Election to be held on September 24, 2012 at the annual meeting of the membership. Directors will be elected to a 2 year term.
Greg Barnhisel
I’m Greg Barnhisel, and I have lived in Park Place (on Kensington St.) for just over nine years with my wife Alison Colbert and my children Jack and Beckett. I’ve been a member of GPPNA for four years. I wouldn’t want to live anywhere in Pittsburgh except for Park Place—our proximity to Frick Park, Regent Square, East Liberty and Bakery Square makes it a lively area, but the neighborhood itself is small enough that I feel like I know most of the residents at least by sight.
While I am interested in all of the tasks that GPPNA has on its agenda, I’m especially invested in issues related to transportation, particularly bicycle and pedestrian safety and the smooth integration of the new ECS facility into the busy South Braddock corridor. I have a good working relationship with BikePGH and would seek to involve them in making Braddock and Penn safer. I would also seek to involve more residents in the neighborhood cleanup day.
Sue Breslow (Treasurer)
I’ve just finished my first term on the GPPNA board of directors. Over the past two years I have been the board treasurer, have assisted with administrative tasks on the Membership Committee, and chaired the 4th Annual Homeowner’s Workshop, titled “Exteriors 101”, held in the spring of 2011. I’m also on the committee charged with bringing a “Welcome to Park Place” sign to fruition.
For the coming two years, if given the opportunity, I look forward to supporting and expanding the six annual events sponsored by GPPNA, am interested in arranging tours of our local firehouse, want to arrange to have the fire department Captain speak at a neighborhood event, and want to begin fundraising efforts for the neighborhood sign, and am happy to continue being the treasurer.
Like most everyone here, I love living in Park Place and am inspired to see the direction our neighborhood is headed. I would be honored to serve for a second term on the board.
I have lived in Park Place for fifteen years and have an adopted cat named Flannel.
Katy Frey (President)
I’ve lived near the corner of Penn and Braddock for 4 years. During that time, I’ve become involved with the Greater Park Place Neighborhood Association, advocating for the renovation and sale of the two Walgreens houses on my block, organizing National Night Out events and serving on the planning committee for the annual home renovation workshop. During the past year, I’ve been honored to serve as the GPPNA Board President and have represented GPPNA at the Pittsburgh Community Reinvestment Group Safe Neighborhood Network meetings.
If re-elected, I will continue to work with the newest addition to Park Place, the Environmental Charter School, to ensure a positive and productive relationship between the school and residents. I also hope to engage Park Place residents in discussions about bicycle safety in our neighborhood.
And of course, I will continue to pass out free ice cream sundaes from my front porch, where you can often find me hanging out with my husband Mark and daughter Laurel.
Mary Hupe
I moved to Park Place with my husband in 1980 because it was a quiet neighborhood near Frick Park. We are happy that in 32 years, the pleasant, friendly ambience has continued.
My involvement began with the push to change the zoning designation from R-4 to R-2. This prevented any additional houses from being subdivided into more that two apartments, and encouraged some owners to return their dwellings to single-family homes. From there I moved on to crime prevention and remain a member of the Zone 4 Citizens Public Safety Council, a Block Watch advocate, and a promoter of National Night Out gatherings. As a teacher, I arranged interactions with students and police to foster positive relationships. As a result of these activities, I received the 2012 Governor’s Citizen Crime Prevention Recognition Award.
My other main interest is social events. For 25 years we have hosted the Park Place Picnic on Abbott Street, and hope that it serves to bring together new and longtime residents to enjoy and strengthen our community. I also help coordinate the GPPNA-sponsored Holiday Party every December.
If re-elected, I will continue to be a liaison between Park Place and Public Safety, and to coordinate neighborhood social events.
Joni Rabinowitz (Membership chair)
My husband John Haer and I have lived in Park Place since 1976. I love this neighborhood have always been a big fan. Before retiring, I worked for 25 years as co-director of Just Harvest, an anti-poverty and anti-hunger advocacy organization–activism is in my bones. Currently I’m active in anti-fracking work. In Park Place, I’ve participated for many years on the summer picnic and was also one of the spearheads of the 2004-06 campaign to prevent Walgreens from rezoning the corners at Penn and Braddock and at Penn and East End, and tearing down 3 houses (we had a partial victory). Later, I lobbied Walgreens to repair the 2 remaining houses and put them up for sale. As a trained Tree Tender I helped organize the first tree planting in the neighborhood in 2008, when we planted 16 street trees. Now, I see that most people are oblivious to the needs of the trees we do have here and I want to work to protect them. John and I are Democratic committee people and we contact voters to get them out for every election. One of us is always at the polls on election day; we consider this a good opportunity to connect with our neighbors and catch up with concerns people have about anything. I maintain regular contact with Ricky Burgess, our city council member, and Barbara Daly Danko, our county council member as well as our state House and Senate members. I would like to continue serving on the board. I’m eager to recruit and welcome new people into the neighborhood. I’d like to see people buy and rehab some of the vacant housing.
