'Welcome Home' event planned at space that memorializes slain Homewood man

Kenneth Stubbs is not forgotten.

The 53-year-old native of Pittsburgh’s Homewood neighborhood was found dead Feb. 23, 2014, in Penn Hills, in what authorities say was a homicide. He owned several properties in the neighborhood and operated Ken Stubbs’ Auto Sales.

The investigation into Stubbs’ killing remains open and no arrests have been made, Allegheny County police Lt. Venerando Costa said Monday.

Before Stubbs was killed, he struck an unlikely kinship with Demi Kolke, a University of Pittsburgh graduate student who was working for Operation Better Block in Homewood.

Kolke, now 34, is originally from a small town in North Dakota, but she “fell in love” with Homewood and has now settled there.

She and Stubbs initially sparred as Kolke was trying to clean up blighted properties in Homewood and wanted Stubbs to trim uncut grass at some of the properties he owned. They eventually become friends and Kolke was pained when she learned about his death.

RELATED: In heart of Homewood, an empty lot filled with meaning

In 2016, she bought a vacant lot that had been owned by Stubbs, cleaned it up, and created Kenny’s Homewood, a celebration space that honors Stubbs’ memory that’s used as a gathering spot in the neighborhood.

“My parents thought I was crazy,” Kolke said.

She spent $5,200 to buy the property, cleaned it up and created the space.

“It was very sentimental in meaning for me,” she said. “It was such a great opportunity to uplift him and his family.”

Kenny’s is thought of as a community space that isn’t a bar or a church.

“We realized pretty quickly that the kids were super-interested in the space and how they could use it,” Kolke said.

It’s been used for community bonfires and other youth-focused, family-friendly events, she said.

But the space has been largely unused for the last year because of covid.

That changes in two weeks. Kolke and others involved with Kenny’s Homewood are planning to hold a “Welcome Home” event Aug. 20-22.

“Welcome Home gives residents the chance to get together in a safe manner following our time apart due to covid-19,” Kolke said. “Since it’s outdoors, we hope it will be much safer. I just think it’s a good opportunity to come and experience something different.”

They’ve used social media to get out the word about the events that are planned, which include a cocktail and mocktail hour from 6 to 8 p.m. on Aug. 20. It will feature beverages from Goodlander Cocktail Brewery and a demonstration from TLC Libations and music from Slim Tha DJ. Tickets for the event are $15 and are available here.

There will also be a jazz brunch from 11:30 a.m. t0 1:30 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 22, that’s catered by Ms. T’s Restaurant in Homewood and includes jazz from James Johnson III, Joe Sheehan and Cliff Barnes. Tickets for the brunch are $30 and are available here.

In between those ticket-only events, there will be a free gathering from noon to 5 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 21, with vendors, artists and food from Cuddy’s, a Homewood soul food restaurant, and live music from Arie Cole, Mr. Able and Pittsburg Swiff, Jordan Montgomery and Sierra Sellers.

“This is like our big return. A weekend-long event,” said Taylor Fowler, communications and events coordinator for Kenny’s Homewood, located at 7401 Tioga St.

The response has been good, Fowler said, with about 160 people expressing interest on Facebook.

Looking ahead, Kenny’s is looking to spread the word about its availability as a rental space for people or business owners looking for an outdoor space for a gathering. For information, click here.