A museum focused on the science and mechanics behind optical illusions will be coming to the Northside this fall.

Robert Cooper, founder and CEO of LOL Entertainment, announced in June on LinkedIn that his company will be bringing a branch of the Museum of Illusions to the North Shore sometime this autumn. Cooper said this will be the second Museum of Illusions in Pennsylvania, the first located in Philadelphia.

In addition to the Philadelphia location, LOL Entertainment maintains a franchise location of the Museum of Illusions in Chicago. The Pittsburgh museum will be located at 271 North Shore Drive.

According to the museum’s LinkedIn page, the first Museum of Illusions was launched in Zagreb, Croatia in 2015. The museum now has 40 locations spread over 25 countries and four continents.

412 Apotheca relocates to Federal Street

412 Apotheca, the Northside bath and body store, has changed locations, opening their new storefront on July 19 at 1202 Federal St.

The storefront was previously located at 424 Suismon St. A grand opening for the new storefront was held on July 29-30.

The store was closed for a little under a month during the move. The Suismon location closed at the end of the day on June 25.

Metropolitan Baptist Church pastor retiring after 42 years

Rev. Lacy F. Richardson, a pastor for Metropolitan Baptist Church, will retire on Aug. 6 after 42 years of service to the community.

Richardson was born in Lyndhurst, Virginia. He earned a Bachelor of Theology Degree from Ohio Christian College in 1972, and later earned a Ph. D. Degree from the International Seminary in 1985, graduating summa cum laude.

He first began religious training in 1968 and was licensed to preach on Dec. 27, 1970, and was ordained in 1971 at Bethlehem Baptist Church in McKeesport, Pennsylvania. He preached at First Baptist Church in Donora, Pennsylvania, in 1974, and St. John Baptist Church in Wilmerding, Pennsylvania, in 1979.

He began preaching at Metropolitan Baptist Church in 1981, and served there until his retirement.

Brighton Heights Citizens launches free fridge project

Brighton Heights Citizens Foundation has launched a new free fridge project, and is looking for donations to help fill it.

The Brighton Heights Citizens Foundation free community fridge, termed ‘Big Freedge,’ is lcoated behind New Life Church at the corner of Brighton, Davis and Shadeland. The artwork was done by Zachary Rutter Art. Courtesy photo

The fridge, which has been termed “Big Freedge” according to a post by the organization, is located behind the New Life Church at the corner of Brighton, Davis and Shadeland.

The fridge’s housing and pantry was constructed through the Build Your Wealth in the Trade initiative, and was completed on May 13. Carpenters and electricians union volunteers helped to guide teens and young adults through the construction. The fridge and cost for its artwork was donated by the Emma Munson Foundation, and the art is by Zachary Rutter Art. The electricity cost was donated by New Life Family Worship.

The pantry has dry goods, toiletries and some cleaning products, as well as milk, eggs and lettuce.

In terms of donations, the federation will accept fresh produce; dairy and non-dairy milks, yogurt and cheese; eggs; dry and canned goods; and personal hygiene items.

Raw (and not frozen) meat, expired items, homemade food, unsealed prepared meals and medication are not accepted.

For information about donating, contact bhcfpgh@ gmail.com or call (412) 690-0918.

If anyone is interested in stocking and maintaining the fridge, they should join the Facebook group “BH Freedge Working Group – Big Freezy.”

Brighton Heights House & Garden Tour taking place Sept. 16

Brighton Heights Citizens Federation will hold its annual house and garden tour on Sept. 16, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Tickets for the event are $25 and can be purchased at Legion Park or online at Eventbrite. The tour also starts at Legion Park, and there will be an artist market, food trucks and more activities.

For more information about the event, call (412) 913-8250 or email bhtour23@gmail.com.

Allegheny General Hospital master plan approved

The Pittsburgh Planning Commission recommended a new institutional master plan for approval for Allegheny General Hospital at their June 13 meeting, with the caveat that the hospital continues discussions to address community concerns.

The plan, which is a framework for possible renovations to the hospital for the next 25 years, does not call for an expansion of the existing hospital campus. The plan is valid for 10 years, and replaces a previously approved 2018 plan.

The plan identifies three potential sites for construction of new buildings on the hospital campus: one at James and Hemlock Streets, one at Sandusky Street and East North Avenue and one at James Street and East North Avenue.

Notably, The Sandusky Street and East North Avenue construction involves the spots currently occupied by the hospital’s Academic Cancer Center and Sandusky Street garage, as well as the helipad location. If this construction occurs, the helipad would be moved to the roof of the Snyder Pavilion temporarily during construction, and then back to the new Sandusky building once completed.

The planned building may be much taller than the existing construction there, with a maximum potential height of 12 stories above grade, while the existing one is only two stories above grade. This would place the helipad much higher up if the building is constructed at or close to its maximum potential height.

None of the proposed buildings will exceed the height of the existing South Tower on the campus.

Mark Nussbaum, chief operating officer for the hospital, said the construction was being done as part of a transition away from “semi-private rooms,” instead aiming to give more patients their own rooms while at the hospital.

“Most hospitals are moving away from shared rooms,” he said.

The plan was met with some concern and pushback from community members, with the topics of noise from the helicopter and from construction. One community member, Caitlyn Turowski, requested that any of the new buildings be limited to three stories in height so as to not change the neighborhood view.

However, the plan saw support from community organizations. Gina Grone, executive director of the Northside North Shore Chamber of Commerce, and Mark Masterson, executive director of the Neighborhood Community Development Fund, both voiced support, as did Dana Fruzynski, interim executive director of the Northside Leadership Conference.

Due to the concerns, Zoning Administrator Corey Layman suggested that council add the caveat about requiring further community discussions.