December 2005 - test-neighbhorhood@test.highlandparkpa.com

[Highland Park] Attempted Car Break-in on Elgin
by Rebecca Moore 19 Dec '05

19 Dec '05

Hi All - I wanted to alert you that someone attempted to get into both of our cars that were parked in our driveway last night sometime between 11:15pm-6:45am on the 5600 block of Elgin Street. Since there was fresh snow, we were able to see the footprints in our driveway going to both cars. There was so damage and they were unable to get in. We alerted the police and said they would document it and do a drive-by. Becky Moore __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around http://mail.yahoo.com

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[Highland Park] Saturday Night
by Bruce Robison 19 Dec '05

19 Dec '05

As St. Andrew's friends and our Highland Park neighborhood may have heard, this past Saturday night my brother-in-law (visiting for Christmas from Massachusetts) and I were assaulted and robbed as we walked home down North Euclid from the church after the Pittsburgh Camerata concert last Saturday evening. We were just below Wellesley when we were suddenly and very roughly tackled from behind by two young men--late teens or early twenties, wearing hooded sweatshirts or parkas--beaten-up pretty viciously, both with fists and kicks, and with the verbal threat of a knife, which we never saw--and then with the two assailants sprinting down Paca Alley toward N. St. Clair Street with my phone and wallet (including, sigh, credit cards, driver's license, pictures of the kids, etc.) and my brother-in-law's cash and keys. Both of us had our glasses smashed and were battered, bloodied, and bruised. Mike also took several blows directly to the face and eventually needed more medical attention. So a bad deal. It probably took all of 60 seconds from initial tackle to completion--but, well, it seemed longer at the time. Fortunately we are both in pretty good shape and didn't suffer any more serious injury--as we may have if we had been older or with any other health/medical problems. This was pretty rough and pretty intense. A couple of comments. For Commander Brackney, I just want to say that the Zone 5 group, especially Officer Strachan, who responded very quickly when we got to 911, and who scoured then neighborhood looking for these bad guys, and for the medic team, were all great. Better than great. Courteous and compassionate and very patient with a couple of very shaken-up victims. Thanks to them all. And our neighbors and friends in the parish and up and down the block have been so very kind and supportive. Our next door neighbors Rick and Mary were outside within a couple of minutes to express their concern and friendship. We've had cookies and nice notes, calls, e-mails--all with much encouragement. There is no question in my mind but that this is the best neighborhood in the city--certainly the neighborhood with the best people. I've had also some reflections about the incident itself. I don't know if there's much to do about the actual event. These two guys were probably just cruising, looking for "something." Maybe a car to steal, or a passer-by to roll, etc., but without a particular plan in mind. We just happened down the block at the unfortunate, intersecting moment--and if it hadn't been us it probably would have been someone else or something else. But once the attack started I think I at least didn't react too wisely. I haven't been in any kind of physical altercation since about the 8th grade, and most of my adult athletic activities have been in the long-distance running, stairmaster climbing category, but for some reason I decided on the spot to get in touch with my inner Sly Stallone--to put up some resistance to this attack, hitting back at first, then yelling and trying to get away--maybe for 15-20 seconds, anyway. If he'd had a gun he probably would have shot me--and perhaps if I'd been more compliant after the initial tackle I wouldn't have gotten so beat-up. Who knows? Mike didn't resist, and he got slammed all the same. It's certainly difficult to second-guess, and there actually wasn't much "thinking" going on in the moment. Just gut reactions. But I think I'd want to do it differently if it happened again. Also, a good idea on reflection, my brother-in-law was able to give his cash to "his" assailant separately from the rest of his wallet--thus managing not to lose credit cards and other personal items. I'm in the future going to think pretty seriously about what I carry and how I carry it. But again, with thanks to all for kind thoughts, prayers, and best wishes. It was a scary deal, but the swelling is going down, and we're getting better. Christmas and Hanukkah coincide this year, which seems a special blessing, the Steelers still have a shot at the playoffs, and the sun is shining on this lovely Monday morning as I sit at the computer drinking a home-brewed cup of Amy's Highland Park blend. It's good to be here. Bruce Robison Rector, St. Andrew's Church

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[Highland Park] household help
by Jana Finder 18 Dec '05

18 Dec '05

Hello All: I am looking for 2 things: 1. A very good HOUSECLEANER to clean once a week, preferably toward the end of the week. You must like dogs. You must be reliable, honest, trustworthy, and careful w/ old houses. References required please. 2. An experienced DOGWALKER (who can handle 2 large dogs) to come in Monday - Friday at midday and walk our girls. They are friendly older dogs with plenty of energy--a chocolate lab & a dobie mix. If you are a person w/ good experience in both of the above, even better!! Please call Jana Finder, 412.370-3778. Serious inquiries only.

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[Highland Park] Ballet Lessons
by john ciroli 18 Dec '05

18 Dec '05

Hi, I am putting together a group for a ballet class for 4-5 year olds at Bodiography in Squirrel Hill. (See http://www.bodiographycbc.com/main.html) The class will be on Saturdays from 10:45 until 11:30 and will involve creative movement and introduction to ballet. The cost is $45 per month and the class will start on January 6th. I have signed my daughter up for the class, but we need 3 more students to sign up for the class to begin. If anyone is interested, please email me off list at JCiroli(a)yahoo.com and I will give you a registration form. Thanks, John Ciroli __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around http://mail.yahoo.com

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[Highland Park] Suspicious Person Reported to Police
by Brigette Nadler 17 Dec '05

17 Dec '05

Dear Neighbors - I try not write/respond too much with this system, but this is something that I wanted to get out. Brigette and I live on Callowhill, just off of Highland, and we have alleys on both the side, as well as the rear of our property. The alleys merge basically in the middle of the block, so the rear alley, Ionic Way, does not see really any vehicles, or foot traffic for that matter. Tuesday, just after 5:00 PM, we were heading out of our garage when an individual was walking past. A little surprised, but we did not really stop to look at him (we did note that it was a guy). We stop to make sure the garage door stayed closed (it does not like this weather either), and the individual kept looking back over his shoulder. The individual had been going very slowly down the alley backing between the 5800 block of Callowhill and Elgin after crossing over Euclid, and had been walking very slowly going from one side of the alley to the other while "looking around". Brigette needed to go back in the front of the house, so we drove West down the Alley, and up Euclid and around to the front of our house. Brigette went back in while I decided to drive around to see what this person was doing behind my neighbor's homes. I followed to same route, and went down Euclid to Elgin, then came around to come up the Alley from the other way. He actually had ducked in a stairway, then came back out as I passed going down Euclid, and once I returned to the alley from the other direction, he had changed course, and was now heading back East on Ionic Way. He turned North on Euclid and walked all the way toward the Park. I went back to pick up Brigette, and we stopped on Euclid, just off Callowhill, and called the police on our cell. He continued to switch sides of the street to avoid contact with people walking their dogs, or coming off buses going home. I gave the police the following description at 5:10 PM: White Male, around 23 with a mustache, smoking, 5'7" about 160 Lbs., wearing grey watch cap, black jacket, black sweatshirt with logo on the front, blue jeans and sneakers. I thought with all the reports that our neighbors had been sharing, that it is first important to keep an eye out for people that we are not familiar with, as well as tell our neighbors. I am not sure if anyone knows this person, or if anyone had happened to see the police respond. When we had stopped to call the police a gentleman whom we talk to regularly from the apartment building on Bunker Hill Street was walking his dog, and I asked if he had noticed this person while he was walking. We watched this guy change sides of the street twice while he passed this gentleman, but the gentleman did not recognize him either. This person was last seen hanging out at the bus stop at the corner of Euclid and Bunker Hill Street. Mike Nadler

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[Highland Park] Babysitter wanted...
by Ray Roberts 16 Dec '05

16 Dec '05

Hi, My wife and I are searching for a babysitter or recommendations -- our daughter is 2 1/2 years old. We would want to set up a regular schedule with sitting one or two times per week --afternoon or evening. Please reply off-list to <robertsr2k(a)yahoo.com>. Thanks, --Ray __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around http://mail.yahoo.com

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[Highland Park] 5 month old black and white male cat found
by Mara Svoboda 16 Dec '05

16 Dec '05

...near Farmhouse at the top of Heberton St. We took him to Animal Rescue League and had him scanned for a chip. Since there was none, we surrendered him. He was very friendly, clean, soft and appeared to be someone's cat. Mara Svoboda 842 Heberton

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[Highland Park] fennel taken
by Jack and Liz Buchanan 15 Dec '05

15 Dec '05

Thanks to everybody who replied about the fennel- it was spoken for almost immediately! thanks! Liz --------------------------------- Yahoo! Shopping Find Great Deals on Holiday Gifts at Yahoo! Shopping

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[Highland Park] Nutcracker Suite Performance
by Barbara Dickson-Valcheff 15 Dec '05

15 Dec '05

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[Highland Park] heating repair
by Amy Elizabeth McCall 15 Dec '05

15 Dec '05

Greetings. Sort of an emergency request here: does anyone have a recommendation for someone to do repairs to a hot water heating system? Thanks! Amy McCall Cordova Rd.

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