WHAT’S NEWS IN FOX CHAPEL AREA
MICRO-GRANT
AWARDED TO SUPPORT
NEIGHBORHOOD
GARDENS
Grant one of dozens made possible
through new PA Farm Bill
As communities large and small look to
create sustainable, healthy environments
for their residents, an award from a new
round of state mico-grants will support
neighborhood gardens in the triboro area
of Millvale, Etna and Sharpsburg, state
Rep. Sara Innamorato, D-Lawrenceville.
“Volunteering in my community
garden was how I met my neighbors,
put down roots, and became active
locally,” Innamorato says. “We can create
healthy, civically-engaged communities
by investing in urban agriculture. These
beautiful spaces foster connection,
stewardship, and mutual care.”
The grant, a $8,600 state Urban
Agriculture Grant, was awarded to
the Triboro Ecodistrict Partnership.
It will be used to purchase supplies
and seedling to support the
partnership’s community gardens.
“The accessibility of healthy foods in
our food desert community is an issue that
affects all of us who live here, especially
people without cars,” says Brittany
Reno, the Sharpsburg Neighborhood
Organization executive director.
“This grant will allow the Sharpsburg
Community Garden to expand its
growing capacity into a new community
market garden which, in partnership with
the Gardens of Millvale and the Etna
Community Garden, will be able to sell
produce affordably to local residents and
businesses. Working collaboratively with
our neighbors will allow the gardens to
maximize their efficiencies in growing
different types of produce, which will help
immensely in closing the gaps in our local
food system in a sustainable way.”
“The Gardens of Millvale is at the
center of Millvale’s strategy to reverse
its status as a food desert. The support
from the state will allow for the Gardens
to build stronger partnerships with our
neighboring communities as a way to
help it take the next step in its growth
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❘
and development,” says Zaheen Hussain,
Millvale sustainability coordinator
director of sustainability at New Sun
Rising. “As an all-volunteer organization,
being able to utilize state investment can
help it start to think about infrastructure
that can increase revenue generation while
also providing healthy produce for those
in our communities that need it the most.”
The grant was part of a new grant
program made possible by the new PA
Farm Bill which was signed into law this
July by Gov. Tom Wolf.
“Urban agriculture is about more than
just growing food; it’s about growing
our communities and our economy, it’s
about increasing quality of life,” Wolf says.
“In addition to urban gardens providing
places to work and learn, they aggregate
fresh, local products to combat food
insecurity and improve access to healthy,
nutritious food.”
For more information on the Pennsylvania
Farm Bill, visit agriculture.pa.gov.
ONE-OF-A KIND CAR
DONATION
PROGRAM
Community Auto, a program of The
Lighthouse Foundation, is a non-profit,
low-income car ownership program that
accepts donated cars, and repairs and
inspects them if necessary. The car is then
sold to qualified, working, low-income
people at discounted prices, as compared
to a regular used car dealership. This is the
only organization of its kind in Western
Pennsylvania that puts your car back
into the hands of a family in the Greater
Pittsburgh area.
The used car sitting in the garage that
you didn’t sell because it was a hassle, or
the car that didn’t get the trade-in value
you wanted, or that one the kids used
icmags.com
for school and is no longer needed, is
the perfect car to donate. Your generous
donation is the fuel for the program and is
tax deductible.
Contact Community Auto today at
communityautolico.org or at 724.538.5081
to find out just how easy it is to donate
your car and give a family a hand toward
self-sufficiency.
THE PITTSBURGH
CONCERT CHORALE
ANNOUNCES 2019-2020
SEASON!
The Pittsburgh
Concert Chorale has
announced its 2019-
2020 concert schedule,
which celebrates 35 years
of singing.
Upcoming concerts include:
● Carmina Burana, 7:30 p.m. Friday,
Feb. 28, at Ingomar United Methodist
Church and 4 p.m. Sunday, March 1,
at Carnegie Music Hall in Oakland.
The epic masterpiece by Carl Orff will
be performed by the PCC with Orff ’s
authorized arrangement for two
pianos and percussion.
● In April, the PCC celebrates 35 years
with a Gala Celebration! From a
silent auction to a dessert bar, this will
be an event not to be missed. Further
information for this Apr. 17 event will
be posted on the website soon.
● 35 Years of Favorites, 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, May 2, at Fox Chapel
Presbyterian Church, and 4 p.m.
Sunday, May 3, at Ingomar United
Methodist Church. The concert will
feature favorite songs suggested
by singers and audience members
from the past 34 seasons.
Individual concert tickets are available
for purchase in advance or at the door.
Prices are: Adults – $20 ($23 at the
door); students – $8; and no admission
cost for children11 and under. Festival
of Choirs and Messiah Sing admission
is free. All tickets may be ordered
online at PCCSing.org or by calling
412.635.7654. n