Joan's entry was a PowerPoint presentation:

Six Burgh Reasons why I love Brighton Heights

Sherri's entry was an essay:

Six Super Bowl championships, five World Series titles, four tunnels, three rivers, two Stanley Cups and one famous neighbor are reasons to like the City of Pittsburgh, but I am in love with my neighborhood of South Side. My warm personal attachment starts as a child growing up in the suburbs and visiting my grandparents here in the city. The city was exciting to me; sitting on the front porch talking with neighbors, watching fire trucks and busses going by, playing hopscotch on sidewalks and walking to the little candy store in a house with the 25 cents from my grandpa. How I loved those trips to grandma's! In the suburbs we had porches in the back of the house excluding you from your neighbors, white lines painted on the sides of streets instead of sidewalks, and everywhere we had to drive to. As an adult I love my neighborhood for the same old reasons and some new. I am in love with my neighbor's beloved parking chair. I met my husband here on a sidewalk. I love stairways with street names and walking to buy homemade pierogi at church. I enjoy having passionate neighbors that live in the same house they were raised in just like my grandparents and neighbors that are young like my husband and I. Limiting love for my neighborhood to six reasons would be sidewalks, stairways known as streets, front porches, parking chairs, pierogi and neighbors.

Sherri Lynn Dunik
Age 33
South Side

Clara's entry was a photo essay:

Hey! Tell me what you think the best neighborhood in Six-burgh? Come on...give it a try! I'll tell you what I think...It is...Brookline! And here is why...wait! You don't even know who I am. My name is Clara Ferreira and it is a pleasure to write this to the Mayor and to the people of the most livable city the country. I am writing this because I think Brookline is the best area to live in Pittsburgh. Wow! Listen...

Brookline is close to everything! The bus will get you to downtown in minutes. If you are driving, you can get to South Side very quickly too! I love going there because of all the restaurants and outdoor concerts during the summer, but always like to come home to my quiet neighborhood.

Brookline has many beautiful churches, great schools, nice parks, and a theater on Pioneer Avenue. Let's not forget "PitaLand"!! They have really yummy Pita bread and desserts too! Yeah, that's some of the things I can tell you.

The streets here and neighbors are as quiet as an ant, like my aunt. My neighbors are very nice too. Brookline is the land of opportunity! You can buy really cheap houses here. I was thinking about Brookline's past and I went to talk to my older neighbors. I was told that the Boulevard had beautiful stores and markets. I really wish to bring that beauty back to make it even prettier and I really wish that people will start moving here and people will enjoy it just like me. Do you see why I love Brookline? Brookline is the best place to live.

Clara Ferreira
4th Grade Student
Brookline

Janel's entry was an essay:

Hi, my name is Janel Jones. I am ten years old and I live in Hazelwood. I live around people who are like family. They look out for each other and try and keep the kids safe. We don't have a pool to swim in our neighborhood but I still love where I live because we have a lot of parks to play in. The ice cream truck always comes in the summer. The store Rite-Aid is right down the street from my house. My neighborhood has nice houses and in my neighborhood I have good friends and my nice family. I need to tell you another reason why my neighborhood is nice - my neighbor always gives us nice drinks like fruit punch or guzzlers. I really love my neighborhood I think it is a safer place to live in than a lot of other neighborhoods. The police ride around all the time checking on drug dealers and people who are troublemakers. Sometimes they wave when we are walking to the park. Visit me one day and I will take you on a tour of my neighborhood. Therefore, I love my neighborhood because it's one of my favorite places to be.

Janel Jones
Age 10
Hazelwood

Robert's entry was a photo essay:

6) I live in the Carrick neighborhood on Hornaday Road. It is the nicest street because of all the trees and big houses but mostly because of the people who live there. Anytime we go away our neighbors keep an eye on our house, collect our mail, and even water our flowers. We don't have to worry while we're away.

5) When my wife was diagnosed with cancer the neighbors support was tremendous. They sent cards, flowers, called to see what we needed and prepared meals to make our lives a little easier during this time.





4) When our son returned from his deployment in Iraq, one neighbor with some help put yellow ribbons and a flag on each tree on the street. It was a sight to see. Everyone commented on it and the ribbons and flags stayed up for months.

3) We all look out for one another and whenever I need help a neighbor is always there to offer assistance or an opinion.

2) Every year the street has this annual garage sale and neighborhood cook-out. During this time we help celebrate the neighbors' anniversaries, birthdays, etc. Last year we had over 100 people attend and help celebrate our neighbor's 99th birthday.



1) The number one reason "Why I Love My Neighborhood," is because "I'm the Mayor." About five years ago during our annual cook-out the neighbors bought me a top-hat, t-shirt and gavel with the words, "Mayor of Hornaday Road" and presented it to me.

Brandon's entry was a video:

Brandon William Skalniak
Age 5½
Carrick

Above: Dolores "Del" Girdwood and her daughter Amber. Del and her husband Scott hosted the event at their restaurant (Del's '80s Cafe) and donated all the food.