[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 2 (Thursday, January 4, 1996)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E18-E19]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    THE OBSERVER ANNUAL AWARD DINNER

                                 ______


                         HON. WILLIAM J. COYNE

                            of pennsylvania

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, January 4, 1996

  Mr. COYNE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to a number of 
Pittsburgh groups and residents who will be honored next week at the 
annual dinner hosted by the Observer newspaper.
  Each year the Observer presents a number of awards for outstanding 
community service. It also selects an individual for its Humanitarian 
Service Award, and it confers Man and Woman of the Year Awards. I would 
like to recognize this year's award recipients here today.
  The recipients of the Awards for Outstanding Service are listed 
below:
  Mr. Arnold Horovitz, Esq. and Kenneth Stiles, Esq., who are being 
honored for their efforts to enforce zoning code provisions in a number 
of city neighborhoods.
  The Elliott-West Athletic Association, which is being honored for 30 
years of service to young people in Pittsburgh's West End, and for a 
number of other public service efforts, including its efforts to 
maintain Herschel Field.
  The Pittsburgh Habitat for Humanity, which is being honored for its 
volunteers' efforts to provide affordable housing for low-income 
residents of the city of Pittsburgh.
  The Hill District Community Development Corporation, which is being 
honored for its work in creating the Crawford Square housing 
development--a successful mixed income, mixed use market rate urban 
residential community.
  The Lambda Foundation and the Pittsburgh Tavern Guild, which are 
being jointly honored for their philanthropic activities benefiting 
organizations and agencies that provide social, educational, and 
health-related services to members of Pittsburgh's gay and lesbian 
community.
  The Lawrenceville Development Corp., which is being honored for its 
work to revitalize the historic Doughboy Square are of Lawrenceville, 
and for the construction and successful marketing of the Doughboy 
Square Townhomes--the largest new-construction housing development 
undertaken in Lawrenceville in the past 30 years.

[[Page E19]]

  The Manchester Citizens Corp., which is being honored for its 
continuing work to revitalize Manchester, its youth employment 
programs, and for the creation of a comprehensive neighborhood 
revitalization plan that resulted in a successful application for a HUD 
HOPE VI grant.
  Mr. Nate Geller, of Highland Park, who is being honored for his long-
term commitment to Pittsburgh's young people through his efforts as a 
volunteer baseball coach, basketball coach, and soccer coach, and for 
his volunteer work for the Sister Cities organizations as an organizer 
of the 1995 visit here by the Russian Junior Olympic Baseball Team.

  The Northside Leadership Conference and the Spring Garden 
Neighborhood Council, which are being honored jointly for successfully 
developing and marketing the Vosscamp Villas townhomes on Vosscamp 
Street in Spring Garden.
  The Overbrook Community Council and the West End-Elliott Joint 
Project, which are being honored jointly for their efforts to secure 
government action on a comprehensive flood control project along Saw 
Mill Run, a stream in Pittsburgh's southern and western neighborhoods.
  The Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership, which is being honored for its 
volunteer effort to enhance the image of the downtown Pittsburgh 
business district through beautification and clean-up projects, public 
safety advocacy, retail management seminars, and marketing and 
promotional activities--including Sparkle Season, a successful 
Christmas shopping marketing program designed to attract shoppers back 
to the downtown business district.
  Pittsburgh Cares, which is being honored for its efforts to recruit 
and coordinate volunteers, including corporately sponsored groups, for 
numerous and wide-ranging community service projects benefiting 
individuals, nonprofit organizations, and neighborhoods throughout the 
city of Pittsburgh.
  The Overbrook Teen Council, which is being honored for its many 
community service efforts, including service to senior citizens, young 
people, and the community at large, and for its efforts in support of a 
comprehensive flood control project along Saw Mill Run.
  Preservation Pittsburgh, which is being honored for the second year 
in a row for its efforts to preserve--and encourage the restoration 
of--important buildings and landmarks in the city. Its most notable 
projects this year consisted of the Mary Schenley and Westinghouse 
fountains in Oakland's Schenley Park.
  Mr. Randy Gilson, a resident of the Mexican War Streets, for his 
leadership in beautification efforts on Pittsburgh's Northside, 
including the creation of more than 40 community gardens and parklets, 
largely at his own expense.
  The South Side Local Development Co., which is being honored for its 
successful 10-year effort to revitalize the Carson Street shopping 
district, its community planning and housing development efforts, and 
for its advocacy efforts on behalf of Monongahela riverfront 
development and enforcement of local zoning ordinances.
  The Squirrel Hill Urban Coalition, which is being honored for its 
role in creating the Squirrel Hill Citizens Patrol, an all-volunteer 
public safety organization that patrols neighborhood streets and 
reports illegal and suspicious activity to local police authorities.
  This year, the Observer's Humanitarian Award goes to Mr. Stanley 
Frankowski, who is being honored for his fundraising activities on 
behalf of people in need of organ transplants, and for undertaking a 
public relations and legal campaign that convinced a major health 
maintenance organization to agree to pay for a liver transplant that 
they had previously denied, thus extending and probably saving the life 
of one of his employees.
  The Observer has chosen Mr. Randy Gilson as this year's Man of the 
Year. Mr. Gilson was chosen because of his strong leadership and his 
commitment to public service, and because he provides an excellent role 
model for other city residents--and, in particular, for young people 
living in Northside neighborhoods.
  The Observer has chosen Ms. Rebecca White as its Woman of the Year. 
Ms. White is being honored for providing retail consulting services to 
neighborhoods and organizations in the city of Pittsburgh, as well as 
for working diligently as a volunteer with numerous community and 
business groups. She is also being honored for her contributions to the 
renovation and rehabilitation of Lawrenceville business district in the 
years since 1988.
  Finally, I also want to commend Michael Romanello and the Observer 
newspaper for organizing this dinner to recognize those individuals and 
organizations who embody the spirit of Pittsburgh in their service to 
their community. I also want to thank the paper for the high-quality 
service that it has provided to many of Pittsburgh's communities. The 
Observer provides many neighborhoods with timely information on 
important local affairs and issues. This paper has helped to bring many 
of our communities together and to give voice to their concerns.
  All of these individuals and organizations have made significant 
contributions to the people and communities of Pittsburgh. Without 
generous volunteers like these, the qualify of life in our city would 
be much lower. They deserve our thanks and commendation. I salute their 
selfless service.

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