Verona E-Newsletter-3rd Quarter 2010

Allegheny Together endeavors to encourage well-planned, well-designed and geographically-focused investment in the established, urban commercial districts of Allegheny County while respecting the unique history, character, and built environment of each. The program aims to help organize and empower each community to fulfill its collective vision.

Allegheny Together is a program of:

ALLEGHENY COUNTY
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

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Quick Links:

Allegheny Together

Allegheny County Economic Development

Pittsburgh History & Landmarks

Town Center Associates

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DOWNTOWN RECOGNITION AWARD
Verona Historical Society

The Verona Business District Advisory committee has chosen Verona Historical Society as its 3rd Quarter Downtown Recognition recipient for 2010. In early 2009, Don and Rhoda Gemelles Worf, along other interested residents, formed the Verona Historical Society. Rhoda Gemelles-Worf became its first president, Anita Berardi is the first vice-president, Donald Worf, secretary, and Patti Tumminello and Denise Gemelles are the treasurers. Meetings are held the third Thursday of the month and include different speakers.
The organizing team got together and began gathering information and documents. They decided, with the permission of Verona Borough Council, to dedicate a room in the Municipal building to Verona Historical Society. In their new room, they began the constant cataloguing and displaying of the ever increasing documents, videos, news articles and memorabilia items that are contributed by present and former residents, and local business owners.

Among many "finds" the committee discovered information about a Verona inventor, John Kowalski, and dug into his history a bit more. In their effort to promote "all things Verona," they started raising money for a roadside marker honoring Kowalski and his many accomplishments. Watch for upcoming dates of fun-fundraisers.
The Verona Historical Society has encouraged and inspired a new interest in Verona's unique heritage and its contributions to the surrounding area and given a new sense of pride to the community and its residents. For more information about Verona Historical Society go to www.veronahistory.org

DOWNTOWN VERONA CALENDAR OF EVENTS

Farmers Market

Thursdays from 3 to 7 PM
East Railroad Street next to Municipal Building

Allegheny Arts
742 Allegheny River Boulevard
Landscapes, Figure Drawing, Still Life, Beading, Wire-Wrapping, Kidzart , Zhostovo (Russian painting), Pottery and More!
724-678-1372
Classes start August 31

The Boulevard Gallery of Fine Art
736-Rear Allegheny River Boulevard
Noon to 4 PM
Featuring the watercolor works of local artist, Henry Fiore

Verona Fall Festival
September 9-10-11

Movies in the Park
September 27
Dusk

Halloween Parade
October 30
11 AM
Begins on East Railroad Avenue

To find out about fun events happening in other Allegheny Together communities, check out the Allegheny Together Events Calendar.

VERONA SUNFLOWER GARDEN

VERONA WELCOMES NEW POLICE CHIEF

The Verona Business District Advisory Committee extends a warm welcome to our new Chief of Police Ron McLemore. Chief McLemore is a retired officer who moved here from Illinois because of family. He has been on the job since July and is already introducing new ideas to the force.

VERONA MURAL

15TH ANNUAL CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
CLASSIC CAR CRUISE

From the very, very old to the relatively new, the Verona Chamber of Commerce 15th Annual Car Cruise had them all. Joining in the fun on Saturday, August 14th, was Bob Logue of KDKA and the Undercover Club, MJ Power spinning the discs, food galore, and blue sky weather.

It was a great day to walk among the cars, visit with neighbors and car aficionados, and nosh on all the taste tempters available. Visitors also enjoyed a 50/50 raffle and Bob Logue's 1930 Ford. To culminate the festivities, a police-escorted cruise traveled from Verona to Oakmont and back.

A big "thank you" to Kathy Ferguson and Patti Tumminello for their photos!

HEALTHY DOWNTOWN BUSINESS PROGRAM

Allegheny County Economic Development, Allegheny County Health Department, and Town Center Associates (TCA) are currently implementing a new "Healthy Downtown Business Program" in the Allegheny Together communities.

This new program has been created to make it easy for downtown business owners and their employees to implement regular exercise into their daily routine. Each downtown business owner and all of their employees are eligible to participate in this program, which is the first phase in creating healthier business districts in Allegheny County.*

In August, TCA visited all of the Allegheny Together downtown businesses to let them know about the program and to provide them with:

·   A Free "Allegheny Together Pedometer"
·   A "Walking Route Map" of their downtown to make it easy for them to gauge the distance they walk each day, and achieve their mileage goals
·   A Downtown Business Directory to encourage downtown businesses to support one another's businesses
·   A Walking Log to keep track of their progress (which will be collected by TCA in October)
·   Other handouts provided by ACHD to encourage and support healthier downtown businesses

All of the above documents are also be available at DowntownFirst.net, making it easy for businesses to access additional copies, etc.

During the month of September, downtown business owners and employees will track their steps walked using a free Allegheny Together pedometer. Each week of the program, TCA will be selecting participants to receive prizes to encourage their continued participation. An award, based on the average number of steps walked per employee, will be given to the "Healthiest Downtown Business" and the "Healthiest Downtown Business Employee" in each Allegheny Together Community.

WALKING FOR WELLNESS

Facts, Figures and Tips

The goal is to walk 10,000 steps every day!

The average person's stride is about 2.5 feet, which means: Counter

2000 steps = 1 mile
10,000 steps = 5 miles

Setting a goal:
Use the first couple of days of your walking challenge to find out how many steps you typically take each day. Then, make a goal to increase your daily steps by 500 steps each day. For example, if you walk 2000 steps per day, make your goal for week 1 to walk an average of 2500 steps each day.

Benefits of walking:
·   Lower LDL cholesterol (the "bad" cholesterol) and raise HDL cholesterol (the "good" cholesterol)
·   Reduce risk of or manage type 2 diabetes
·   Reach or maintain a healthy weight
·   Lower blood pressure
·   Improve self-esteem and confidence
·   Build muscle strength

How to increase your steps:
·   Park further from the store
·   Go for a walk during your breaks
·   Do a lap around the mall before shopping for anything
·   Walk the stairs instead of taking the elevator or escalator
·   Walk the dog or walk with a family member or friend or walk alone and enjoy the peace
·   Leave the TV remote near the TV-get up when you want to change the channel or volume
·   Walk around your living room during TV commercials
Walking

Where to walk:
·   Your neighborhood
·   Parks and trails
·   The mall
·   Museums
·   Treadmill

Courtesy of Allegheny County Health Department

SUSTAINABLE BUSINESS DESIGNATION PROGRAM

Allegheny County Economic Development and Town Center Associates (TCA), in partnership with Sustainable Pittsburgh, are launching an innovative new "Sustainable Business Designation Program" to recognize downtown-based businesses that are making efforts to implement sustainable business practices. Through the support of Allegheny County Economic Development, the new program is being launched in the Allegheny Together communities this summer.

The Sustainable Business Designation recognizes businesses for implementing actions that are simultaneously good for their bottom line, the environment, and the social fabric of their communities. Businesses that incorporate sustainable practices into their operations are showing their intentions to improve their performance, and as such, stand out as valuable contributors to their local community business districts.

This Sustainable Business Designation is reflected for each qualifying business in the business directory for their town, available at DowntownFirst.net. The "Sustainable Business" designation helps consumers to identify and choose businesses who are committed to sustainability and who view sustainability as core to their mission and business model.

TCA and Sustainable Pittsburgh staff have been visiting each Allegheny Together business owner to personally let them know about the program. They will provide the business owners with information on resources available to businesses to assist them in implementing more sustainable practices: ultimately saving the businesses money, and having a more positive impact on the environment.

Plans are also underway to create a workshop for Allegheny Together business owners. The workshop will help to inform business owners of resources available to assist them in integrating more sustainable practices into their operations.

NEW PRINTABLE DOWNTOWN FIRST DIRECTORY
Print it Out. Post It On Your Refrigerator.
Find Downtown Businesses, Fast!

The new printable Downtown Verona First Directory makes it easier than ever to choose Downtown Verona businesses, first!

The printable version of the directory provides customers with useful contact information for downtown businesses, including business categories, business names, and contact information. Additionally, the directory shows which businesses are located in the downtown are "Certified Local, Independent Businesses" and will soon also provide a "Sustainable Downtown Business" designation for businesses that meet established criteria.

Using innovative technology, the printable directory PDF is automatically updated each time a change is made by a business owner or TCA to the online Downtown First directory. This helps to ensure that the directory you print out is up-to-date. Also, because the directories can be printed on demand, it saves money and paper (and helps the environment) by not requiring that an entire set of directories is reprinted each time updated business information is available...A win for the environment, and for our community!

Check it out today at! Visit the Verona First home page on www.downtownfirst.net and you'll see the link to "Click Here for a Printable Directory" in the "Search Our Business Directory" box.

Thanks for choosing Downtown Verona First!

FIND AVAILABLE PROPERTIES IN DOWNTOWN VERONA!

Are you looking to open a business in your downtown? Or, do you have a storefront available for sale or lease and need to reach the people looking for space?

Town Center Associates has created a way for the people who need space in downtowns to find the right property. . . and for landlords to find the right tenant!
The website www.downtownproperties.net offers up-to-date information on all of the commercial storefronts in your town available for sale or lease, in nearly thirty communities in Beaver, Allegheny and Lawrence counties. This FREE service allows owners to "list" their available storefronts that are for sale or lease, and provides a photo of the property, the address, and appropriate contact information.

For further information, contact Town Center Associates at 724-728-0500.

PHLF OFFERS ASSISTANCE WITH
ALLEGHENY TOGETHER INITIATIVES

During this past summer, there were a number of construction projects either underway or set to take place in the near future. There are at least ten façade improvement projects taking place in various Allegheny Together communities at various stages in the process. When complete, the buildings will look their best and contribute positively to their respective downtown areas. Remember, PHLF is available to work with you and your property on a façade improvement project, and there are funds available through Allegheny County's Allegheny Restores matching grant program. The next round of applications will be accepted in the fall, but we can start the planning process now so that all the details are worked out ahead of time. Through PHLF you can also have an interior designer come to your place of business and give you great suggestions on creating eye-catching window displays, paint choices, and any other interior improvement you are considering.

PHLF recently completed a number of planning documents for the two newest Allegheny Together communities, Coraopolis and Bellevue. Both communities received a detailed strategic plan that identified key buildings in the downtown area, recommendations to increase foot traffic, a traffic and parking analysis, design guidelines, and a zoning and code review. Together, these documents will help quantify trends in the downtown area, and help identify areas of strength and opportunities to leverage.

PHLF is working with business owners and community members on a number of long-term initiatives as well. We are here to assist each community with identifying real estate development opportunities, and to create restoration plans. Please contact David Farkas at 412-471-5808 for more information on any of the items mentioned here.

STAY UP TO DATE ON DOWNTOWN VERONA
With Our Quarterly E-Newsletter

You are reading the Verona FOCUS: your quarterly downtown e-newsletter. By using e-newsletters instead of print newsletters, we can send the information about our downtown revitalization efforts to a greater number of people and save paper--a win for the community and the environment!

To receive your copy of the e-newsletter via email, simply send an email to tca@towncenter.info and indicate your email address, as well as the name of the town or towns for which you'd like to receive the e-newsletters. You can also call Town Center Associates to sign up at 412-577-7447.

Please also take a moment to forward this email along to your friends, colleagues, family and neighbors, and encourage them to sign up today! This will help to inform (and involve) more citizens about the revitalization efforts taking place in our downtown.

This e-newsletter was created by Town Center Associates for the Allegheny Together Program of Allegheny County Economic Development. For more information about the Allegheny Together program, please visit www.alleghenytogether.com.