Hello everyone. It’s me, Rachel Tasker, your Pittsburgh Daily host — here to tell you all the big things happening in the community! We will cover news about:
- Pittsburgh launches “Walk and Roll to School” program
- How divers are using cutting-edge technology to search for the missing in Pittsburgh’s rivers
- Family events happening in the Pittsburgh area this weekend
Let’s go!
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Here are the top stories in Pittsburgh today:
1) Pittsburgh’s Safe Routes to School program is hosting its “Walk and Roll to School” day this morning to promote alternative options for students to get to and from school. According to Bike Pittsburgh, the majority of pedestrian crashes in the city from 2013 to 2017 occurred between 2 p.m. and 6 p.m. weekdays during the fall and winter months, at or near an intersection, on highways local. The mission of the program is to increase the number of students cycling and walking to school safely through education, encouragement and improved safety. Mayor Ed Gainey will be in attendance at the Pittsburgh Arlington school event, along with representatives from the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation and the Pittsburgh Police.
2) Adventures with Purpose and another volunteer search and recovery dive team, Chaos Divers, were on the water for their seventh consecutive day in Pittsburgh yesterday search for vehicles and bodies of cold missing persons cases. Armed with sonar, magnets and high-tech buoys, volunteer divers scoured a small stretch of the Monongahela River on Tuesday morning, hoping to bring back cars of the missing and, with them, answers to families. In the water, the process begins with sonar. Using what is described as Garmin’s state-of-the-art sonar technology, Doug Bishop is able to scan the water and see on a digital screen what’s underneath. Vehicles will stand out in the river bed. When he thinks he’s found a car, he drives around the area, trying to get an idea of its orientation, where it starts and ends, and what make and model it might be. A magnet will tell for sure if what it sees is, in fact, a car. Dancing a magnet on the end of a string around water will see if the magnet will stick. If and when it does, he ties a bright orange buoy to the rope to mark the spot for divers. On Saturday, divers accidentally discovered Tod Diminno, a missing man from Butler County, inside his red Honda Civic in the Allegheny River off the North Shore. He had been missing for about 10 days.
3) Latino entrepreneurs are starting businesses in Monroeville to support a growing cultural community. Before Marlene and José Jaramillo Valdez moved to the area, they knew Pittsburgh as a city devoid of Latin restaurants, shops and culture. This led to their decision to open the region’s first Latin grocery store, Orquidea Latin Market in Monroeville earlier this year. Their store on Old William Penn Highway is open seven days a week and provides an important service to a growing community of Latinos living in the eastern suburbs of Pittsburgh, offering products from all over Latin America. Its shelves are lined with imported spices, condiments and delicacies like frozen guinea pig and fresh Nopalitos – flat green cactus leaves with renowned health benefits that can accompany a range of dishes when properly prepared. But their biggest draw? A wide offer of sweets and confectionery made in Latin America.
4) Here are some family events that take place in the Pittsburgh area this weekend you should know about. Fort Ligonier Days is a free three-day festival that commemorates the Battle of Fort Ligonier, a critical engagement in the French and Indian War. The festival features historical battle re-enactments, live music, authentic crafts, delicious food and more. The full program and details are available here. And while those with a Northside zip code can get a free preview on Oct. 13, Pittsburgh’s premier space museum opens to the public this weekend on the Northside. Kids will see an Astrobotic-built lunar lander, take part in a lunar colony mission, and even get to write or draw a message to send to the moon. Learn all about the museum here and see this page for more details on the opening festivities. Do you like pumpkins? Head to the Strip District for the biggest (literally!) pumpkin fest in town. From prehistoric pumpkin carvings to hay bale graffiti contests, everything about this event screams Halloween — but in a family-friendly way. The celebration is free, although some events require pre-registration. Finally, check out the First Annual Fall Family Festival. on Saturday for an evening full of games, giveaways, great food, family fun and professional football. Family Fall Fest admission includes a ticket to the Pittsburgh Riverhounds game and starts at just $15.
5) Anna Robertson, a 2022 Cecil Homeschool graduate, recently received the Girl Scout Gold Award from Girl Scouts Western Pennsylvania. This is the organization’s most prestigious award. Robertson’s accomplishment will be officially celebrated at a ceremony hosted by the GSWPA board next spring. To win a Gold Award, a Girl Scout must identify and propose a solution to a community issue, form a team, submit materials, and work to achieve change. Robertson’s Gold Award project centered on the importance of play. She submitted a research paper on the impact of play on children’s development to the Christian Education Committee of the Presbyterian Church of Venice. With the blessing of the church and thanks to donations from the congregation and the community, Robertson orchestrated the installation of a playground at the Venice Presbyterian. The playground was installed by Kauffman Family Marketplace. Robertson is an advocate and community leader who now works as a child care provider at UP with Kids and is co-leader of Girl Scout Troop No. 51286.
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Today in Pittsburgh:
- Keys to professional navigation – Free lunchtime seminar (12:00 p.m.)
- Madden Tournament (5:00 p.m.)
- Gateway Radio Club – Plum Community Library (6:00 p.m.)
- Write (and read!) scary stories (6:00 p.m.)
- Growth through Knowledge and Understanding Series: Bias, Hate Crimes and Marginalized People (7:00 p.m.)
- Readings in Alternative Everything – Northland Public Library (7:00 p.m.)
- Teen Anime and Manga Night – Brentwood Library (7:00 p.m.)
From my notebook:
- Visit Pittsburgh: “It’s another beautiful fall week in Pittsburgh! 😍 Check out some fun and festive events happening around the city. #LovePGH 🎶 Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, RAD Days 🏒 Pittsburgh Penguins Home Opener 🍺 Last Light with Trace Brewing 💃. ..” (Visit Pittsburgh through Facebook)
- The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust: “A unique view of the Umbrella Sky project courtesy of local photographer Carolyn Doyle! See the installation for yourself at Trust Oasis (131 7th Street) ☂️ 📸: Carolyn Doyle Photography” (The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust via Facebook)
- Humane Animal Rescue of Pittsburgh: “👻 🎃 Keeping your pet safe on Halloween isn’t complicated. Our blog has great tips on how to protect your pets from ghouls and zombies… and chocolate! 🍬 👹 👻 Check it out! the (and some cute animals in costumes) over here https://bit.ly/…” (Humane Animal Rescue of Pittsburgh via Facebook)
- Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens: “Our story time friends are waiting for you! Children will love visiting Phipps, where they can explore the Conservatory before going to listen to our storyteller weaving stories about the gardens, fruits, vegetables, animals of our rainforests …” (Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens via Facebook)
- Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh: “📖✨ Unleash the magic of the library during one of our amazing programs! This Friday at CLP – Main we have our Preschool Buddy Program at 11:00 am! Join us for stories, songs and more Again !” (Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh via Facebook)
- Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens: “On October 27, join us as we collect locally grown and picked dried flowers to create a fantastic fall wreath! Learn the process of storing, drying, and caring for dried flowers, while creating a new accessory fall season for your home. . ..” (Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens via Facebook)
That’s all for today! I will see you soon.
— Rachel Tasker
About me: Rachel is originally from Pennsylvania and stopped at Erie and State College before moving to Pittsburgh in 2020. She has a background in a bit of everything…from newsroom work from media and public health to the 2016 presidential election in Washington, DC and the 2019 Super Bowl where (surprise!) Tom Brady won… AGAIN. She loves good coffee, bad reality TV, attending local events and trying new dishes in the 412. She resides in the South Hills.
Got a news tip or suggestion for an upcoming Pittsburgh Daily? Contact me at pittsburgh@patch.com