Pittsburgh 250 Festival of Lights

The Pittsburgh 250 Festival of Lights kicks off tonight at 8:30 with building facades downtown transformed into works of art by international designers and a free concert from 6 to 9 in Katz Plaza by Etta Cox and her band. Then every night through November 20th, the lights will be on from dusk to midnight.

On Wednesday, October 15th, the celebration extends to Oakland and Pitt's Cathedral of Learning, with several days of free performances by Squonk Opera in Schenley Plaza.
Festival director Marguerite Jarrett Marks says the investment pays off for the city and the region as visitors frequent shops, theaters and shows.

Festival details are at www.pittsburghcelebrates.org.

Tech Council Goes for a Ride

The Pittsburgh Technology Council is taking advantage of the Pittsburgh 250 Legacy Ride to promote the livability of the region to outsiders and to promote the depth of the technology Pittsburgh sector to the world. The Council has sent Jonathan Kersting on the Washington to Pittsburgh ride as a way to highlight one of the amenities of the region that might help to attract new companies and young workers. At the same time he is carting a slew of products from local tech companies in an effort to show their usability in the real world. Kersting is blogging about his trip. While on the trail he is also meeting with members of the media to show off the products and talk about the region’s tech sector. The ride ends Saturday in Point State Park.

The Point reopens

250 pairs of scissors were handed out this morning to help cut the ribbon on the partially renovated point state park. The old fortification has been buried, a new lawn planted, paths refurbished and decorative lights and benches installed. All of the work has been done on the city side of the park. It is the first phase of a 32 million dollar renovation. The next phase includes the addition of 7,000 trees, shrubs and plants to a “woodlands area”, improvements to the walkways along the river, a new café and the instillation of public art. Pennsylvania Governor Ed Rendell says the investment in the 36-acre park is this generation’s gift to the future to mark the city’s 250th anniversary. A public fund raising effort to refurbish the fountain at the point is to be launched soon.

253 Immigrants Take Oath of Allegiance

In a ceremony commemorating Pittsburgh's 250th Anniversary, 253 immigrants from 63 different countries were sworn in as U.S. citizens today at the Soldier's and Sailor's Memorial in Oakland. The ceremony was an official Federal Court Proceeding with Honorable Judge Donetta Ambrose presiding and administering the Oath of Allegiance. Lisa Tragni, an Italian immigrant who now lives in Pittsburgh, says she is excited to become a citizen to have her right to vote in the upcoming election. Many of the immigrants became citizens for their spouses or other family members who already had citizenship within the states. The general feeling among the immigrants was that of happiness and relief at completing the long naturalization process.