Come to the Social Hall at Waverly Presbyterian Church (corner S. Braddock & Forbes Aves) at 7PM to hear what GPPNA has been doing for the last year and vote in the annual election for the Board of Directors. If you have not yet joined, or need to renew your membership, you can fill out a membership application and mail it with your $10 annual dues to the address on the form. You will also be able to complete a form and pay dues at the meeting.
IF YOU CAN’T MAKE THE MEETING, YOU CAN STILL VOTE. Ballots will be available on the website and can be sent in by mail. Ballots must be received by Monday, November 1st. You must be a member in good standing for your ballot to be counted. If you need to send a membership application and dues for the year, you may place your ballot in a separate blank envelope and mail it in with your application and dues.
CANDIDATES FOR GPPNA BOARD OF DIRECTORS
The GPPNA Bylaws permit the Board to have up to nine members. Current members who are not up for reelection are: Sabina Deitrick, John Mayberry, Khrys Myrddin, and Timothy Sweet. We have five candidates running for five open positions: Sue Breslow, Katy Frey, Mary Hupe, Jim Lenkner, and Joni Rabinowitz.
Susan Breslow
I am a native of Pittsburgh and have lived in either the city or suburbs for all but eight years of my life. I’ve lived on East End Avenue in Park Place for the past thirteen years.
We are fortunate to have the Greater Park Place Neighborhood Association as one more great thing to love about this neighborhood. I’m excited about the possibility of participating in all of the conversations about our shared civic life that takes place both within and outside of our Park Place boundaries. Some new ideas I would like to explore in the next two years include developing a special event for all the dogs and dog owners in our neighborhood, seeing if there is interest in a program for residents who have home-based business (e.g. getting together for lunch once a month), and connecting with the firemen who operate out of the firehouse at the corner of Hamilton and North Braddock Avenues.
I am ready to support the neighborhood programs and events that are already operating and need to be maintained as well as those ideas and initiatives that are still being developed by the current Board. I’m particularly interested in increasing the circulation of the fabulous Park Place Update e-newsletter, pursuing more funding for programs, maintaining ties with our City Councilman’s office, and all activities that involve maintaining and upgrading the appearance, function, and value of our houses apartments, landscapes, streets, and infrastructure.
I am an architect and have my own small office in Edgewood. I work with property owners and construction contractors and plan renovations and additions to single family houses and small commercial and institutional buildings. Before being self-employed I worked for firms that provide architectural services to a variety of larger public and private entities.
Katy Frey
I moved to Park Place in 2008 and as homeowners in the second house from the Walgreen’s, my husband and I consider ourselves de facto gatekeepers to the neighborhood. I love the friendly and civic-minded nature of Park Place residents, and am especially interested in pedestrian safety, preventing crime, and supporting development that has a positive impact on our community. My professional background is in education, and I’m currently working as a high school math teacher.
Mary Hupe
I have lived in Park Place since 1980 with my husband Ken. I began my community involvement by passing out Citiparks coupons and Zoo tickets with my toddler son. From there I helped get Park Place recognized as a city neighborhood, served as association president, took Community Festival training, and began hosting the Park Place Picnic. I have also served as a member and officer of the Zone 4 Citizens Public Safety Council for 20 years.
In the past, Park Place Association was an informal collection of Block Watch groups that gathered for meetings as issues arose, and at the annual picnic. Now we live in a time when our neighborhood association needs to be more tightly and formally organized so that we have a strong and recognizable voice in our future.
I welcome the talents and knowledge of our residents who have stepped forward to incorporate the organization, fight for neighborhood preservation and keep us all informed.
I would be honored to continue my involvement with Park Place by serving on the Board.
Jim Lenkner
The Park Place Neighborhood has been my home for more than twenty five years. It is the place where my wife and I purchased two different houses and raised our two children.
I believe GPPNA can serve to mobilize the strengths of our community so that we can respond to future challenges and opportunities as a chorus of different yet harmonious voices. In my professional life, I work with many non-profits, foundations and schools, mostly in the area of public education and technology. My interests are in the area of public education, safety, affordable housing and quality of life. Despite the large percentage of rental units in Park Place, it is not a transient neighborhood. I’d like to think we can keep our neighborhood a place where people stay.
As a member of the GPPNA board I will gladly contribute to the communications, outreach and organizational work of the association and I commend Stephanie, Mary, John, Jim and the many others who have diligently worked to establish the association. There is a lot of talent in this community. I wouldn’t want to live anywhere else.
Joni Rabinowitz
My husband John Haer and I have lived in Park Place since 1976. I’ve always been a big fan of the neighborhood. I’ve worked for many years on the summer picnic and was also one of the spearheads of the campaign to stop Walgreens from tearing down 3 houses. (It was a partial victory). As a trained “tree-tender” I worked on the first and 2nd tree planting in the neighborhood. John and I are Democratic committee people and work to get voters out for 2 elections every year. One of us is always at the polls on election day. I would like to serve on the board. I would like to work on getting another tree planting and getting the 2 houses sold on East End and Braddock next to Walgreens.