Benedum Center, 7th Street and Penn Ave., Downtown Pittsburgh. This final performance of the season will be preceded by a 12:30 p.m. sensory workshop.
Monday the 14th: Passover begins at Sundown.
Tuesday the 15th: 10pm Ice Skating reservation deadline with Mark Senk: 412-386-6513.
Wednesday the 16th: 10pm Camp Kon-o-Kwee sign-up deadline with Joyce Driben: 412-521-4385. This is also the $60 payment deadline with Veronique Schreurs: 2269 Tilbury Ave., Pittsburgh, 15217. Remember that if 20 campers haven't signed up, the Kon-o-Kwee Weekend will be canceled.
Thursday the 17th: Ice Skating from 2 to 3pm at the Mount Lebanon Recreation Center: 900 Cedar Boulevard. (also, Holy Thursday.)
Friday the 18th: 10pm Indoor Games reservation deadline with Penny Fleckenstein: 412-415-3871. (Let Penny know what you will bring and get her address.) (This is also Good Friday.)
Sunday the 20th: Happy Easter!
Monday the 21st: Deadline to sign up with Tammy for Ray’s hike. 412-488-6298.
Tuesday the 22nd: Indoor Games from 4 to 8pm at Penny Fleckenstein's Bellevue home.
Thursday the 24th: 9pm Mall Walking reservation deadline with Joyce Driben: 412-521-4385. Again, thank you to Karen Good for her transportation help.
Saturday the 26th12:30-2:30pm Hike in Schenley Park with Ray Jablonowski. Meet at the Bartlett playground on the corner of Bartlett St and Boulevard of the Allies. There is no bus stop there. Wear shoes that have good traction, bring raingear and water. Please have lunch before you come, or wait till after.
Sunday the 27th: “Grounded” is the play which will be audio-described at the Pittsburgh City Theatre: 1300 Bingham Street, Pittsburgh, 15203. The play starts at 2pm and is preceded by a 1pm sensory workshop.
Tuesday the 29th: 10pm Ice Skating sign-up deadline with Mark: 412-386-6513.
Wednesday the 30th: Mall Walking at the Monroeville Mall. To hear the events closer to their dates, phone the Update Line: 1-773-597-4222.
Appreciation always to Marty Mathews, Veronique Schreurs, and the Braille Outreach Team for their hard work making this newsletter accessible.
THE END