Heidi Matthews

We first met in October when I introduced myself as the new music hall director at the Andrew Carnegie Free Library and Music Hall. At that time, I told you about my daily journey through two tunnels and a bridge while commuting from Swissvale to Carnegie. I promised that our audiences here at the Carnegie Read More

Written by Maggie Forbes Staff and board at the Andrew Carnegie Free Library and Music Hall are still walking on air following the grand opening of Library Park on April 23. Dreams really do come true! We had perfect summer weather for the opening. Earlier that week we’d had snow; temperatures plunged back to the Read More

Written by Maggie Forbes The grand opening of Library Park on April 23, 2022 began with highland piper Evan Burlew processing up the walkway and ended with the BGV’s concert on the piazza in front of the Music Hall steps.  In between hundreds of visitors young and old from near and far streamed up and Read More

“The Kennywood exit!” “Pardon?” I replied. “I take the Kennywood exit to get to your house. First exit after the Squirrel Hill Tunnel.” “Oh, well, yes. That is ‘the Kennywood exit!’ ” This conversation took place as I gave directions to my Swissvale home to someone kind enough to take my wobbly old IKEA bookshelf Read More

Written by Maggie Forbes As I wrote in this column on May 21, the Library & Music Hall is embarking on the last leg of transforming its facility from rundown to remarkable – we are completing the Carnegie Carnegie. What began with men in hazmat suits remediating asbestos in late 2004 soon morphed into scaffolding around Read More

Written by Maggie Forbes As anyone who reads the Library & Music Hall’s newsletters, eblasts or my columns in this newspaper knows, I love milestones. I learned last week that the Library & Music Hall will be celebrating its Quasquicentennial (125) as the country celebrates its Semiquincentennial (250) in 2026. Just imagine the programs and Read More

Written by Michael DiVittorio Editor’s note: Neighbor Spotlight is a monthly feature that aims to let our readers learn more about the people in their communities who are working to make them a better place, who have interesting stories to tell or who the community feels deserve “15 minutes of fame.” If you would like Read More

Written by Tribune-Review Diane Klinefelter is retiring from her position as Espy Post Curator and Social Historian at the Andrew Carnegie Free Library & Music Hall. Local archivist and historian Jon-Erik Gilot is poised to take her place. Klinefelter, a passionate student of history and a professional genealogist, has served as curator since 2006 when Read More

Written by Tribune-Review For Union Civil War veterans, April 1865 started a time of healing and renewal. We often forget that there were no social safety nets for these men who so nobly served the call to arms to defend the Union. Not until 1930 was there a Veterans Administration as we know it today. Read More