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www.newpittsburghcourier.com Vol. 113 No. 11 Two Sections
MARCH 16-22, 2022
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THE ‘ART’ OF ‘REDISTRICTING’ Are new Pa. political maps attempting to stop Black candidates from winning elections? by Rob Taylor Jr. Courier Staff Writer
It’s already hard enough for African Americans in the U.S. to gain the political clout necessary to win statewide or local elections—Blacks oftentimes simply don’t have the population numbers needed in said districts. But when you throw in “gerrymandering,” or as some political analysts call it, “racial gerrymandering,” it makes it that much harder for African American politicians. Every 10 years, states in the U.S. draw “redistricting” maps, dividing the state into districts (seats) to contribute to the U.S.
Congress. There are 535 members of Congress—100 are Senators, 435 are members of the U.S. House of Representatives. Each of the 50 states always has two Senators, but the 435 House members are determined by the population of the state. In a humongous state like California, it was determined for the next 10 years that it will have 52 U.S. House districts. In a very small state like Hawaii, it will have two U.S. House districts. But in Pennsylvania, a state with a population of nearly 13 million, it’s hovered around 16-20 U.S. House districts over the decades. In the 2020 elections, Pennsylvania had
18 U.S. House districts. But due to a slight population loss, the Keystone State now will have 17 U.S. House districts for the next decade. Losing one Congressional seat in the state to 17 (odd number) means that either Republicans or Democrats will have a majority in the state, which could give either party a larger advantage in Congress for passing (or declining) certain legislation nationally. Having the party advantage is serious business. And that’s why, for years, political scientists have watched Republicans fight for certain “redistricting” REP. SUMMER LEE, who is now running for Congress, about the new redistricting maps: “I’m not naive...I understand what they’re trying to stop here, they’re trying to stop a Black woman from building SEE REDISTRICTING A6 power for poor and working folks, for Black and brown folks in the region.”
DA: NO CHARGES TO BE FILED AGAINST MAN WHO KILLED PETER BERNARDO SPENCER Venango County DA says he can’t prove shooting was not done in self-defense by Rob Taylor Jr. Courier Staff Writer
No charges will be filed against the person responsible for shooting and killing 29-year-old Peter Bernardo Spencer, a Jamaican immigrant who lived in Pittsburgh, found dead in front of a home in Venango County, Pa., Dec. 12, 2021. The Venango County District Attorney, Shawn White, said in a press conference, Tuesday, March 15, that due to Spencer’s acting erratically and in a threatening manner, as well as
firing an AK-47 weapon multiple times into the air, the alleged suspect was “justified” in shooting him due to self-defense statutes under the “Stand Your Ground” law. Spencer’s case had drawn international attention, as Spencer’s family and supporters waited weeks for White’s investigation to be completed. White said he felt confident that he made the right decision in not pursuing charges against the White man from Mercer County who was determined to be the one who fired the fatal
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shots. Tim Stevens, the chairman and CEO of the Black Political Empowerment Project, told the New Pittsburgh Courier exclusively that “obviously, we were displeased and profoundly disappointed” with the DA’s decision. “We still find it difficult to believe that someone can use self-defense when shooting someone nine times in different directions in their body. We just find that extremely difficult to believe. We will continue to support the family in whatever way that is appropriate.” As of Tuesday evening, March 15, there was no public response from Spencer’s family or the family’s lawyer, Paul Jubas.
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Black refugees have harder time fleeing Ukraine by Isaiah Peters and Dawn Suggs Ukraine continues its heroic homeland defense against Russia’s accelerating invasion to purportedly ‘rid the state of Nazis.’ More than 1.3 million refugees have evacuated their homes and fled the country to escape Russia’s indiscriminate bombardment throughout the country. Black Ukrainians and Africans living in Ukraine are no exceptions; however, their treatment while trying to evacuate the war torn country has been anything but equal in numerous cases. About 20 percent of all international students in Ukraine are African. According to The Telegraph, there were more than 70,000 international students in Ukraine when the war broke out. Rachel Onyegbule, a Nige-
WORD IN BLACK rian medical student in Lviv, was left stranded at the border town of Shehyni, some 400 miles from Ukraine’s capital, Kyiv. The Nigerian government issued a statement of outrage that Ukraine’s Nigerian students were being “badly treated” at the border, but Onyegbule commented, “[The] Nigerian government is being their usual nonchalant self.” She continued, “There are many of us in Ukraine. They can’t just leave us like this. It’s so sad…” African, Asian, and Middle Eastern refugees say they were taken off buses around 12 miles from Poland and left to walk to the Polish border, but the same buses brought white Ukrainians there without a hitch. “There has been a difference in treatment,” Filippo Grandi, the UN’s High Commissioner for Refugees, said. “There should be absolutely no discrimination between Ukrainians and non-Ukrainians, Europeans and non-Europeans. Everyone is fleeing from the same risks.” The incentive for international students to venture to Ukraine is education. Universities in Ukraine offer high-quality education for students from third world nations for a much lower price than most of Europe. A terrifying situation all around, some international students aren’t getting the assistance they need and don’t have adequate documentation to arrive within the European Union (EU) states that neighbor Ukraine. An often-played clip on MSNBC features a Black Ukrainian woman facing the
This Week In Black History A Courier Staple • MARCH 16
1827—The first Black-owned and operated newspaper in America begins publishing. It was Freedom’s Journal. It published weekly in New York City from 1827 to 1829. Editors John Russwurm and Samuel Cornish declared as their mission: “We wish to plead our own cause. Too long have others spoken for us.”
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• MARCH 17
FLEEING UKRAINE—A West African woman cries at the border checkpoint in Medyka as she talks on the phone after fleeing Ukraine following the Russian invasion. (Photo by Kai Pfaffenbach) rejection of a neighboring country and border officials when trying to leave Ukraine. She describes their admittance practices this way, “White people first, Indian people, Arabic people before Black people.” Video footage of Africans barred from exiting Ukraine and entering other European countries is increasingly circulated on social media. Ukrainian officials stated these discriminatory cases were individual biases rather than a blanket policy of discrimination. Cihan Yildiray, a 26-year-old from Turkey, told PBS that [White] Ukrainians passed through the border checkpoint relatively quickly, while some Ukrainian guards even beat Black people and Arabs. There have been outcries by Africans refugees against these experiences online using the hashtag #Africansi-
Nigeria’s foreign affairs minister Geoffrey Onyeama said Ukrainian authorities made clear there were no restrictions on foreigners wanting to leave Ukraine. “My body was numb from the cold, and we haven’t slept in about four days now. Ukrainians have been prioritized over Africans—men and women—at every point. There’s no need for us to ask why. We know why. I just want to get home,” Onyegbule said. This treatment begs the question: why would some European countries embrace white Ukrainians but shun Black people from Ukraine and people of color from other war-torn nations in the recent past? International criticism was leveled against America, and mass protests took place in the U.S. against the Muslim ban which Trump
“200 to 300 Ukrainians can cross, and then only 10 foreigners or five will be allowed to cross... and the duration of time is too long. It’s really hard.. they push us, kick us, insult us,” said Nneka Abigail, a 23-year-old medical student from Nigeria. nUkraine, which continue to bring international attention to the issue. Nneka Abigail, a 23-yearold medical student from Nigeria explained, “It’s very difficult for Nigerians and other foreigners to cross. The Ukrainian officials are allowing more Ukrainians to cross into Poland.” “For instance, around 200 to 300 Ukrainians can cross, and then only 10 foreigners or five will be allowed to cross… and the duration of time is too long. It’s really hard.. they push us, kick us, insult us,” Abigail said. “More than 10 buses came, and we were watching everyone leave. We thought, after they took all the Ukrainians, they would take us, but they told us we had to walk, that there were no more buses and told us to walk.”
instated the first month of his presidency. The federal government blocked it, but after subsequent appeals by the Trump administration, it was upheld in June 2018 by The Supreme Court. As part of the settlement of U.S. Civil Rights cases against the ban in February of 2020, the federal government prioritized the processing of hundreds of refugee cases. There are reports that Ukraine has created a hotline for African and Asian students trying to flee the country and at least one West African Nation, Ghana, made arrangements for their airlines to fly Ghanaian students studying in Ukraine out of the country. Sources: ACLU-A.org, bbc. com, MSNBC, PBS, Telegraph (This post was originally published on St. Louis American)
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1806—Norbert Rillieux, one of the earliest Black chemical engineers in America or Europe, was born on this day in 1806. The product of a wealthy French plantation owner in New Orleans and his Black mistress, Rillieux was given his freedom and sent to Paris, France, to be educated. He is best known for his invention of the “multiple evaporation process” which revolutionized the sugar and paper industries. It also saved the lives of many who had previously labored in extremely dangerous conditions. Rillieux returned to the U.S., but as conditions for free Blacks deteriorated prior to the Civil War, he went back to Paris and died there in 1894. 1999—Maurice Ashley, a Jamaican immigrant living in Brooklyn, becomes the first Black grandmaster in modern chess history.
• MARCH 18
1933—The first Black woman elected mayor of a Mississippi town, Unita Blackwell, was born on this day in Lula, Miss. The former field worker with the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee became mayor of Mayersville, Miss., in 1977. 1963—Singer-actress Vanessa Williams, was born on this day in Millwood, N.Y. In 1983, Williams became the first African American woman to win the title of Miss America (Miss America Williams VANESSA WILLIAMS 1984). was forced to resign a few weeks prior to the end of her reign on July 22, 1984 due to a scandal surrounding the publication of unauthorized nude photographs in Penthouse magazine. In 2015, 32 years after being crowned and during the Miss America 2016 pageant (where she was serving as head judge), Miss America CEO Sam Haskell apologized to Williams for what was said to her during the events of 1984. 1970—Actress and rapper Queen Latifah was born on this day in 1970.
• MARCH 19
1620—The first Black child born in America, William Tucker, was probably born on this date in Jamestown, Va. However, some controversy surrounds the exact date. What we know for sure is that he was the son of two of the first Africans brought to America as indentured servants in August 1619— Anthony (Antonio) and Isabella. We also know he was baptized on Jan. 3, 1624. Further, there is debate as to whether his last name was actually “Tucker.” It seems that many historians simply assumed that the child was given the last name of the man on whose plantation his parents worked. While this would later become the practice on many plantations, there is no documentation that Anthony and Isabella actually gave their son the last name of Tucker. 1919—Singer Nat “King” Cole is born in Montgomery, Ala. In addition to his considerable talents as a singer, Cole—the father of Natalie Cole— was the first Black American performer with his own NAT “KING” COLE syndicated radio program and later a network television variety show. The TV started at 15 minutes, expanded to halfan-hour, but was then dropped due to lack of White advertiser support.
• MARCH 20
1852—The leading Black nationalist of the 1800s Martin R. Delany publishes his manifesto entitled “The Condition, Elevation, Emigration and Destiny of the Colored People of the United States.” Delany, who fought in the Civil War to end slavery, became frustrated with American racism and argued that Blacks were “a nation within a nation” who should consider returning to their Africa homeland. Delany, who became a doctor, would later advance an argument for reparations saying, “They [Whites] had been our oppressors and injurers. They obstructed our progress to the high positions of civilization. And now it is their bounden duty to make full amends for the injuries thus inflicted upon an unoffending people.” Delaney died in Wilberforce, Ohio, in 1885. 1852—“Uncle Tom’s Cabin,” a novel by Harriet Beecher Stowe, is published in Boston and becomes a national bestseller. The novel was based in part on a real life Maryland slave named Josiah Henson. Many considered Henson the arch type “Uncle Tom” who was over accommodating to Whites and accepting of his condition as a slave. Revisionist historians have treated Henson more kindly suggesting he was simply being pragmatic and actually helped other slaves. 1883—Jan Matzeliger receives a patent for the “shoe lasting” machine, which would revolutionize the shoe industry, significantly reduce the cost of shoes and make Lynn, Mass., the shoe-making capital of the world. Matzeliger was born in Dutch Guiana (today’s Surinam) and arrived in America at 18 or 19 speaking very little English. His invention would eventually enable an entire shoe to be produced in 60 seconds by one machine. The patent was purchased by the United Shoe Company. Unfortunately, Matzeliger died at 37 before he was able to realize any of the enormous profits produced by his invention. 1957—Filmmaker Spike Lee is born in Brooklyn, N.Y.
• MARCH 21
1955—Walter White dies. As head of the NAACP, White was perhaps the most prominent and powerful civil rights leader of the first half of the 20th century. The light complexioned, blue-eyed White became somewhat of a legend in 1919 when he “passed for White” in order to investigate the notorious Elaine, Ark., race riot when marauding bands of Whites killed more than 200 Blacks. He barely escaped with his life when news of his true identity leaked out. 1960—The Sharpsville Massacre occurs, in then White-ruled South Africa, when police fired on Blacks protesting the country’s “pass laws,” which greatly restricted the movement of the majority African population. At least 67 demonstrators were killed and 186 injured or wounded. 1965—The historic Selma to Montgomery March calling for full voting rights for African-Americans begins under federal protection. The original march had actually started on March 7. But the more than 600 demonstrators were attacked with clubs and tear gas by state and local police at the Edmund Pettus Bridge. Organizers, including Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., then went to court to get confirmation of their Constitutional right to demonstrate. The court battle was won and the march resumed under federal protection on March 21. Five months later President Lyndon Johnson signed the historic 1965 Voting Rights Act. 2010—The U.S. House of Representatives passes President Obama’s signature legislation— Health Care Reform by a 219 to 212 vote. No Republican voted for the measure.
• MARCH 22
1492—Alonzo Pietro sets sail with Christopher Columbus as he begins his famous journey to find a new trade route to China, but accidentally “discovers” the Americas. Pietro was one of Columbus’ navigators. He was known as “il Negro”—The Black.
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It’s imperative for African Americans to focus on their health and wellness Three Pittsburgh professionals speak to its importance by Ashley Johnson Courier Staff Writer
Black people are dealing with a lot—the COVID pandemic, racism, fighting against injustices and disparities, just to name a few. It’s enough to “make you want to holler,” as pointed out by the late singer Marvin Gaye and author Nathan McCall in their works of art. The health and wellness of African Americans, whether physical or mental, is under attack. The New Pittsburgh Courier spoke with three professionals from the Pittsburgh area on the importance of Black people maintaining good health and wellness, especially in today’s climate. Before getting into the importance of health and wellness, it’s important to identify their meanings. According to Stephanie Murdock of Sanford OccMed, a company that provides occupational health services to companies to support people in the workplace, health refers to “a state where the physical body is free from disease,” while wellness refers to “an overall balance of a person’s physical, social, spiritual, emotional, intellectual, environmental and occupational well-being.” Wellness has a direct influence on one’s overall health. Dr. Tracey Conti, chair of the Department of Family Medicine at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine and UPMC, believes that not having
good health and wellness “can affect every single aspect of somebody’s life.” Like Dr. Conti, Dr. Margaret Larkins-Pettigrew, chief clinical diversity officer for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion at Allegheny Health Network, said that good health is important; it ensures that people are able to not only take care of themselves, but also their families, allowing them to leave a legacy. She also said it’s important to make sure people are being accountable for their own health care, while engaging in health care systems that are taking care of the consumer, in a fair and just way. It’s no secret that there is a huge distrust, and for some, fear, among Blacks when it comes to the health care system. Historically, there have been many incidents of medical injustices, from the “Tuskegee Experiment,” to high Black maternal mortality rates, to people of color just not receiving the same quality of health care as their White counterparts. A key component to maintaining good health, Dr. Conti said, is the patient/physician relationship. As patients, she said, people have to be empowered to seek trusted physicians. “Without a good physician/patient relationship as the foundation, you’re not going to be able to trust what the physician is saying, to implement it. You’re not going to be able to hear be-
DR. TRACY CONTI cause all you’re thinking about is, ‘does this person have my best interest at heart?’” Dr. Conti said that if a person doesn’t feel as though they’re getting adequate care, they should go to another doctor. As physicians, Dr. Conti said there needs to be a measurement of trust. “We look at so many things from a quality perspective, even patient satisfaction…but we never look at ourselves and say, ‘are we looked at as trusted individuals in the community?’” Trust has to be valued and looked at as a measurement of quality and success, she said. Dr. Conti believes that problems cannot be solved within just the four walls of an office or hospital;
ERICA UPSHAW-GIVNER, LCSW
it takes getting out and listening to the community and being able to respond in the appropriate manner. She said health systems can’t build something, and then implement it in the community; the community has to be involved from the beginning. While physical health is a key component to maintaining wellness, so is mental health. According to Erica Givner, LCSW, owner of Vision Towards Peace Counseling Services in Pittsburgh and lead clinician, people cannot function properly without addressing their mental health. “Everything is connected,” she said. “It takes a brave soul to slow down and pay attention to your-
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self.” Everyday Health’s website states that Black Americans are more likely to experience anxiety, depression and other symptoms of emotional distress than White Americans, but Blacks are less likely to receive treatment. Although reasons for the lack of treatment can be attributed to obstacles such as a lack of access to mental health resources, one huge reason is the stigma in the Black community that revolves around mental health. “We are rooted in, ‘what goes on in this house, stays in this house,’ and until that mindset is shifted, the stigma will remain,” Givner told the Courier. In order to break the stigma, Givner said it takes therapists being transparent and people willing to acknowledge that there is an issue and address it. “Be brave and tell your truth. Honor
yourself,” Givner said. For maintaining one’s mental wellness, Givner warns of turning to non-professionals for help, such as friends and family members. “A lot of people aren’t well,” even though they may appear to be, and they can only give what they know how to give, Givner said. Givner also said it’s a good idea to find a good therapist or subscribe to a “trusted” mental health website or blog. There’s no shame when seeking help. “Love yourself, value yourself and if you do that, you’re going to take care of yourself,” said Dr. Larkins-Pettigrew. “Once you do that, you’ll feel much better and feel empowered to take care of your families and communities, and make a significant contribution.”
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maps that could give them an advantage here and there. Democrats fight, too. Thus, when Democratic State Rep. Summer Lee, an African American woman from North Braddock who is the first Black woman to hold the office of State Representative in Southwestern Pennsylvania, announced her run for U.S. Congress in October 2021, she thought she’d be running in the 18th District. It’s a district that’s been represented by Mike Doyle, a Democrat, for 25 years, and extends into much of the Mon Valley areas like Swissvale, Braddock, etc. Congressman Doyle is retiring, and it happens to be an area that has largely been supportive of Rep. Lee, who defeated a longtime incumbent (Paul Cos-
ta) to claim the 34th State House District a few years ago. But when the new maps were announced last month, not only did Pennsylvania lose a Congressional seat, but the 17th and 12th districts literally split up the Mon Valley. Representative Lee’s Swissvale residence is now in the 17th District, which leans towards the City of Pittsburgh and all of the Republican-leaning Beaver County. However, much of her family and political supporters reside in the neighboring 12th District, which extends into Westmoreland County. State law gives a candidate the ability to run for Congressional office in any district, so while Rep. Lee rests her head at night in the 17th District, she’s decided to run for the 12th
District seat where much of her supporters live. In effect, the supporters of Rep. Lee who now live in the 17th District will not be able to vote for her. This is what some experts call “racial gerrymandering,” splitting the support of a well-known, well-connected Black candidate who could affect legislation on a national level as a member of Congress, lessening her ability to get elected. Redistricting also, in effect, forced another Black woman to drop her campaign for a State House seat. Ashley Comans, known in the community largely as a former Wilkinsburg School Board director (Wilkinsburg refers to its board members as board directors), announced her candidacy to fill the open House District 24 seat vacated by Ed
Gainey, now Pittsburgh’s mayor. But when the new State House District maps were redrawn, it took the borough of Wilkinsburg, which was represented by the 24th District, and put it in the 34th District. The 34th District is already represented by Rep. Lee, and Comans decided not to run for a seat already occupied by her comrade. The redistricting map also had Black candidates like NaTisha Washington, a Wilkinsburg resident, and Martell Covington rethinking their plans, though they decided to continue their campaigns. The 19th State House District, which has been held for years by Jake Wheatley, an African American, was altered some thanks to redistricting. Wheatley resigned to become Mayor Gainey’s Chief of Staff, but
it’s unknown the reasoning behind Wheatley’s resignation. Chris Moore, longtime KDKA Radio (100.1 FM, 1020 AM) host, asked Rep. Lee during an interview last month how she felt about the new map: “I’ll say this,” Rep. Lee responded, “I guess it may be a coincidence that I live in the only municipal split in the county and the only precinct-level split and that only my mom’s block where I used to live and my block where I live were drawn out of district...that may all be a coincidence... It’s less about me and more about the trend that we see nationwide that during the redistricting years we’re seeing Black communities used as sacrificial lambs to make other districts safer. Oftentimes, to help make more red-leaning or conservative districts safer, they’ll take Black neighborhoods and they’ll cut them up.” Representative Lee, later in the interview, added: “I’m not naive...I understand what they’re trying to stop here, they’re trying to stop a Black woman from building power for poor and working folks,
for Black and brown folks in the region, where we’ve rarely had political power for Black people.” Representative Lee also made it a point to tell listeners that while Republicans and Democrats in the state spar over what the redistricting maps will look like, Democrats can’t be fully exonerated in their role of the map creation. In this tense negotiation of give-and-take between the two parties, Rep. Lee said that some Democrats didn’t fight hard enough to keep her district from splitting. In the Congressional redistricting map for Pennsylvania, Democratic Gov. Tom Wolf vetoed the map, and the approval had to be made by the Pa. Supreme Court. For the State House and State Senate maps, it was approved by a five-member panel called the Legislative Reapportionment Commission. “We shouldn’t forget this,” Rep. Lee told Moore on KDKA Radio, Feb. 28. “...There are people who have a vested interest in ensuring that Black women don’t make it to Congress, don’t make it to State Houses, don’t make it to borough councils.”
THE COURIER ISN’T JUST A NEWSPAPER. IT’S BLACK HISTORY.
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Cecilia Coleman teams with ‘Popa’ Banks to bring more entertainment to Pittsburgh by Genea L. Webb For New Pittsburgh Courier
Tired of the bar scene and looking for mature, African American entertainment shows? Then the newly reconstructed “Upscale and Classy Pgh” is for you. “Here in Pittsburgh, we are trying to bring the momentum of some upscale and classy events and con-
“I started it because I believed that Pittsburgh needed some upscale and classy vibes,” Banks said. “You hear a lot about shootings and all that stuff and there’s very few places where adults can really go out and enjoy themselves, so we are trying to create an environment where people could come out, dress up, feel safe and have
CECILIA COLEMAN certs and other functions here. I think it’s missing consistently so there are going to be comedy shows and concerts from gospel to R&B,” explained Upscale and Classy Pgh team member Cecelia Coleman. Upscale and Classy Pgh was originally started 10 years ago by longtime
fun.” In addition to Banks and Coleman, other Upscale & Classy Pgh team members are: Tanisha Thomas, Kimberly Hart, Larry Lipsomb and John Carter. Their duties include promoting, marketing, advertising and ticket sales. Banks is confident the team he has
WYNORRIS “POPA” BANKS Pittsburgh concert promoter Wynorris “Popa” Banks who serves as the organization’s CEO. When COVID-19 struck, Upscale and Classy Pgh had to slow its roll. Donell Jones was scheduled to come to Pittsburgh two years ago but had to cancel due to COVID. Banks used to hold monthly “First Friday” events in a hotel in Oakland that featured entertainment, food and fellowship on the first Friday of each month. In addition, Banks brought in R&B group Cameo and Boney James among others. He has been an integral part of promoting music in Pittsburgh since 1983.
working with him now will help make Upscale & Classy Pgh a success. “I’ve followed Cecilia and the other team members for a while and the way people profit is by getting out, spreading the word and this team does that every well,” Banks said. Coleman, who has been a part of the rebirth of Upscale & Classy Pgh since 2020 to help keep up the group’s momentum, is using her skills from her annual Mother’s Day fashion shows and events at the Afro American Music Institute, under “CC Productions.” “I was always cool with Popa Banks. He was on
a different magnitude so when he asked me to collaborate and asked me if I wanted to be a part of it, it was right up my alley,” Coleman told the Courier. “I’m still going to be doing my own events, including a Whitney Houston tribute in honor of the late Donald Patterson,” she said. Other members of the Upscale & Classy Pgh
team include Rev. Deryck Tines, Jon Carter, Larry Lipscomb, Kimberly Hart and Tanisha Thomas. Coleman insists that Upscale & Classy Pgh isn’t competing with other Pittsburgh entertainment venues or groups like the August Wilson African American Cultural Center, Pittsburgh Improv or New Horizon Theater Inc.
“We’re not trying to compete. We would like to bring some diversity as well,” Coleman said. “Especially what the world went through with the pandemic and feeling like you were almost on house arrest just being home...I think anyone bringing enjoyment to people’s lives (is a good thing). Everybody just wants to see and hear
music and see people entertaining at this point.” In the meantime, Coleman and the Upscale and Classy Pgh team are working hard to bring more versatile entertainment to “da ‘Burgh.” “Stay tuned,” Coleman said. “There will be a lot of shows coming soon.”
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50-year-old muscles just can’t grow big like they used to—the biology of how muscles change with age by Roger Fielding Tufts University
There is perhaps no better way to see the absolute pinnacle of human athletic abilities than by watching the Olympics. But at the Winter Games this year—and at almost all professional sporting events—you rarely see a competitor over 40 years old and almost never see a single athlete over 50. This is because with every additional year spent on Earth, bodies age and muscles don’t respond to exercise the same as they used to. I lead a team of scientists who study the health benefits of exercise, strength training and diet in older people. We investigate how older people respond to exercise and try to understand the underlying biological mechanisms that cause muscles to increase in size and strength after resistance or strength training. Old and young people build muscle in the same way. But as you age, many of the biological processes that turn exercise into muscle become less effective. This makes it harder for older people to build strength but also makes it that much more important for everyone to continue exercising as they age. How the body builds muscle The exercise I study is the type that makes you stronger. Strength training includes exercises like pushups and situps, but also weightlifting and resistance training using bands or workout machines. When you do strength training, over time, exercises that at first felt difficult become easier as your muscles increase in strength and size—a process called hypertrophy. Bigger muscles simply have larger muscle fibers and cells, and this allows you to lift heavier weights. As you keep working out, you can continue to increase the difficulty or weight of the exercises as your muscles get bigger and stronger. It is easy to see that working out makes muscles bigger, but what is actually happening to the cells as muscles increase in strength and size in response to resistance training?
STAYING ACTIVE—A couple piggybacking together on the tennis court. (Getty Images) Any time you move your body, you are doing so by shortening and pulling with your muscles—a process called contraction. This is how muscles spend energy to generate force and produce movement. Every time you contract a muscle—especially when you have to work hard to do the contraction, like when lifting weights—the action causes changes to the levels of various chemicals in your muscles. In addition to the chemical changes, there are also specialized receptors on the surface of muscle cells that detect when you move a muscle, generate force or other-
wise alter the biochemical machinery within a muscle. In a healthy young person, when these chemical and mechanical sensory systems detect muscle movement, they turn on a number of specialized chemical pathways within the muscle. These pathways in turn trigger the production of more proteins that get incorporated into the muscle fibers and cause the muscle to increase in size. These cellular pathways also turn on genes that code for specific proteins in cells that make up the muscles contracting machinery. This activation of gene expression is a longer-term process, with genes being turned on or off for several hours after a single session of resistance exercise. The overall effect of these many exercise-induced changes is to cause your muscles to get bigger. How older muscles change While the basic biology of all people, young or old, is more or less the same, something is behind the lack of senior citizens in professional sports. So what changes in a person’s muscles as they age? What my colleagues and I have found in our research is that in young muscle, a little bit of exercise produces a strong signal for the many processes that trigger muscle growth. In older people’s muscles, by comparison, the signal telling muscles to grow is much weaker for a given amount of exercise. These changes begin to occur when a person reaches around 50 years old and become more pronounced as time goes on. In a recent study, we wanted to see if the changes in signaling were accompanied by any changes in which genes—and how many of them—respond to exercise. Using a technique that allowed us to measure changes in thousands of genes in response to resistance exercise, we found that when younger men exercise, there are changes in the expression of more than
150 genes. When we looked at older men, we found changes in the expression of only 42 genes. This difference in gene expression seems to explain, at least partly, the more visible variation between how young and old people respond to strength training. Staying fit as you age When you put together all of the various molecular differences in how older adults respond to strength training, the result is that older people do not gain muscle mass as well as young people. But this reality should not discourage older people from exercising. If anything, it should encourage you to exercise more as you age. Exercise still remains one of the most important activities older adults can do for their health. The work my colleagues and I have done clearly shows that although the responses to training lessen with age, they are by no means reduced to zero. We showed that older adults with mobility problems who participate in a regular program of aerobic and resistance exercise can reduce their risk of becoming disabled by about 20 percent. We also found a similar 20 percent reduction in risk of becoming disabled among people who are already physically frail if they did the same workout program. While younger people may get stronger and build bigger muscles much faster than their older counterparts, older people still get incredibly valuable health benefits from exercise, including improved strength, physical function and reduced disability. So the next time you are sweating during a workout session, remember that you are building muscle strength that is vital to maintaining mobility and good health throughout a long life. (Roger Fielding, Associate Director of the Jean Mayer USDA Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging, Professor of Medicine, Tufts University)
DIAGRAM showing how muscle contraction can move an arm. Muscles move your limbs and body by contracting or releasing. (OpenStax, CC)
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“Dearly beloved, avenge NOT yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, VENGEANCE IS MINE; I will repay, saith the Lord. Therefore if your enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing you shall heap coals of fire on his head.
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Praise & Worship ST. BENEDICT THE MOOR CATHOLIC CHURCH 91 Crawford Street Pgh., PA 15219 412-281-3141 Sunday Mass 11 AM Rev. Thomas J. Burke- Pastor Rev. C. Matthew HawkinsParochial Vicar Rev. David H. TaylorSenior Parochial Vicar. www.sbtmparishpgh.com
REV WALKER SAYS: The Word of God: Be not overcome with EVIL, but overcome EVIL WITH GOOD. (Romans 12:21)
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Worship in person or Online on Facebook/YouTube www.ELPC.church Journey Worship..........8:45am Sanctuary Worship.......11:00 a.m. Taize -Wednesdays.........7:00 p.m.
Lacretia Wimbley resigns as Newspaper Guild of Pittsburgh president; also leaving Post-Gazette by Rob Taylor Jr. Courier Staff Writer
Denver, Colorado, must be the place to be these days. Just days after Super Bowl-winning quarterback (and husband of R&B superstar Ciara) Russell Wilson was traded from the Seattle Seahawks to the Denver Broncos, the New Pittsburgh Courier has learned exclusively that Lacretia Wimbley, the award-winning features reporter for the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette and president of the Newspaper Guild of Pittsburgh, announced her resignation as Guild president and is moving to Denver as a justice reporter for Colorado Public Radio (90.1 FM). Wimbley’s final day as president of the Guild was Sunday, March 13. Ed Blazina, a Post-Gazette transportation reporter and first vice president of the Newspaper Guild of Pittsburgh, assumed the presidency on Monday, March 14. Wimbley’s final day at the Post-Gazette, where she currently serves as a features reporter, is undetermined. Her start date at Colorado Public Radio is June 1. “I think it’s time,” Wimbley, who is African American, told the Courier of her impending move to Denver. “I think I’ve served and given all that I could give to the Post-Gazette and our union at this point.” Wimbley, 29, has performed a variety of duties since joining the Post-Gazette in May 2016. She’s been a member of the copy editing team, which also included designing pages for the PG’s print and e-editions, worked as a breaking news reporter, and gave live updates on upcoming PG stories on KDKA-TV for a year and a half. “I’ve had the great opportunity to cover a wide range of stories—cops and crime, to courts; I’ve cried with mothers who lost their sons to gun violence; I’ve sat in the back of courtrooms with my notepad and covered trials about officer-involved shootings; I’ve been on the ground (covering) protests with the community,” Wimbley told the Courier. “I’ve never been to Colorado, but I think this is an amazing opportunity I couldn’t let pass me up.” Wimbley feels she’s leaving the Newspaper Guild of Pittsburgh in a better position than
she found it. The Guild hasn’t been able to secure a contract with the Post-Gazette since the last contract expired in March 2017, nor has its union members received a pay raise from the PG in 15 years. But Wimbley said during her tenure as president, she helped change the tone and culture of the Guild. “I had to speak hope and bring people together again to not give up on the union,” Wimbley said. Wimbley said some union members thought she was “crazy” for running for Guild president as a general member, someone who held no prior executive position within the Guild. “I’m crazy in the sense of, I am a very passionate person and I’m an extreme visionary where I have the ability to see the whole picture,” Wimbley told the Courier. “And I think that’s a good quality in a leader.” Wimbley was elected Guild president on Jan. 25, 2021. Wimbley told the Courier some of her accomplishments as Guild president included establishing a digital system for collecting union dues from members, hiring a third-party consultant who assessed and evaluated the culture of the Guild and identified areas of improvement inside the newsroom, and proposing mandatory anti-harassment and anti-discrimination training for all local Guild officers. Additionally, the Guild in November 2021 won a court battle over the PG’s non-compliance in paying employee health care coverage increases in 2018. The Newspaper Guild of Pittsburgh was awarded more than $100,000 in reimbursement money. “It’s sad and ridiculous that the company would rather spend hundreds of thousands of dollars fighting us. Now they have been forced to pay what they should have paid to begin with, and it has cost them much more than it would have to simply do the right thing,” Wimbley said in a statement after the court ruling. “Our union has been through so much the last several years due to egregious actions by BCI (Block Communications Inc.). Victory has never tasted so sweet, and this is only the beginning.” The Newspaper Guild of Pittsburgh represents around 100 unionized journalists at the PG and
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LACRETIA WIMBLEY around 120 full-time faculty professors at Point Park University. Wimbley’s soon-tobe departure from the Post-Gazette means one less African American editorial member at the city’s largest news operation. African American reporters/columnists at the PG currently include Tony Norman and Tim Grant. Other Black staffers include: Willa Kindle (deputy managing producer/digital); Natalie Hill (content editor); Nate Guidry (photographer); David Garth (managing editor/editing and standards); Paul Zeise (sports columnist); Rick Nowlin (news assistant); and Isaac Elster (digital news editor). Many public radio organizations are expanding its newsroom operations as the for-profit newspaper industry has declined in size and impact in recent years. In her new role as a justice reporter for Colorado Public Radio (CPR), Wimbley will report on the issues affecting the Denver-area’s underserved communities. It’s a new challenge for Wimbley, as she’ll be writing stories as well as voicing reports that will air on CPR. It’s her first job at a radio station.
“As a reporter, we have a duty to be objective, but naturally, I just have a nose and an instinct for these types of stories,” Wimbley, a Jackson, Miss., native, told the Courier. “This is important to me because it’s what I love to do. I’m passionate about people
in general.” Wimbley said her mantra is, “giving the community an authentic voice in my stories. I plan to bring that to Denver.”
BETTY JOE FLENORY-COOPER Betty Joe Flenory-Cooper, 67 of Duquesne, Pennsylvania formerly of Pittsburgh (Beltzhoover) PA, went peacefully home to heaven on Saturday March 5th, 2022. She was born on Wednesday February 23rd, 1955, to the late Eloise Caldwell-Prince and Joseph Flenory (Stepfather Ralph Prince.) She was the loving and devoted mother of Leon Horne (Crystal Horne) from Atlanta Georgia and Eric Cooper from Pittsburgh PA. She was the devoted and loving grandmother of Breona Horne., Daela Cooper and Deana Cooper. Betty is survived by her siblings Mary Louise Tellis of Troy, Alabama, Barbra Griffin of Duquesne, PA, Dronis Flenory of Pittsburgh (Beltzhoover) PA, Londey Flenory (Shawnta Jones-Flenory) of Atlanta Georgia, and Darlene Flenory-Trammell (Bufus Trammell) of Duquesne, PA. She was the loving Aunt of Keith Griffin, Jerome Griffin, Irvin Griffin, Curtis Smith, Randy Smith, Alonzo Tellis, Londey Flenory Jr, Shalonda Dillard, Shayna Robinson (Great Nephew Kyndrick McKenzie, Dorien Pullie, the late Dalon Williams and the late Antonio Tellis. Betty was always the life and soul of the party. She loved to entertain, cook and dance and for all of us who known her can tell you when Betty was there you were having the time of your life. A Going Home Service Celebration for Betty took place on Saturday, March 12, 2022 at Fresh Word Ministries, 119 South 5th Street, Duquesne, PA 15110.
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MEMBERS OF THE ALPHA KAPPA ALPHA SORORITY. (OCTAVIO JONES/GETTY IMAGES)
MEMBERS OF THE DELTA SIGMA THETA SORORITY. (PARAS GRIFFIN/GETTY IMAGES)
Black sororities have stood at the forefront of Black achievement for more than a century by Tamara L. Brown In her speech at the 2020 Democratic National Convention Kamala Harris saluted seven women who “inspired us to pick up the torch and fight on.” All but two of them, one of whom was her mother, be-
fraternities, including their dedication to combat discrimination and the lifelong family-like bonds they create. The forerunners of Black sororities The nation’s four Black sororities have always differed from white sororities in several ways, in part because of
liked the groups’ insistence on equality and racial justice responded by creating Black sororities at their colleges. Students at Howard University in Washington, D.C. – Harris’ alma mater – created the first one, Alpha Kappa Alpha, in 1908. Female white students by then had begun to form similar
her mother, whom Harris thanked in her speech were: • Mary Church Terrell, who founded the National Association of Colored Women’s Clubs, the largest federation of local Black women’s clubs. After becoming an honorary Delta Sigma Theta member in 1913, decades after graduating
Her famous words “I am sick and tired of being sick and tired” are still a rallying cry for activists today. She was inducted as an honorary member of Delta Sigma Theta. • Diane Nash, who became a leader and strategist of the student wing of the civil rights movement while
longed to Black sororities. Harris also mentioned her own Black sorority, saying: “Family is my beloved Alpha Kappa Alpha.” Many Americans may have wondered why Harris would invoke sororities on such an occasion. But not me. Like her, I am a proud member of a Black sorority: Delta Sigma Theta, which I joined as a student at Longwood University in Farmville, Virginia. If I were in Harris’ shoes, accepting such an unprecedented leadership role, I, too, would have paid homage to my sorority as a way to thank those on whose shoulders I stand. This shoutout also resonated with me because I have researched the history of Black sororities and
their historical roots. Their origins are tied to the Black women’s clubs and mutual aid societies that first emerged with the Colored Women’s Progressive Association, established in 1880. In 1892, after the author and activist Ida B. Wells-Barnett distributed her historic anti-lynching speech as a pamphlet, Black women’s clubs sprang up throughout the U.S. in major metropolitan areas and small cities. These clubs focused on issues of interest to all American women at the time, including education, health and voting rights. But they also sought to combat racism and discrimination. A call toward service Young Black women who
groups on other campuses, many of which barred Black members. Five of the “Divine Nine” Greek organizations Kamala Harris mentioned in her speech are fraternities, created in response to Black men not being included in traditionally white fraternities. I believe that African American women created their own sororities as communities of resistance that would allow them to survive and achieve in an oppressive society, refute stereotypes, celebrate their own cultures and fight sexism and racism – including gendered racism. The 6 women Harris saluted The historically significant Black women, aside from
from Oberlin College, Terrell wrote the sorority’s oath and code of conduct. • Mary McLeod Bethune, who established what is today Bethune-Cookman University in Daytona Beach, Florida, in 1904. She also became an honorary member of Delta Sigma Theta in 1923, a dozen years before founding the National Council of Negro Women, an umbrella group that brought together representatives from different organizations seeking to improve the lives of Black women and their communities. • Fannie Lou Hamer, who co-founded the Mississippi Freedom Democratic Party in 1964 when the state’s Democratic Party barred Black participation.
attending Howard and then Fisk University. I have found no evidence, however, that Nash belonged to a Black sorority. • Constance Baker Motley, who was the first African American woman to argue a case before the Supreme Court – winning nine of the 10 cases she argued before the court as an NAACP attorney. She was also the first Black woman to become a federal judge, the first to win a New York state senate seat and the first to represent Manhattan as the borough’s president. Alpha Kappa Alpha made her an honorary member. • Shirley Chisolm, who won a House of Representatives seat in 1968. After becoming the first African American woman in Con-
University of North Texas
MEMBERS OF THE ZETA PHI BETA SORORITY. (PARAS GRIFFIN/GETTY IMAGES)
gress, she helped form the Congressional Black Caucus. Her 1972 presidential bid made her the first woman and African American to seek the nomination from a major political party. She joined Delta Sigma Theta as a Brooklyn College student. Continuing a tradition Even today, the core mission of Black sororities remains civic engagement and racial justice. All members of sororities and fraternities may donate to social causes or volunteer as part of satisfying school community service requirements. A few make it their main focus. But across the board, Black sororities emphasize consequential and sustained community service, while their members are students and also once they’ve graduated from college. This is also true of the few white women who have joined Black sororities over the years. Like with biological families where members remain in the family no matter what, for Black women, sorority affiliation usually becomes a permanent part of their identity and an enduring source of pride and support. Many members of Black sororities remain active and engaged for the rest of their lives. They join local chapters, changing their affiliation whenever they move. Through this practice, their bond of sisterhood remains intact. When I moved to North Texas, for example, local sorority members reached out to me. They helped me acclimate and make connections so that I immediately felt welcome. I also remain engaged with the sorority chapter I joined at Longwood by mentoring students, donating to scholarship funds and through other means. This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license.
MEMBERS OF THE SIGMA GAMMA RHO SORORITY. (GRIFFIN/GETTY IMAGES)
WOMEN’S HISTORY MONTH
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Pittsburgh Proud: 8 famous female leaders
MARTHA GRAHAM Women’s History Month illuminates the powerful women who have shaped our world. Pittsburgh is no stranger to incredible women leaders, setting an example for future generations and profoundly impacting those they inspired. Whether in the arts, politics, or science, these women defied convention and deftly stormed past obstacles to protect the truth and beauty they saw in their communities. Rachel Carson (1907-1964) Carson was a scientist and writer who wanted to share the beauty of nature with the world. She spent her childhood outside Pittsburgh and later attended college nearby. Her formal training in zoology led her to a position with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, where she ultimately rose to Editor-in-Chief of all publications. She had a profound interest in using her writing to share the mission of conservation and the splendor of the oceans with the general public. She wrote several novels and articles that became widely popular before turning her attention to the growing problem of pesticides in U.S. agriculture. She became an activist and spent the remainder of her life challenging governments and industry to protect the planet. Nellie Bly (1864-1922) Willing to put her safety on the line for the sake of exposing societal problems, Nellie Bly (the pen name of Elizabeth Cochran Seaman) pioneered a new standard of investigative journalism. Bly began her career at the Pittsburgh Dispatch by writing pieces devoted to exposing poor conditions for working women. Her most famous work includes an exposé of the conditions for women in an insane asylum, an assignment for the New York World that risked her safety in the name of good journalism. Bly also traveled around the world in 72 days and wrote several novels before turning her eye towards industrialization, invention, and foreign reporting. She left a lasting legacy that shapes journalism to this day. Martha Graham (1894-1991) World-renowned dancer and choreographer Martha Graham transformed the dance world with her innovative techniques. Graham spent her childhood in Pittsburgh and was introduced to dance when she moved to California as a teenager. Her drive to make dance more personal and raw, rather than just a form of entertainment, fueled her choreography and became the cornerstone of her dance style. The Martha Graham School in New York is the United States’ oldest dance school. Graham choreographed more than 180 compositions during her lifetime and was recognized internationally as a pivotal figure in the arts. Daisy Elizabeth Adams Lampkin (18831965) Lampkin’s life is a testament to the power of community organization and activism. She made her mark in the early 1900s by organizing groups of Black housewives in Pittsburgh for consumer protests. Her skills, especially as an advocate for Black women’s suffrage, propelled the National Association of Colored Women to recognize
COMMANDER GWENDOLYN ELLIOTT (Photo courtesy of Kathi Elliott) her in 1916. She went on to work with the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People and take a prominent role in state politics. Her work fundraising and building membership rosters for local and national organizations is an enduring example of strong female leadership. Mary Cardwell Dawson (1894-1962) An accomplished musician from an early age, Dawson moved to Pittsburgh as a
and Commander (the first woman in each post), Elliott’s dedication to the girls of Pittsburgh continued. In 2002, she started Gwen’s Girls, a non-profit that provides opportunities in and out of the classroom for young girls to feel safe, supported, and enriched. Lois Weber (1879-1939) Lois Weber was a female pioneer in the arts born and raised in Allegheny City. She
young adult and flourished in the art community. She showcased her talents as an educator by opening the Dawson Cardwell School of Music in town. She later founded the National Negro Opera Company. Her work opening doors to music for all audiences, especially African Americans, was extensive—she started opera guilds in the Midwest and East and trained hundreds of young singers. President John F. Kennedy ultimately appointed her to the National Music Committee. Gwendolyn J. Elliott (1945-2007) One of Pittsburgh’s contemporary leaders, Elliott spent her life overcoming obstacles and championing Pittsburgh’s young girls and women. In 1976, she became one of the city’s first African American female police officers, where she saw firsthand the way law enforcement treated girls. As she rose through the ranks to Sergeant
later went on to be the first American female film director. As a child and teen, Weber played piano with church groups that ministered to various communities in the area, including the most downtrodden in
DAISY ELIZABETH ADAMS LAMPKIN
MARY CARDWELL DAWSON hospitals and tenements. Called to perform and to help, Weber became an actress and soon discovered the impact she could have as a writer. Combining her gift for performance with her passion for social issues such as poverty and healthcare, Weber used the brand-new medium of silent film to preach to a bigger audience than she ever thought possible. She was a master of early filmmaking techniques and started her own production company in 1917. She ultimately worked on more than 200 films in some capacity. Her pioneering spirit and refusal to shy away from controversial topics helped pave the way for filmmakers in the generations ahead. Jane Grey Cannon Swisshelm (18151884) A native of Pittsburgh and an outspoken abolitionist, Swisshelm dedicated her life to reporting on the injustices she saw around her. After teaching and writing for several small papers, she became the first female reporter allowed in the U.S. Senate. She continued to advocate for women’s rights and abolition in the newspapers she controlled. After serving as a nurse during the Civil War, Swisshelm founded her final paper, The Reconstructionist, as one final act of relentless ambition to challenge immoral laws and leaders. These Pittsburgh women serve as an inspiration to this day for the community and its up-and-coming leaders!
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Business leaders major Black donors to HBCUs by Dr. Benjamin F. Chavis Jr. For New Pittsburgh Courier
NNPA NEWSWIRE—Billionaire philanthropist and novelist MacKenzie Scott’s $560 million donation last year to 23 Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) made headlines across the country at a time when racial equity has become front-page news. However, for decades Black leaders in business, entertainment, education, and other fields have been the main sources of philanthropic donations to HBCUs. A recent Washington Post story found that Black Americans donate a higher share of their wealth than their White counterparts—to the tune of around $11 billion each year. Given their cultural and educational importance to the Black community, HBCUs are the repository of much of these donations with a number of household names—and some you may not know—making big-dollar contributions to these institutions. Here are some of the most prominent Black philanthropists to donate to HBCUS: Robert F. Smith—Chairman & CEO, Vista Equity Partners Smith, the billionaire investor behind the software private equity firm Vista Equity Partners, drew widespread praise in May 2019 when he announced that he and his family would pay off
FOR DECADES BLACK LEADERS in business, entertainment, education, and other fields have been the main sources of philanthropic donations to HBCUs. Shown above Robert F. Smith, Oprah Winfrey, Michael Jordan, Frank Baker and William Pickard top the list of Black donors to HBCUs. the entire student loan debt of the 2019 Morehouse College graduating class of 396 students. Along with paying off the student debt, Smith’s $35 million donation also helped establish the Student Success Program to reduce or eliminate debt for all Morehouse grads. The private equity guru also gave the school an additional $1.5 million to create the Robert Frederick Smith Scholars Program and build a park on campus. As board chair of the Student Freedom Initiative—a plan to provide STEM students at HBCUs with a family-centric, income-contingent payment alternative to highcost, fixed-payment debt— Smith pledged $50 million.
Smith’s donation jumpstarted the initiative, which hopes to raise $500 million for the effort and began operations in the fall of 2021 at eleven HBCUs. “Each year, thousands of Black graduates from HBCUs across America enter the workforce with a crushing debt burden that stunts future decisions and prevents opportunities and choices,” Smith said. “The initiative is purposefully built to redress historic economic and social inequities and to offer a sustainable, scalable platform to invest in the education of future Black leaders.” Oprah Winfrey, Television Personality, Philanthropist, Author, Entre-
preneur & Actress Most people may know the philanthropic acts of Oprah —who, like Beyoncé, Prince, and Zendaya needs no further introduction—through the infamous “You get a Car!” episode of her talk show, but she is also quietly, one of the biggest donors to HBCUs in the country. In 2019, Oprah donated $13 million to Morehouse College to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the Oprah Winfrey Scholars Program at the HBCU. Overall, Oprah has donated at least $25 million to the Atlanta school. “I felt that the very first time I came here,” Oprah said. “The money was an offering to support that in these young
men. I understand that African American men are an endangered species. They are so misunderstood. They are so marginalized.” Besides her gift to Morehouse, Oprah also donated $1.5 million to the United Negro College Fund to help pay for scholarships for Black students and general scholarship funds for 37 private HBCUs. Frank Baker—Founder and Managing Partner of Siris Capital Baker, the founder of private equity firm Siris, along with his wife, interior designer Laura Day Baker, donated $1 million in May 2020 to establish a scholarship fund at Atlanta’s Spelman College,
the oldest private historically Black liberal arts college for women. Initially, the scholarship paid off the existing spring tuition balances of nearly 50 members of Spelman’s 2020 graduating class and the remaining funds are meant to ensure that future high achieving graduating seniors have the financial resources to graduate. “We are all aware of the headwinds that people of color—especially women—face in our country, the challenges of which are made even more apparent by the economic and health impact of the COVID-19 pandemic,” the SEE BLACK DONORS B2
Black unemployment rate improves amid historic jobs report by Stacy M. Brown For New Pittsburgh Courier
(NNPA Newswire)—America—and most notably Black America—is back to work, declared President Joe Biden as he announced one of the most robust job reports in modern times. “History has been made here,” the president declared. The economy created 467,000 jobs in January, and the unemployment rate for Black workers fell to 6.9 percent and dropped to 5.8 percent for African American women. The president highlighted the 6.6 million jobs added to the U.S. economy in the year since he took office.
“It comes alongside the largest drop in the unemployment rate in a single year on record, the largest reduction in childhood poverty ever recorded in a single year, and the strongest economic growth this country has seen in nearly 40 years,” President Biden asserted. He also acknowledged the struggles that many American families still face, noting that prices have increased sharply during the pandemic. “Average people are getting clobbered by the cost of everything,” President Biden said. “Gas prices at the pump are up. We’re working to bring them down, but they’re up. Food prices are up. We’re working to
bring them down as well.” White House officials said they plan to enact policies to slow inflation. Before the president’s remarks, the U.S. House of Representatives voted 222-210 to pass the COMPETES Act, a bill to help America keep up with China in the semiconductor chip industry. The legislation seeks to tackle such economic issues as supply chain disruptions and a global shortage of semiconductor chips, essential for producing smartphones, medical equipment, and cars. The bill would introduce several THE ECONOMY CREATED 467,000 jobs in January, and the unemchanges to American trade rules to ployment rate for Black workers fell to 6.9 percent and dropped to 5.8 percent for African American women. (Photo: iStockphoto / SEE BLACK UNEMPLOYMENT B2 NNPA)
How do I reduce my taxable income? I need to find out strategies on how to lower my taxable income ~ Steve Damon says: That’s the easiest question that received trust to date. Here’s what you do: March down to your Human Resource Department and ask to meet with a Payroll Specialist. Inform the Payroll Specialist that in an effort to reduce your taxable income, you’d like a pay cut IMMEDIATELY! You don’t like that strategy, do you? I’m joking but here’s my point. You’re not looking to reduce your taxable income per se. You’re seeking tax advantage strategies to allow your money to grow and defer or avoid taxes. Here’s a couple of strategies that you can employ: Maximize your 401k contribution: You can contribute up to $20,500 per year or $26,500 if you’re over 50-years old in a 401(k), 403(b), or Thrift Savings Account etc. Doing so will reduce your taxable income. More importantly, doing so increases your retirement savings so that when the paycheck stops coming in, you have a retirement nest egg you can pull money from. Maximize your IRA or ROTH IRA contribution: You can contribute up to $6,000 per year to a Traditional IRA or Roth IRA. You can contribute up to $7,000 per year if you’re over 50. Certain rules apply to both regarding if you’re able to receive a tax deduction on a Traditional IRA or if you’re eligible to contribute to a ROTH IRA. Both are something to consider for tax advantage strategies. Health Savings Account (HSA): If you have Health Insurance with a high deductible, you may be eligible to partic-
ipate in a HSA. With an HSA, you can save or invest money in this account. For someone who only has health insurance on his or herself, you can contribute up to $3,600 per year in a HSA. You can contribute up to $7,200 per year for family coverage. There’s a triple threat tax advantage here. The money you contribute is tax deductible. The money inside the account grows tax deferred. The money you withdraw from this account for medical purposes is tax free. Create a business: If you own a business, you can convert some everyday expenses into partially or fully deductible business related expenses. For example: You have a cell phone you use daily. You open a business and you continue to use the cell phone for personal and business purposes. The portion of the time you use your cell phone for business is deductible as a business expense. Thanks Damon!! The first two, I am doing right now. I could contribute more but I am paying off some bills. I’m trying to come up with an idea for a business. I started too late in life. I have been through so many situations that I have had to use my 401k from previous jobs to stay afloat but I did have one that converted into a Roth so I have that. I took your advice about having an emergency fund. So since January, I have saved $200 per month.
~ Steve Damon says: Steve, It sounds like you’re making the right money moves. Know this! We all have a story to tell. There’s no linear path to success ~ including financial success. The road is filled with roadblocks, obstacles, temptation and setbacks. The key is to learn and grow from our own unique experiences. It’s never too late to start! Consider this: Most people never start. They work hard, make bad financial decisions, and wonder why they can’t get ahead. You’re taking the time to learn how to better manage your money. You’ve also learned what not to do from your mistakes. ******** Can you explain what a Roth account is? ~ Nafeesa Damon says: There are two types of IRA’s: Traditional IRA and ROTH IRA. IRA stands for Individual Retirement Account. Traditional IRA’s allow an upfront tax deduction but you’re taxed on both contributions and earnings when you withdraw money from it. With a ROTH IRA, there’s no upfront tax deduction. When you withdraw money from it, both contributions and withdrawals are TAX FREE. This allows you to keep Uncle Sam’s palms off of your
hard-earned money. You can contribute up to $6,000 per year in an IRA—$7,000 if age 50 or older. ****** Aren’t there income limitations? You can’t contribute to a Roth if you earn more than a certain amount of income? Correct? Or has that changed? ~ Tracy Damon says: Yes, there are some income restrictions with regards to using a ROTH IRA. For single filers, you can contribute up to $6,000 per year if you earn under $129,000. If your earnings are between $129,001 - $144,000, the amount you can contribute is phased-out (reduced). For married filing jointly, you can contribute up to $6,000 if your combined income is under $204,000. If your earnings are between $204,001 - $214,000, the amount you can contribute is phased-out (reduced). If your married filing jointly, you can contribute to a ROTH if your earning is $10,000 or less. Note: If you’re 50 or over, you can contribute up to $7,000 per year in a ROTH. For those who are fortunate enough to earn too much money to contribute to a ROTH IRA, there’s a little known loophole called a backdoor ROTH IRA. This strategy involves contributing money to a non-deductible IRA. This IRA has no income restrictions. Once you contribute money to the non-deductible IRA, you can immediately convert it to a ROTH IRA.
(Damon Carr, Money Coach can be reached at 412-216-1013 or visit his website at www.damonmoneycoach.com$)
BUSINESS
B2 MARCH 16-22, 2022
NEW PITTSBURGH COURIER
2020 Census called ‘worse undercount’ in decades as bureau misses millions of Blacks and Hispanics by Stacy M. Brown For New Pittsburgh Courier
(NNPA NEWSWIRE)—According to many experts, the COVID-19 pandemic and an administration that displayed a complete disregard for ensuring accuracy led to a consequential undercount in the number of Black, Hispanic, and Native American residents during the 2020 U.S. Census. Further, Census officials admit that they overcounted White and Asian residents. The bureau reported the overall population as 323.2 million. “The undercounting of Black, Latino, Indigenous and other communities of color rob us of the opportunity to be the directors of our fate, reducing our representation and limiting our power while depriving policymakers of the information they need to make informed decisions about where the next hospital will be built or where the next school should be located,” said Damon Hewitt, the president and executive director of the Lawyers Committee for Civil Rights Under Law. “In addition, the undercount exacerbates underfunding of our communities because Census data is used as the basis for hundreds of billions of dollars of federal, state, and local appropria-
THE CENSUS POPULATION COUNT determines how many representatives each state has in Congress for the next decade. tions each year,” Hewitt said. The Census population count determines how many representatives each state has in Congress for the next decade. It also decides how much federal funding communities receive for roads, schools, housing, and social programs. Hundreds of billions of dollars are at stake each time the census occurs. Robert L. Santos, the bureau’s director, displayed little regard for the undercount of minorities. He said the 2020 results were consistent with recent censuses.
Black unemployment rate improves BLACK UNEMPLOYMENT FROM B1
level the playing field for domestic businesses and combat China’s market-distorting trade practices. “Democrats are prepared to build on this extraordinary economic momentum: continuing our work to lower families’ costs, strengthen our supply chains, and make more goods in America,” House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) declared. “Under the leadership of President Biden and
House Democrats, our nation will continue to Build Back Better to create more good-paying jobs and lower costs for families across America,” Pelosi stated.
PRESIDENT BIDEN
“This is notable, given the unprecedented challenges of 2020,” Santos said in a statement. “But the results also include some limitations—the 2020 census undercounted many of the same population groups we have historically undercounted, and it overcounted others.” “We remain proud of the job we accomplished in the face of immense challenges,” Mr. Santos said. “And we are ready to work with the stakeholders and the public to leverage this enormously valuable resource fully.” Terri Ann Lowenthal, a
leading expert on the census and consultant to governments and others with a stake in the count, told the New York Times that the results were “troubling but not entirely surprising.” “Overall, the results are less accurate than in 2010,” she said. The bureau estimated that the 2020 census incorrectly counted 18.8 million residents, double-counting some, wrongly including others, and missing others entirely, even as it came extremely close to reaching an accurate count of the overall popula-
tion. The Times reported that the “estimates released on Thursday—in essence, a statistical adjustment of totals made public last year—are based on an examination of federal records and an extensive survey in which the bureau interviewed residents in some 10,000 census blocks —the smallest unit used in census tabulations. Bureau experts then compared their answers to the actual census results for those blocks.” Officials claimed that the survey enabled the bureau to estimate how many residents
it missed entirely in the 2020 count, how many people were counted twice, and how many people—such as deceased persons or short-term visitors to the United States— were counted mistakenly. Officials began the count after the pandemic shut down operations in April 2020. After other starts and stops, the Trump administration pressured census takers by inexplicably moving up the deadline to finish the count. Trump also attempted to add a citizenship question to the census, further muddying attempts at an accurate count. Many experts complained that more time was required and called the count unreliable. Some called on then-incoming President Joe Biden to order a recount. “This is the worse census undercount I’ve seen in my 30 years working on census issues,” Arturo Vargas, CEO of the National Association of Latino Elected Officials Education Fund, said during a news conference. “I can’t even find the right word. I’m just upset about the extent of the undercount that has been confirmed by the post-enumeration survey,” Vargas said. “This is a major step backward on this.” (Stacy M. Brown is NNPA Newswire Senior National Correspondent)
What to know before you apply for Social Security retirement benefits by Josh Grant For New Pittsburgh Courier
Are you thinking about retiring and applying for Social Security retirement benefits? Our online tools can make your planning easier. Visit www. ssa.gov/myaccount to access your personal my Social Security account to get an instant and personalized estimate of your retirement benefits based on your earnings record. It is important that your earnings record is correct because we base your benefit amount on the earnings reported to us. If you find an error, you will want to contact us to get your information corrected. Read our publication, How to Correct Your Social Security Earnings Record, at www.ssa.gov/
pubs/EN-05-10081.pdf, to learn how. You can also get benefit estimates based on different retirement ages, and choose the best retirement age for you. Don’t have a personal my Social Security account? You can create one today at www.ssa.gov/myaccount. When you’re ready to apply for Social Security retirement benefits, you can complete your application online in as little as 15 minutes at www.ssa.gov/ retirement. We will contact you if we need any more information. You can check the status of your application with your personal my Social Security account. You can apply online for your Social Security retirement benefits, and for benefits as a spouse, if you meet all the following criteria:
• You must be at least age 62 for the entire month to be eligible to receive benefits. • You are not currently receiving benefits on your own Social Security record. • You have not already applied for retirement benefits. • You want your benefits to start no later than four months in the future. (We cannot process your application if you apply for benefits more than four months in advance.) Find more information about our online services at www.ssa.gov/onlineservices. (Josh Grant is Social Security District Manager in Pittsburgh, Pa.)
Dr. Chester D. Thompson To Lead MITCS As CEO MIDLAND, Pa., — PRNewswire/ — The Board of Trustees of the Midland Innovation + Technology Charter School has appointed veteran educator Dr. Chester D. Thompson as the school’s first Chief Executive Officer. Dr. Thompson, who resides in Rochester, Pennsylvania, was the Associate Dean of the School of Business, Arts, Sciences, and Technology at the Community College of Beaver County for the past two-and-a-half years. Prior to that, he spent six years at Robert Morris University as the Assistant Vice President—Underrepresented Student Achievement, Executive Vice President— Executive Education and Partnerships, Advisor—Academic Affairs, Director— Student Support and Outreach Programs, and as an adjunct professor. While at
RMU, Chet was the Director of the Black Male Leadership Development Institute. He has held positions with Bristol Myers Squibb, Verizon, Pfizer, Oracle, and the Maryland National Capital Park and Planning Commission and is a United States Marine Corps veteran. “Midland Innovation & Technology Charter School is groundbreaking in its approach to preparing students for meaningful work post-graduation and we could not be more pleased to have Dr. Thompson at our helm,” said Jerry Hodge, President of the MITCS Board of Trustees. “His background in education and business makes him uniquely qualified to not only interact with students and parents, but also work with local corporate partners, all of whom will en-
sure our school’s success.” Midland Innovation + Technology Charter School, a project of Lincoln Park Performing Arts Center, is a new Pennsylvania public high school for boys and girls in grades 9 through 12 that will open in September in the ultramodern Charles J. Betters Innovation Center in Midland. It will offer the most modern career technical education available and will adhere to an axiom of Diversity By Design in that it will welcome students from all backgrounds from across southwestern Pennsylvania. MITCS will be organized through four inter-connected and collaborative academies that include: The PGT Transportation + Logistics Academy, The Cyril H. Wecht Forensic Science + Justice Academy, The MITCS Community Development + Sustainability
Academy, and The MITCS Skilled Trades + Technical Careers Academy. Disciplines will include: Petrochemical Studies, Gaming and Simulations, Safety Engineering, Transportation and Logistics, American Enterprise and Global Studies, Aviation Technology, Sustainable Water, and Healthcare Innovations. Prominent developer Charles J. Betters donated the land on which MITCS is located and has guided the construction. Pat Gallagher, the founder, owner, DR. CHESTER D. THOMPSON selected as first CEO of Midland Inand CEO of PGT Trucking novation + Technology Charter School donated $500 thousand to establish the PGT TransEnrollment portation + Logistics Acade- grant from the Pennsyl- school.org. my, and famed forensic pa- vania Coalition of Public seminars will be scheduled at regional hotel ballrooms thologist Dr. Cyril H. Wecht Charter Schools. Families interested in and conference centers soon. gifted and developed curriculum for the Cyril H. Wecht pre-enrollment and infor- Watch the MITCS website Forensic Science + Justice mation about MITCS may as enrollment seminars are Academy. The school also visit the school’s official added. www.mitcharterwon a $1.5 million start-up website
Business leaders major Black donors to HBCUs BLACK DONORS FROM B1
ic,” the couple said in a press release. “We believe it is critical that talented women finish college and confidently enter—free of undue financial stress—the initial stage of their professional careers. William F. Pickard— Businessman, Co-owner of Real Times Media Detroit businessman and philanthropist Pickard has a long history of donating to HBCUs across the country.
Most recently Pickard and his cousin, Cincinnati businessman Judson W. Pickard Jr., donated $2 million to Morehouse College to create the Pickard Scholars Program. This program will recruit and support Black students from metro Detroit, Flint, greater Cincinnati, and LaGrange, Georgia to attend the Atlanta HBCU. “People have uplifted and helped me grow and I believe in blessing others,” Pickard, whose children attended
Morehouse, told the Atlanta Tribune. “Our gifts are given to where we are from and those who have invested in us and who we are.” The Pickard Family Foundation also donated $100,000 to the National Black MBA Association to create the William F. Pickard Business Scholarship Fund. The fund is open to qualified business student members at several HBCUs who need help financing their education. Michael Jordan—For-
mer NBA Superstar Michael Jordan is arguably the greatest basketball player of all time and is almost single-handedly responsible for transforming the game into the global phenomenon it is today. So, if anybody knows how to make an impact on HBCUs, it would be His Airness. The six-time NBA champion and five-time league MVP, along with Nike’s Jordan Brand, donated $1 million last year to Morehouse
College to boost the school’s journalism and sports-related studies program. The donation is meant to bolster a program launched thanks to the donation of another icon, director Spike Lee. “Education is crucial for understanding the Black experience today,” Jordan said in a press release. “We want to help people understand the truth of our past and help tell the stories that will shape our future.” The donation to Morehouse
is part of a pledge made by Jordan and his brand in 2020 to donate $100 million over the next ten years to combat racism across the country. The following video link highlights the transformative financial contributions to HBCUs by these African American philanthropists: https://we.tl/t-EWOsZTmxVO
(Dr. Benjamin F. Chavis Jr., President and CEO, National Newspaper Publishers Association)
OPINION
NEW PITTSBURGH COURIER
MARCH 16-22, 2022
B3
Invisible
Guest Editorial
Keep Pennsylvania’s mail-in voting law The encouraging news is that for now Pennsylvania’s mail-in voting law will remain in place, at least for the near future. This despite a state judge’s order that would have made it expire this month, the state Supreme Court ruled March 1. The justices issued a one-paragraph order that overturned a Feb. 16 decision by Commonwealth Court Senior Judge Mary Hannah Leavitt that would have ended the state’s 2-year-old voting law. The Supreme Court plans to hold oral arguments regarding the legal challenge of the law. The justices’ decision to invalidate Leavitt’s order gives themselves more time to rule without facing a one-week deadline. They said the law will remain in place, pending further action by the high court. The administration of Democratic Gov. Tom Wolf is right to ask the Supreme Court to keep the law intact during the litigation, arguing that stopping mail-in voting ahead of the spring primary season “would, if anything, only exacerbate voter confusion and the danger of disenfranchisement.” Pennsylvania ended most restrictions against mail-in voting in 2019 as part of a deal in which Republican legislative leaders obtained an end to straight-ticket voting. Democrats have used the mail-in option far more than have Republicans during the pandemic. Many of the Republicans in the General Assembly who voted for mail-in voting the 2019 now oppose it, including 11 of the plaintiffs in the current legal challenge. Leavitt and two fellow Republican judges ruled in January that no-excuse mail-in voting is prohibited under the Pennsylvania Constitution. Two Democrats dissented, saying the constitution permits no excuse under a provision that says elections “shall be by ballot or by such other method as may be prescribed by law.” Lawyers for the Department of State and Acting Secretary of State Leigh Chapman argued in a filing that eliminating mail-in voting ahead of the spring primary season “would, if anything, only exacerbate voter confusion and the danger of disenfranchisement.” The state’s vote-by-mail law was passed with near-unanimous Republican support in 2019. The legislation proved to be effective in allowing more people to vote amid a global pandemic. Just over 2.5 million people voted under the law in 2020’s presidential election, most of them Democrats, out of 6.9 million total cast. The large number of Democrats who mailed in their votes is why Republican state legislators are now challenging the law. Republicans began opposing mail-in voting last year after former President Donald Trump began baselessly attacking it as rife with fraud and, later, claiming without evidence that the election was stolen from him in critical battleground states including Pennsylvania. The mail-in voting option is working. Nearly 5 million votes were cast by mail over 2020-21. As of August, nearly 1.4 million Pennsylvania voters were signed up for permanent mail-in voting notification. (Reprinted from the Philadelphia Tribune)
Founded 1910
Rod Doss Editor & Publisher Stephan A. Broadus Assistant to the Publisher Allison Palm
Rob Taylor Jr.
Ashley Johnson
Office Manager
Managing Editor
Sales Director
John. H. Sengstacke
Editor & Publisher Emeritus (1912-1997)
(TriceEdneyWire.com)—I admit that I enjoy movies. I’ve always enjoyed movies and, when time permits, I will opt for a few moments of escape in a movie theater. I can find interest in any genre, especially movies that provoke thought and a broader than normal consideration of social circumstance and events. Somewhat out of character, I sometimes enjoy movies of the horror genre. In the more “serious” horror films, beyond the theme of raw fright, film writers will often question the motivation for the inhumane treatment humans inflict upon each other, or about the challenges to the human ability/inability to maintain acceptable mental health when battling one’s own or other raging Ids. Since my youth, one thought provoking movie I’ve seen in several iterations is The Invisible Man. Though impossible in real life, some of the emotional gymnastics that writers impose upon the title character have, I believe, tangible connection to real human stories. In most iterations of The Invisible Man, central among his conflicts are his immersion into the depths of self-loathing, desperation, hatred, and violence after reaching the unacceptable conclusion that his invisibility renders him a non-person to all. Sadly, I see a common thread between the fictional, horror genre and the realities of lived experiences and personal/emotional histories of
Dr. E. Faye Williams, Esq.
Commentary too many African Americans. These individuals, despite their age, education, or character, are denied the individual recognition that promotes self-affirmation or the personal acknowledgment which supports the process of self-actualization. Among the maladies associated with being ignored, the February 2021 edition of Psychology Today lists self-esteem doubts, the feeling of a lack of control, and the sense of not being worthy of attention. This assessment squares with the many studies that analyze the emotional damage done during and because of COVID-19 isolation. Worse than the movies and isolation is a renewal of the full-scale, attempted imposition of invisibility upon the African American community. For those who have not been paying attention, we currently face an insidious attempt to erase and/ or sanitize the history of African Americans in this nation. In multiple school districts and jurisdictions, we hear the complaint that the re-telling of the treatment of African Americans from 1619 to the present makes White children (people) uncomfortable and distressed. Calls for the “white-washing or elimina-
tion of Black History is justified by the complaint that it “makes” Whites assume blame for the atrocities of their fore-bearers or those with whom they identify/resemble. And adding a new twist to “Victim Blame,” proponents of this restricted education present the ludicrous claim that, while causing White guilt and blame, the TRUTH of our history creates a sense of inferiority among Black children. Never fear, they have a remedy! Laws are being proposed/passed to restrict the instruction of history which causes discomfort or suggests blame. Of course, we speak of White discomfort and White self-blame. While Whites overtly promote the historical invisibility of African Americans, many of them are less obvious about the intent of the current epidemic of voter restriction laws. They too, have the intent of imposing invisibility upon the African American community. The vote is YOUR voice and without a vote YOU HAVE NO VOICE! You become invisible to all who oppose your interests or would turn back the clock to a time when you were politically and socially emasculated. Dr. Carter G. Woodson, Father of Black History, notably said, “The oppressor has always indoctrinated the weak with his interpretation of the crimes of the strong.” Our strength rests in our understanding and acknowledgment of ourselves. We cannot allow them to be stolen from us
Accept the unexpected I hate to rush but according to the GPS, I would only be two minutes late. That wasn’t bad but I wasn’t prepared for an accident to happen. In my haste, I panicked and decided to jump on another freeway thinking I can just loop around and miss the accident all together. To my surprise, there was another accident. I was irritated that my plans of being just two minutes late became a twenty-minute delay. Had I just remained patient and waited, I probably could have got there just ten minutes late. In that moment, I realized how often we make decisions because what we see ahead doesn’t look like what we planned. We can make choices that delay our progress because we aren’t willing to wait and be inconvenienced. When life doesn’t work out as planned, instead of waiting on God, we will make decisions out of our limited perspective. At the core of our decisions is an unwillingness to trust God and believe that we know what to do. I was reminded that the delay was in my best interest and that God was possibly protecting me from something. Proverbs 3:5-6 says, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.” How often have we all decided abruptly to do something that later cost us more than it was worth? Instead of trusting God and getting there on a straight route with a brief
Dr. Froswa Booker Drew
Commentary interruption, I was going in a circle and wasting time. The Israelites are a prime example of how we can waste time when we allow what we see to stop us from getting to our promised lands. Instead of trusting God, we can spend so much time wondering and wandering when we chose to take our lives into our own hands. The Israelites called out to God for help and God heard them. “I have observed the misery of my people who are in Egypt,” (Exodus 3:7). We, too, cry out to God for help but because we do not receive the answer we want immediately, we can become discouraged and take matters into our own hands. Moses in his frustration because of what he saw around him killed an Egyptian which he ultimately had to leave because of fear that others knew what he had done. (Exodus 2:11). When we don’t trust God’s timing, we can make decisions that cost us and have consequences. Even as Moses followed God’s instructions and said to the Hebrews that it was time to depart Egypt, they became overwhelmed at what they saw in front of them. Despite God’s reassurance
that He would be there with them, when faced with something unexpected, they wanted to go in another direction. They were not prepared to be chased by the Egyptian army and they didn’t expect God to part the Red Sea for their deliverance. “And Moses said to the people, “Do not be afraid. Stand still, and see the salvation of the Lord, which He will accomplish for you today. For the Egyptians whom you see today, you shall see again no more forever. The Lord will fight for you, and you shall hold your peace.” (Exodus 14:13-14). Like me, they wanted to move and do something because they weren’t prepared for the unexpected. Just as God calls us to be still in moments when things don’t go our way, we are losing peace trying to create solutions. Over and over, God proved that He was with them and yet, their limited thinking cost them so much time. A trip that would have taken 11 days resulted in a 40-year journey because they weren’t willing to wait and trust God. I learned a valuable lesson this weekend. Expect interruptions and detours. It doesn’t mean that God isn’t at work in those moments. And check this out, I got to my destination when I needed to. It was all a part of God’s perfect timing when I accepted the unexpected. (Dr. Froswa’ Booker-Drew is the host of the Tapestry Podcast and the author of three books for women. To learn more, visit drfroswa.com)
Motown legend Smokey Robinson causes social media stir saying he resents being called African American (NNPA Newswire)—Legendary singer and songwriter Smokey Robinson has come under fire—at least on social media—because the icon said, “Black is a race,” and that “I resent being called African American.” “I resent being called African American because Black people have contributed so much to the development of the United States of America,” Robinson, 82, stated during a virtual appearance on The View, which has since gone viral. “I think that when you do that, you’re disclaiming all the things, the contributions that Black people have made to America,” he said. The icon’s comments reflected those he made nearly two decades ago during an appearance on Russell Simmons’ Def Poetry. He recited a poem that he hoped to educate individuals about the Black experience. While some backed the entertainer, others trolled him. “The facts that ‘Black is a race’ and ‘African American is an ethnicity’ really whoops y’all’s asses,” Twitter user @_Elle_Spencer_ wrote in response to Robinson,
Stacy M. Brown
Commentary calling him an “idiot.” Twitter user @LifeDutchee, a self-described retired drug dealer, also went in on Robinson. “A man born in the 1940s is on the internet telling people to drop the African and just call him Black American. Cause he had never been to Africa. What’s the stages of Dementia?” the social media user replied. Others objected to the icon’s detractors. “I understand what Smokey Robinson is explaining,” Twitter user @gracefully_Tori wrote. “I love being called Black American as well. I thought I was the only one who didn’t like to be called African American.” Once pronounced by Bob Dylan as America’s “greatest living poet,”
Robinson, Rock’ n’ Roll and Songwriters’ Hall of Fame inductee, still stuck to his guns. “I consider myself to be a Black American, and I enjoy being called Black, and Black has been so negativized as a color down throughout history by those who wanted to negativize it,” Robinson explained, adding that contributions by Black people should be recognized similarly to their White peers. “And so, it spilled over into the Black community and to the Black people. And even Black people back in the day calling each other Black was a sign for a fight.” He concluded: “I resent being called African American because Black people have contributed so much to the development of the United States of America. The wonderful Black American, who served in the armed forces and gave their lives in all the wars. “They did not do that for Timbuktu or Capetown, or Kenya. They did that for Louisiana and Mississippi and Texas and Virginia. Okay? So that’s how I feel about it.”
B4
FORUM
MARCH 16-22, 2022
Race, democracy, and Ukraine (TriceEdneyWire.com)—Just when you say it can’t get any worse, it gets worse. After two years, we are still in the midst of a deadly pandemic resulting in the loss of over 900,000 American lives. Last year, we witnessed our fellow Americans attack the U.S. Capitol to overturn a presidential election. Now, due to Russia’s premeditated and unprovoked attack on its sovereign neighbor, the world is watching as war crimes are being carried out daily against innocent civilians. Russia’s unjust invasion of Ukraine is constantly compared to Adolf Hitler’s 1939 invasion of Poland. Governments have ways of shifting over time. In the past, two neighboring countries (Poland and Ukraine) were both ruled by Communist governments. Today, those governments are free democracies. Democracy in and of itself is not a flawed system of government, but many individuals who hold positions of authority within a democracy can be morally deficient. The principles of democracy can be weakened—internally and externally—at the hands of people with little or no respect for the rule of law, fair elections, or humanity. As a result, innocent people needlessly suffer or die with no just cause. As refugees seek to leave Ukraine for safety, we are again reminded that the suffering met by people of color is often compounded in any negative situation. It’s a sad but proven truth. Many international students wanting to study medicine were drawn to Ukraine because of its strong reputation for medical schools. Now those same Indian and African nationals living in Ukraine are reporting discrimination and hostility while attempting to flee the country. As they reach the Polish-Ukrainian border, they are being turned away and not allowed to cross. Even during this vast humanitarian crisis, the color of a person’s skin remains a disqualifying criterion, which, in this case, puts human lives further at risk and in danger. While democracy is a form of unity, unity includes fundamental rules of empathy and compassion where “no one gets left behind.” Ukraine, like America, has its areas of moral strength and those of
David W. Marshall
Commentary moral weakness. But democracy requires moral leadership. Everyone who holds a leadership position is not a leader. Leaders who cannot inspire others often resort to manipulation. Whenever you manipulate and intimidate people, you are no longer a true leader—you have become a dictator. Vladimir Putin is a dictator who hates democracy. He also hates NATO because it represents a coalition of nations standing on the concept of freedom and unity. Unfortunately, there are those in America who are attracted to the authoritarian character of dictators. For that reason, we are seeing a growing number of pro-Russia Americans at levels never seen before. It symbolizes part of a global cultural war where many far-right extremists accept Russia as the last bastion of White purity. This is an image Moscow has deliberately shaped through its propaganda. And while others still have their guard up toward Russia and Putin, they too are drawn to the authoritarian manner by which bullies maintain political power, wealth, and control even at the detriment of American democracy. As Poland and Ukraine went from being an authoritarian government to a free democracy, America appears to be doing the opposite. The United States is still a nation of laws, and no one, not even elected presidents, is above the law. Democracy’s rule of law is seriously being threatened when Republican lawmakers warn that any Department of Justice prosecution of former President Trump will turn into a political war and be seen as politically motivated. Republicans have also warned that any federal prosecution of Trump would likely be answered by congressional investigations of Biden and his son, Hunter if Republicans take over the House and possibly the Senate in the 2022 midterm elections. This is what a democracy headed toward a form of dictatorship looks like. Political bullying and intimidation while disregarding facts and legal evidence is what authoritarian rulers and their followers do. It takes a certain measure of courage to confront domestic and foreign authoritarianism. By no means is the president of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, a coward when it comes to putting his life on the line when fighting strong for democracy and standing up against attacks and intimidation. Will Republican and Democratic officeholders exhibit the same type of courage in defending the rule of law, or will they fold under pressure from bullies? Will Republican and Democratic voters who claim to be American patriots speak out and demand accountability for the Jan. 6 insurrection by having the same courage as Russian citizens who publicly speak out against Putin concerning an unjust war? Democracy also requires its leaders and citizens to be conscience-driven. In one week, the Ukrainian president survived three assassination attempts due to anti-war intelligence officers in Russia’s Federal Security Services giving Ukrainian forces tips that saved the president’s life. These Russian officers were conscience-driven individuals. Many people who worked in Trump’s administration and campaign are like those Russian officers. They have first-hand knowledge of both the past and future intentions. Can America depend on just a few of them to be conscience-driven public servants who will step up and stop the coming political madness? (David W. Marshall is the founder of the faith-based organization TRB: The Reconciled Body and author of the book God Bless Our Divided America. He can be reached at www.davidwmarshallauthor.com.)
NEW PITTSBURGH COURIER
Teenage assassins, rehabilitation, and the illusion of free will Free will versus determinism is an old debate. Believers in free will assert individuals are not constrained by fate and have the power to choose between alternative decisions and actions. Determinists insist free will is an illusion because all decisions and actions are predetermined by an unbroken chain of prior events leaving individuals with no choice in the matter. So far, the debate has had no victor, compromisers claim they’re compatible, but there’s a more practical question concerning free will and determinism that’s hardly discussed. Which concept has more utility in a free society? Free will’s fundamental claim is that individuals are morally responsible for their actions and must be held accountable for any wrongdoing. Determinism draws the opposite conclusion making individuals unaccountable for their predetermined misdeeds. Here’s an example to explore which has more utility. Two months ago, in Chicago, eightyear-old Melissa Ortega was fatally shot in the head after a teenager got out of a parked car and shot multiple times at a rival gang member. The shooter hopped back into the car and the driver fled. Later on, 16-year-old Emilio Corripio and 27-year-old Xavier Guzman were apprehended by authorities. Carripio, the accused shooter, was charged as an adult with first-degree murder, attempted first-degree murder, and two felony counts of aggravated discharge of a firearm. Guzman, the accused getaway driver, was charged with first-degree murder and attempted first-degree murder. CBS investigators discovered Carripio
J. Pharoah Doss
Check It Out committed three aggravated car jackings the prior year and was on “intensive probation”. Carripio is also affiliated with the notorious Latin Kings. This is a highly-structured criminal organization with over 20,000 members in Chicago. Nationwide, the Latin Kings total 50,000 in 120 cities. Aspiring members join the gang through violent initiation rites. Some take a severe beating from experienced gang members, but more advanced aspirants are sent to assault, rob, or kill rival gang members. Cook County State’s Attorney Kim Foxx stated Melissa was an American dream that was taken away from us for merely walking down the street with her mother. Then she vowed to make sure the shooter was held accountable for his conscious decision to pull the trigger. However, when Chief Cook County Judge Timothy C. Evans was asked about the shooting of 8-year-old Ortega and the adult charges for 16-year-old Carripio, he told the reporters that judges should be seeking to rehabilitate offenders rather than punish them. Then Evans reinforced his statement with science. He explained a teenager’s pre-frontal cortex was not fully developed. That part of the brain isn’t fully developed until the age of 25. Evans said, “This
kid is 16. There’s no way that he would have the prefrontal cortex already developed. So, while I can’t talk about that particular case, I’m just talking about the typical 16-year-old, he doesn’t have that part of the brain developed that makes it possible for him to distinguish between the right thing to do and the wrong thing to do.” Reasonable people respect the judge’s commitment to prioritize rehabilitation over punishment for juvenile offenders and are sympathetic to the judge’s reservations about charging juveniles as adults, but reasonable people find it hard to believe that teenagers can’t distinguish between right and wrong due to an underdeveloped pre-frontal cortex. Activists that want prisons abolished applaud reasoning that removes moral accountability from the offender. These activists believe it’s morally irresponsible for the criminal justice system to punish individuals, especially adolescents of color, who are predetermined for deviance due to poverty, poor schools, and limited economic opportunities. Let’s suppose prisons were abolished, punishment for crimes outlawed, and the sole purpose of the criminal justice system was to rehabilitate offenders. If determinism is correct, then nothing will be accomplished. Determinism renders rehabilitation impossible because it can’t be initiated. Rehabilitation starts with the offender accepting responsibility for their actions, becoming morally accountable, and making a conscious choice to change. Even if free will is an illusion, the utility of the illusion will remain paramount for the criminal justice system, not just for adult moral accountability but for the rehabilitation of juveniles.
The cautionary warnings remain in the Jussie Smollett case Cook County Attorney Kim Foxx got it right and wrong. She blasted the Jussie Smollett prosecution for wasting tens of thousands of taxpayer dollars on what by any legal standard was a relatively trivial case. She lambasted vindictive police and prosecutors for their relentless and non-stop determination to nail Smollett no matter what. There’s truth to this. There’s also truth to her charge that dozens of Blacks have been gunned down in Chicago’s decade long murder violence spree with nothing like the time and effort expended to put their killers behind bars as was the case with Smollett. This is a finger-point at the galling racial double standard that Black lives are cheap especially when the killers are other Blacks. But when a Black offender commits a crime in which there is even the faintest hint that it challenges or embarrasses the White criminal justice system then no time effort or expense is too much to slap a lengthy sentence on the Black violator. Foxx, though, got it wrong in her implication that Smollett’s case has little real meaning in the larger legal and social scheme of things. I warned from the moment Smollett made the claim of being the victim of a hate crime that it was almost certainly a hoax. The circumstances just sounded phony as heck. Did he do it for publicity, because of some crying need for attention, or some unfathomable mental insecurity? We’ll probably never know. In any case, he should have been prosecuted for perpetuating a hoax, convicted, and quickly sentenced. That should have been the end of that. Smollett in a perverse sort of way seemed to hint at the clear racial implications of the case when he warned that he might be a target once behind bars. This is yet another reminder, true or
Earl Ofari Hutchinson
Commentary not, that police, prosecutors, and maybe his jailers, won’t likely forget his unpardonable transgression. There’s the larger problem, though. That’s also buried in Foxx’s charge and compounded by Smollett’s claim of a racist attack. Put simply, that’s the danger of crying racism, when there is none, and the devastating continuing consequences of that. I posted this Facebook warning immediately after the alleged attack, “be careful on this.” The responses were swift and brutal. But they boiled down to- “How dare you question that Smollett was anything other than a Black viciously assaulted by venomous Trump goaded racists?” Anything less than outrage at homophobic, Black hating Trumpites was nothing short of racial heresy and spewing right-wing Fox News talking points. The counterattack made some sense at the time. Smollett was young, Black, male, and gay. These are prime attributes that seemingly made him a prime target. He also had an activist track record backing the parents of Trayvon Martin in their quest for justice in the murder of Trayvon. What didn’t make sense were the holes in his story. And what made even less sense was the history and danger of a knee jerk scream of racism in cases such as this. That history goes like this. A celebrated Black entertainer, athlete, or official comes under withering fire for getting caught in a personal and or criminal in-
discretion, wrongdoing, or malfeasance, and they scream race. Even Bill Cosby flipped the race card when he pleaded for the Black media to remain “neutral” in the mounting furor and outrage over his alleged rapes of multiple women. Cosby quickly walked down this tired, well-worn path for a good reason; in fact, several good reasons and none of them were any good. Others have done it before him. The litany of names from O.J. Simpson to Tiger Woods to Clarence Thomas is well known. They all had some things in common. They were wildly lionized as pillars of society. They said or did little or nothing about racial issues. But they knew that by screaming that they were victims of a long-standing diabolical plot to demean, malign, pillory, and dehumanize Black men, especially wealthy, prominent Black icons, they could get a ready, sympathetic ear, and even circle the wagons push back by many African Americans. The great damage done has nothing to do with the proverbial crying wolf. It has everything to do with taking the legitimate sting, public outrage, and action that real, not invented, racial acts stir. Manufacturing a racial assault, which almost always is sooner than later uncovered, does in fact give aid and comfort to the Fox News talking heads and the right that delight in finger pointing Blacks for eternally screaming race about everything. At the very least it’s silly and counterproductive. Smollett got the sentence and the punishment he deserved. Foxx got part of it right about the outsized effort to see that he did. But neither changes the fact that racist acts do happen and Smollett notwithstanding they can’t or shouldn’t be minimized. (Earl Ofari Hutchinson is an author and political analyst.)
How do we define Black leaders? It is often amazing and at times confusing the frequency that the term Black leader is used to describe a certain person, male and female. This week’s column asks which one are you acquainted with, or which one are YOU? There are five classifications below: 1. Individual Accomplishments: If you, your parents or others who made sacrifices that were necessary for you to prepare yourself for the future. You paid attention in high school, graduated from college, earned a BA, MS, PhD and now you are employed by a major corporation. Eventually you are moved up the ladder of success and hopefully you can ensure that other Blacks are afforded the same opportunities. You have now moved up that proverbial ladder of success that that has eluded most Blacks, such as owner of ma-
Louis ‘Hop’ Kendrick
To Tell The Truth jor corporations, inclusive of chemical plants, National Football League, National Baseball Association, and National Basketball Association franchises. 2. Gifted Orators: There are those who are born gifted orators and can spellbind people. Some who attend seminaries and become ministers can mesmerize others with the bible. In my personal life I have witnessed persons educated in the finest ed-
ucational institutions in the world spellbind people with their verbal messages, but I have also witnessed persons with limited formal education be just as spell binding and speak without any prepared speech. 3. Persons appointed through the political parties: Those who have no individual power but are mouth pieces for their bosses. These individuals are not reluctant to echo that they are servants of the party, and not servants to the people who elected them. 4. Organizations funded by the establishment: It is almost totally impossible to complete the kind of positive changes that are mandatory because those who pay the piper can call the tune. 5. Anointment by the media: The selective coverage of print, radio and television.
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NOTICE OF FINDING OF NO SIGNFICANT IMPACT AND NOTICE OF INTENT TO REQUEST RELEASE OF FUNDS MARCH 16, 2022 City of Pittsburgh – Office of Management and Budget 414 Grant Street Room 501 Pittsburgh, PA 15219 412-255-2211 This notice shall satisfy two separate but related procedural requirements for activities to be undertaken by the City of Pittsburgh.
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REQUEST FOR RELEASE OF FUNDS (1) – MTW, SECTION 8 PBV, CDBG, HOME, & ARPA PROJECT On or about Monday, April 4, 2022, the City of Pittsburgh will submit a request to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to release Federal funds under Title 1 of the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974 as amended for the real estate project described below. Gladstone Residences consists of the rehabilitation of the former Gladstone School, located at 327 Hazelwood Ave. in the Hazelwood neighborhood of the City of Pittsburgh, and the creation of fifty-one (51) apartment units. Through the completion of this rehab, there will be six (6) units affordable at or below 20% Area Median Income (AMI), one (1) unit at or below 30% AMI, twenty (20) units at or below 50% AMI, sixteen (16) units at or below 60% AMI, and eight (8) market rate units. Hazelwood Initiative and The Community Builders, Inc. are co-developers of the project. Funding sources include a $1,200,000 first mortgage PHARE loan from Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency (PHFA), an anticipated $2,406,887 second mortgage Construction Cost Relief Program (CCRP) loan from PHFA, a $1,000,000 third mortgage gap financing loan from the Housing Authority of the City of Pittsburgh, a $3,715,000 fourth mortgage Rental Gap Program (RGP) loan from the Urban Redevelopment Authority of Pittsburgh (URA), $11,498,950 in Low Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) equity, $3,340,440 in Federal Historic Tax Credit equity, $279,721 in developer equity, $375,000 in deferred developer fee, $150,000 in seller financing, and $9,534 in anticipated energy rebates. The URA’s RGP loan will be sourced with $664,286 in Housing Opportunity Fund 2020 funds as well as federal funding, including $91,077 in HOME 2019, $344,637 in HOME 2020, $150,000 in CDBG 2020, $465,000 in CDBG 2021, and up to $2,000,000 in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds. HACP’s $1,000,000 gap financing loan will be sourced with Moving to Work (MTW) funds under the 1937 Act as modified by the 1996 and 1999 Consolidated Appropriations Act in addition to providing twenty (20) Section 8 Project Based Vouchers (PBV) as part of the Section 8 PBV program under the Quality Housing and Work Responsibility Act of 1998 as modified by the Housing Opportunity Through Modernization Act of 2016 to support the units’ affordability. The total estimated cost of the development is $23,975,532. FINDING OF NO SIGNIFICANT IMPACT (2) – MTW, SECTION 8 PBV, CDBG, HOME, & ARPA PROJECT The City of Pittsburgh has determined that the project will have no significant impact on the human environment. Therefore, an Environmental Impact Statement under the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA) is not required. Additional project information is contained in the Environmental Review Record (ERR). The ERR will be made available to the public for review either electronically or by U.S. mail. Please submit your request by U.S. mail to City of Pittsburgh, Office of Management and Budget, 414 Grant St, City County Building Room 501, Pittsburgh, Pa 15219 or by email to Whitney.Finnstrom@pittsburghpa.gov. PUBLIC COMMENTS Any individual, group, or agency may submit written comments on the ERR to: Whitney Finnstrom City of Pittsburgh, 414 Grant Street, Room 501 Pittsburgh, PA 15219 (412) 255-2211 OR Whitney.Finnstrom@pittsburghpa.gov All comments received by Sunday, April 3, 2022 will be considered by the City of Pittsburgh prior to authorizing submission of a request for release of funds. Comments should specify which Notice (Request for Release of Funds 1 or Finding of No Significant Impact 2) they are addressing. ENVIRONMENTAL CERTIFICATION The City of Pittsburgh certifies to HUD that Ed Gainey in his capacity as Mayor, City of Pittsburgh, consents to accept the jurisdiction of the Federal Courts if an action is brought to enforce responsibilities in relation to the environmental review process and that these responsibilities have been satisfied. HUD’s approval of the certification satisfies its responsibilities under NEPA and related laws and authorities and allows the Urban Redevelopment Authority of Pittsburgh and the Housing Authority of the City of Pittsburgh to use development funds. OBJECTIONS TO RELEASE OF FUNDS HUD will accept objections to its release of funds and the City of Pittsburgh certification for a period of fifteen (15) days following the anticipated submission date or its actual receipt of the request (whichever is later) only if they are on one of the following bases: (a) the certification was not executed by the Certifying Officer of the City of Pittsburgh; (b) the City of Pittsburgh has omitted a step or failed to make a decision or finding required by HUD regulations at 24 CFR part 58; (c) the grant recipient or other participants in the development process have committed funds, incurred costs or undertaken activities not authorized by 24 CFR Part 58 before approval of a release of funds by HUD; or (d) another Federal agency acting pursuant to 40 CFR Part 1504 has submitted a written finding that the project is unsatisfactory from the standpoint of environmental quality. Objections must be prepared and submitted via email in accordance with the required procedures (24 CFR Part 58, Sec. 58.76) and shall be addressed to the HUD Field Office of Public Housing in Pittsburgh at PittsburghPIH.ER@hud.gov. Potential objectors should contact the HUD Field Office of Public Housing in Pittsburgh via email to verify the actual last day of the objection period. Ed Gainey Mayor City of Pittsburgh CLASSIFIEDS GET RESULTS!
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NOTICE OF CONDEMNATION IN THE COURT OF COMMON PLEAS OF ALLEGHENY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA IN RE: THE CONDEMNATION BY THE COUNTY OF ALLEGHENY OF A CERTAIN PARCEL OF LAND LOCATED IN RESERVE TOWHSHIP AND THE CITY OF PITTSBURGH, ALLEGHENY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA OWNED BY DAVID R. GRABOWSKI AND JOSEPH W. GRABOWSKI REQUIRED TO REMEDIATE A PORTION OF MOUNT TROY ROAD (COUNTY ROAD NO. 2312-0206) CASE NO: GD 22-002472 Estimated Just Compensation: $400.00 TO: DAVID R. GRABOWSKI AND JOSEPH W. GRABOWSKI TAKE NOTICE that a Declaration of Taking was filed on March 7, 2022 at the above referenced docket number. Name of Condemnee: DAVID R. GRABOWSKI AND JOSEPH W. GRABOWSKI Name & Address of Condemnor: Allegheny County, (“County”) 101 Courthouse, 436 Grant St., Pittsburgh, PA 15219. Authorizing Statute(s). Article IV, §§2 and 6 of the Allegheny County Home Rule Charter, Article VII, §§701.02 and 703.07 of the Allegheny County Administrative Code and the Act of 1953 July 28, P.L. 723, Art. XXVI, §5601, et seq. Authorizing Ordinance. Ordinance No. 04-22-OR, enacted February 8, 2022. The ordinance may be examined at the offices of Condemnor, noted above. Condemnation Description. The purpose of this condemnation is to acquire certain property, designated in the Allegheny County Department of Real Estate as 78-L-115, 78-L-150, 78-L-190, 78-L-197, 78-L-212 and 78R-34, needed to remediate a portion of the Mount Troy Road (County Road No. 2312-0206) in Reserve Township and the City of Pittsburgh, Allegheny County, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Statement of Condemnation. Condemnee’s property identified on the Viewers’ Plan marked as Exhibit B to the Declaration of Taking, attached hereof, has been condemned as of March 7, 2022. The title acquired by the County is a fee simple interest, including all interests of every record owner thereof or any party claiming an interest therein, in the area labeled “Required Right-of Way”, and a temporary easement interest in the area labeled “Temporary Construction Easement” on Exhibit B. Plans showing the property condemned may be inspected in Condemnor’s offices noted above and are also lodged of record in the Allegheny County Department of Real Estate, at State Highway Plan Volume 186, Page 63. Just compensation for the condemnation is secured by the County’s power of taxation, which is deemed pledged as security for the payment of damages as, shall be determined by law. Challenging the Condemnation. If Condemnee wishes to challenge the power or the right of County to appropriate the condemned property, the sufficiency of the security, the procedures followed by County or the Declaration of Taking, the Condemnee must file preliminary objections within 30 days after being served with Notice of Condemnation. Howard M. Louik Attorney for Condemnor NOTICE OF CONDEMNATION IN THE COURT OF COMMON PLEAS OF ALLEGHENY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA IN RE: THE CONDEMNATION BY THE COUNTY OF ALLEGHENY OF A CERTAIN PARCEL OF LAND LOCATED IN RESERVE TOWHSHIP AND THE CITY OF PITTSBURGH, ALLEGHENY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA OWNED BY THE HEIRS OF CHARLES BECKERT TO REMEDIATE A PORTION OF MOUNT TROY ROAD (COUNTY ROAD NO. 2312-0206) CASE NO: GD 22-002480 Estimated Just Compensation: $400.00 TO: THE HEIRS OF CHARLES BECKERT TAKE NOTICE that a Declaration of Taking was filed on March 7, 2022 at the above referenced docket number. Name of Condemnee: HEIRS OF CHARLES BECKERT Name & Address of Condemnor: Allegheny County, (“County”) 101 Courthouse, 436 Grant St., Pittsburgh, PA 15219. Authorizing Statute(s). Article IV, §§2 and 6 of the Allegheny County Home Rule Charter, Article VII, §§701.02 and 703.07 of the Allegheny County Administrative Code and the Act of 1953 July 28, P.L. 723, Art. XXVI, §5601, et seq. Authorizing Ordinance. Ordinance No. 04-22-OR, enacted February 8, 2022. The ordinance may be examined at the offices of Condemnor, noted above. Condemnation Description. The purpose of this condemnation is to acquire certain property, designated in the Allegheny County Department of Real Estate as 78-L-330 and 78-S-220 needed to remediate a portion of the Mount Troy Road (County Road No. 2312-0206) in Reserve Township and the City of Pittsburgh, Allegheny County, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Statement of Condemnation. Condemnee’s property identified on the Viewers’ Plan marked as Exhibit B to the Declaration of Taking, attached hereof, has been condemned as of March 7, 2022. The title acquired by the County is a fee simple interest, including all interests of every record owner thereof or any party claiming an interest therein, in the area in the area labeled “Required Right-of Way”, a permanent easement in the area labeled “Drainage Easement”, and a temporary easement interest in the area labeled “Temporary Construction Easement” on Exhibit B. Plans showing the property condemned may be inspected in Condemnor’s offices noted above and are also lodged of record in the Allegheny County Department of Real Estate, at State Highway Plan Volume 186, Page 63. Just compensation for the condemnation is secured by the County’s power of taxation, which is deemed pledged as security for the payment of damages as, shall be determined by law. Challenging the Condemnation. If Condemnee wishes to challenge the power or the right of County to appropriate the condemned property, the sufficiency of the security, the procedures followed by County or the Declaration of Taking, the Condemnee must file preliminary objections within 30 days after being served with Notice of Condemnation. Howard M. Louik Attorney for Condemnor RAD BOARD NOMINATIONS SOUGHT Regional economic and community development organizations are invited to nominate persons to serve for a two-year term on the Board of the Allegheny Regional Asset District. Certain eligibility requirements must be met. For information contact the District at 412-227-1900 or info@radworkshere.org. Nominations are due by April 20, 2022. CLASSIFIEDS GET RESULTS!
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ROCHESTER AREA SCHOOL DISTRICT ATTENTION: FOOD SERVICE MANAGEMENT COMPANIES (FSMCS) The Rochester Area School District, a sponsor of the National School Lunch Program, is requesting proposals for full-service food service management services. Specifications may be obtained from Kathleen Onuska, Business Manager, onuskak@rasd.org or 724-775-7500 ext. 1813. A mandatory walk-through meeting is scheduled for March 25, 2022 at 3:00 p.m. at Rochester Area School District, Board Room, 540 Reno Street, Rochester, PA 15074. OFFICIAL ADVERTISEMENT THE BOARD OF PUBLIC EDUCATION OF THE SCHOOL DISTRICT OF PITTSBURGH Sealed proposals shall be deposited at the Administration Building, Bellefield Entrance Lobby, 341 South Bellefield Avenue, Pittsburgh, Pa., 15213, on March 29, 2022, until 2:00 P.M., local prevailing time for: Various Schools and Buildings HVAC Systems & Building Automation Controls Mechanical Prime Project Manual and Drawings will be available for purchase on March 11, 2022, at Modern Reproductions (412488-7700), 127 McKean Street, Pittsburgh, Pa., 15219 between 9:00 A.M. and 4:00 P.M. The cost of the Project Manual Documents is non-refundable. Project details and dates are described in each project manual. NOTICE TO BIDDERS GRAND VIEW SENIOR RESIDENCES – 50 UNIT APARTMENT BUILDING IRWIN BOROUGH – WESTMORELAND COUNTY INVITATION FOR BIDS · MECHANICAL CONSTRUCTION CONTRACT – PA 18-2022.1 MC · ELECTRICAL CONSTRUCTION CONTRACT – PA 18-2022.2 EC · PLUMBING & FIRE PROTECTION – CONTRACT – PA 18-2022.3 PC GRAND VIEW SENIOR L.P. is requesting Construction (MEP) bids for the referenced project through sealed bids which will be received by the Westmoreland County Housing Authority, until April 22, 2022 at 10:00 A.M. (eastern standard time). Mandatory Pre-Bid Meeting is scheduled for March 21, 2022 at 1:30 P.M. (eastern standard time) at WCHA – Warehouse Building located at 154 South Greengate Road, Greensburg PA. 15601. Electronic Bid Documents are available for downloading at www.wchaonline.com (Procurement Module). Bidders are required to register online at the www.wchaonline.com to view bid documents. Michael L. Washowich President
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NOTICE OF CONDEMNATION IN THE COURT OF COMMON PLEAS OF ALLEGHENY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA IN RE: THE CONDEMNATION BY THE COUNTY OF ALLEGHENY OF A CERTAIN PARCEL OF LAND LOCATED IN PLUM BOROUGH, ALLEGHENY COUNTY AND UPPER BURRELL TOWNSHIP, WESTMORELAND COUNTY OWNED BY THE JESUS APOSTOLIC CHURCH REQUIRED TO REPLACE THE SUPERSTRUCTURE OF PUCKETA CREEK BRIDGE NO. 5 (INTER-COUNTY) AT BOOKER STREET CASE NO: GD 22-2610 Estimated Just Compensation: $500.00 TO: JESUS APOSTOLIC CHURCH TAKE NOTICE that a Declaration of Taking was filed March 9, 2022 at the above referenced docket number. Name of Condemnee: JESUS APOSTOLIC CHURCH Name & Address of Condemnor: Allegheny County, (“County”) 101 Courthouse, 436 Grant St., Pittsburgh, PA 15219. Authorizing Statute(s). Article IV, §§2 and 6 of the Allegheny County Home Rule Charter, Article VII, §§701.02 and 703.07 of the Allegheny County Administrative Code and the Act of 1953 July 28, P.L. 723, Art. XXVI, §5601, et seq. Authorizing Ordinance. Ordinance No. 03-21-OR, enacted April 13, 2021. The ordinance may be examined at the offices of Condemnor, noted above. Condemnation Description. The purpose of this condemnation is to acquire certain property, designated in the Westmoreland County Department of Real Estate as 62-07-03-0-004, needed for the replacement of the superstructure of Pucketa Creek Bridge No. 5 (Inter-County) at Booker Street, Plum Borough, Allegheny County, Upper Burrell Township, Westmoreland County, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Statement of Condemnation. Condemnee’s property identified on the Viewer’s Plan marked as Exhibit B to the Declaration of Taking, attached hereof, has been condemned as of March 9, 2022. The title acquired by the County is a fee simple interest, including all interests of every record owner thereof or any party claiming an interest therein, in the area labeled “Required Right-of Way” and an easement interest in the area labeled “Temporary Construction Easement” on Exhibit B. Plans showing the property condemned may be inspected in Condemnor’s offices noted above and are also lodged of record in the Allegheny County Department of Real Estate, at State Highway Plan Volume 186, Page 63. Just compensation for the condemnation is secured by the County’s power of taxation, which is deemed pledged as security for the payment of damages as, shall be determined by law. Challenging the Condemnation. If Condemnee wishes to challenge the power or the right of County to appropriate the condemned property, the sufficiency of the security, the procedures followed by County or the Declaration of Taking, the Condemnee must file preliminary objections within 30 days after being served with Notice of Condemnation. Howard M. Louik Attorney for Condemnor NOTICE OF CONDEMNATION IN THE COURT OF COMMON PLEAS OF ALLEGHENY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA IN RE: THE CONDEMNATION BY THE COUNTY OF ALLEGHENY OF A CERTAIN PARCEL OF LAND LOCATED IN EAST DEER TOWNSHIP, ALLEGHENY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA OWNED BY ROSE OLEAN, REQUIRED FOR REPLACING A CULVERT LOCATED ON CRAWFORD RUN ROAD (COUNTY ROAD NO. 3092-02) CASE NO: GD 22-002491 Estimated Just Compensation: $500.00 TO: ROSE OLEAN TAKE NOTICE that a Declaration of Taking was filed on March 7, 2022 at the above referenced docket number. Name of Condemnee: ROSE OLEAN Name & Address of Condemnor: Allegheny County, (“County”) 101 Courthouse, 436 Grant St., Pittsburgh, PA 15219. Authorizing Statute(s). Article IV, §§2 and 6 of the Allegheny County Home Rule Charter, Article VII, §§701.02 and 703.07 of the Allegheny County Administrative Code and the Act of 1953 July 28, P.L. 723, Art. XXVI, §5601, et seq. Authorizing Ordinance. Ordinance No. 04-22-OR, enacted February 10, 2022. The ordinance may be examined at the offices of Condemnor, noted above. Condemnation Description. The purpose of this condemnation is to acquire certain property, designated in the Allegheny County Department of Real Estate as portions of tax parcels 959-C-84 and 959-C-88, needed to replace a culvert located on Crawford Run Road (County Road No. 3092-02) in East Deer Township, Allegheny County, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Statement of Condemnation. Condemnee’s property identified on the Viewers’ Plan marked as Exhibit B to the Declaration of Taking, attached hereof, has been condemned as of March 7, 2022. The title acquired by the County is a fee simple interest, including all interests of every record owner thereof or any party claiming an interest therein, in the area labeled “Required Right-of Way”, and a temporary easement interest in the area labeled “Temporary Construction Easement” on Exhibit B. Plans showing the property condemned may be inspected in Condemnor’s offices noted above and are also lodged of record in the Allegheny County Department of Real Estate, at State Highway Plan Volume 186, Page 70. Just compensation for the condemnation is secured by the County’s power of taxation, which is deemed pledged as security for the payment of damages as, shall be determined by law. Challenging the Condemnation. If Condemnee wishes to challenge the power or the right of County to appropriate the condemned property, the sufficiency of the security, the procedures followed by County or the Declaration of Taking, the Condemnee must file preliminary objections within 30 days after being served with Notice of Condemnation. Howard M. Louik Attorney for Condemnor LEGAL ADVERTISING
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DOCUMENT 00030-AA ADVERTISEMENT ANNOUNCEMENT ALLEGHENY COUNTY AIRPORT AUTHORITY PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA The Allegheny County Airport Authority will be receiving scanned PDF proposals through Submittable, and a submission link will be sent to each registered plan holder. Submissions are to be submitted via Submittable by 1:00 p.m. prevailing local time on April 13, 2022, and bids will be opened by the Airport Authority and results will be emailed by end of business day of bid opening for the following project: ALLEGHENY COUNTY AIRPORT AUTHORITY PROJECT NUMBER 53G1-22 (GENERAL) PROJECT NUMBER 53E1-22 (ELECTRICAL) PROJECT NUMBER 53P/FP1-22 (PLUMBING/FIRE PROTECTION) PROJECT NUMBER 53M1-22 (MECHANICAL) CHILD CARE FACILITY AT PITTSBURGH INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT A pre-bid conference will be held at 9:30 a.m., on March 21, 2022 in Conference Room C at Pittsburgh International Airport Landside Terminal, 4th Floor Mezz, Pittsburgh, PA 15231. Attention is called to the fact that not less than the minimum salaries and wages, as determined by the Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry, must be paid on these projects. Proposals must be made on the Authority’s form and in accordance with the Plans and Specifications and the “Instructions to Bidders”’. The non-refundable charge of $150.00 for the Bid Documents and the Plans, and Specifications through the bidding platform Submittable at https://acaacapitalprograms.submittable.com. Please note that Submittable does not support Internet Explorer 11. Submittable recommends the following browsers: Microsoft Edge, Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, or Apple Safari. This project has DBE participation goals; DBE firms must be certified with the Pennsylvania Unified Certification Program) (PA UCP). Firms must be certified prior to award of contract. A searchable database of DBE firms can be found on the PA UCP web site: https://paucp.dbesystem.com/ The Airport Authority reserves the right to reject any and all bids or waive any informalities in the bidding. No bidder may withdraw his bid for a period of sixty [60] days after the scheduled closing time for receipt of bids. To view a complete advertisement, which is also included in the bidding documents visit www.flypittsburgh.com – ACAA Corporate – Business Opportunities or call 412-472-3677 or 412-472-5578. ALLEGHENY COUNTY AIRPORT AUTHORITY
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LEGAL ADVERTISING
LEGAL ADVERTISING
Bids/Proposals
Bids/Proposals
Bids/Proposals
PORT AUTHORITY OF ALLEGHENY COUNTY Electronic Proposals will be received online at the Port Authority of Allegheny County’s Ebusiness website (http://ebusiness.portauthority.org). Proposals/bid submittals will be due 11:00 AM on April 8, 2022 and will be read at 11:15 AM., the same day, at Port Authority’s Heinz location (345 Sixth Avenue, Third Floor, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15222-2527) as well as through your web browser via Microsoft Teams video conferencing, for the following: Electronic Proposal - Ebusiness website (http://ebusiness.portauthority.org) 1
Bid Number
Bid Name
B220325A
HVAC On-Call Services
To join by Microsoft Team video conference: https://bit.ly/3Cq9nAY To join by Microsoft Teams call-in number: 412-927-0245 United State, Pittsburgh (Toll) Conference ID: 621 202 466# No bidder may withdraw a submitted Proposal for a period of 75 days after the scheduled time for opening of the sealed bids. A Pre-Bid Conference will be held via tele-conference on each of the above items at 10:00 am March 22, 2022, as well as through your web browser via Microsoft Teams video conference. To join by Microsoft Team video conference: · https://bit.ly/3IHP83U To join by Microsoft Teams call-in number: · 412-927-0245 United State, Pittsburgh (Toll) · Conference ID: 298 931 576# Attendance at this meeting is not mandatory, but is strongly encouraged. Questions regarding any of the above bids will not be entertained by the Port Authority within five (5) business days of the scheduled bid opening. These contracts may be subject to a financial assistance contract between Port Authority of Allegheny County and the United States Department of Transportation. The Contractor will be required to comply with all applicable Equal Employment Opportunity laws and regulations. Contractor is responsible for expenses related to acquiring a performance bond and insurance where applicable. All items are to be FOB delivered unless otherwise specified. Costs for delivery, bond, and insurance shall be included in bidder’s proposal pricing. Port Authority of Allegheny County hereby notifies all bidders that it will affirmatively insure that in regard to any contract entered into pursuant to this advertisement, disadvantaged business enterprise will be afforded full opportunity to submit bids in response to this invitation and will not be discriminated against on the grounds of race, color, or national origin in consideration for an award. The Board of Port Authority reserves the right to reject any or all bids. PORT AUTHORITY OF ALLEGHENY COUNTY Electronic Proposals will be received online at the Port Authority of Allegheny County’s Ebusiness website (http://ebusiness.portauthority.org). Proposals/bid submittals will be due 11:00 AM on April 7, 2022 and will be read at 11:15 AM., the same day, at Port Authority’s Heinz location (345 Sixth Avenue, Third Floor, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15222-2527) as well as through your web browser via Microsoft Teams video conferencing, for the following: Electronic Proposal - Ebusiness website (http://ebusiness.portauthority.org) Bid Number
Bid Name
1
B220102AR
Coach Radiator Assemblies
2
B220323A
CRP - Air Conditioning
3
B220324A
CRP - Suspension
To join by Microsoft Team video conference: https://bit.ly/36ZUAkR To join by Microsoft Teams call-in number: 412-927-0245 United State, Pittsburgh (Toll) Conference ID: 482 503 092# No bidder may withdraw a submitted Proposal for a period of 75 days after the scheduled time for opening of the sealed bids. A Pre-Bid Conference will be held via tele-conference on each of the above items at 10:00 am March 22, 2022, as well as through your web browser via Microsoft Teams video conference. To join by Microsoft Team video conference: · https://bit.ly/3IHP83U To join by Microsoft Teams call-in number: · 412-927-0245 United State, Pittsburgh (Toll) · Conference ID: 298 931 576# Attendance at this meeting is not mandatory, but is strongly encouraged. Questions regarding any of the above bids will not be entertained by the Port Authority within five (5) business days of the scheduled bid opening. These contracts may be subject to a financial assistance contract between Port Authority of Allegheny County and the United States Department of Transportation. The Contractor will be required to comply with all applicable Equal Employment Opportunity laws and regulations. Contractor is responsible for expenses related to acquiring a performance bond and insurance where applicable. All items are to be FOB delivered unless otherwise specified. Costs for delivery, bond, and insurance shall be included in bidder’s proposal pricing. Port Authority of Allegheny County hereby notifies all bidders that it will affirmatively insure that in regard to any contract entered into pursuant to this advertisement, disadvantaged business enterprise will be afforded full opportunity to submit bids in response to this invitation and will not be discriminated against on the grounds of race, color, or national origin in consideration for an award. The Board of Port Authority reserves the right to reject any or all bids. COURIER CLASSIFIEDS GET RESULTS!
ALLEGHENY COUNTY SANITARY AUTHORITY LEGAL NOTICE CONTRACT NO. 1762 FURNISH AND DELIVER HYDROCHLORIC ACID. The Allegheny County Sanitary Authority is soliciting Bids for CONTRACT NO. 1762 – Furnish and Deliver Hydrochloric Acid. Proposals will be received until 11:00 A.M., Prevailing Time, Thursday, April 7, 2022, at the office of the Authority and then shall be publicly opened and read via Microsoft Teams Meeting. Contact Kathleen P. Uniatowski for Invitation to Bid O p e n i n g Te a m s M e e t i n g a t Kathleen.Uniatowski@alcosan.org . ALCOSAN encourages businesses owned and operated by minorities and women to submit bids on Authority Proposals or to participate as subcontractors or suppliers to the successful bidders. Successful Bidders are to use minority or women’s businesses to the fullest extent possible. Bid Security shall be furnished by providing with the Bid a Certified Check or Bid Bond in the amount of $1,000.00. The Successful Bidder shall be r equir ed t o f ur nish a Performance Bond in the amount of $10,000.00. To Obtain Contract Documents send request to Kathleen P. Uniatowski via email at contract. clerks@alcosan.org . Any questions regarding the Technical Aspects of the Project should be directed to Benjamin J. Heilman, Contract Supervisor at Benjamin.Heilman@alcosan.org or 412-734-6204. The Authority reserves the right to reject any or all Proposals, to waive any informality in any Proposal and to accept any Proposal should it be deemed in the interest of the Authority to do so. ALLEGHENY COUNTY SANITARY AUTHORITY Benjamin J. Heilman Contract Supervisor ALLEGHENY COUNTY SANITARY AUTHORITY LEGAL NOTICE CONTRACT NO. 1756 SHALLOW CUT INTERCEPTOR INSPECTION Sealed Bids for CONTRACT NO. 1756 – Shallow Cut Interceptor Inspection shall be received at the Engineering Department office of the Allegheny County Sanitary Authority, 3300 Preble Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA, 15233, until 11:00 A.M., Prevailing Time, Thursday, April 14, 2022, and then shall be publicly opened and read. A PreBid Meeting will be held via a video conference call on Monday, March 28, 2022 at 10:00 A.M., Prevailing Time. Prospective Bidders attendance is mandatory. ALCOSAN encourages businesses owned and operated by minorities and women to submit bids on Authority Contracts or to participate as subcontractors or suppliers to successful Bidders. Successful Bidders are to use minority and women’s businesses to the fullest extent possible. Contract Documents may be examined and obtained at the Engineering office of the Authority. A non-refundable fee of One hundred dollars ($100) (no cash or credit cards will be accepted) will be charged for each set of Contract Documents received. Bid Security in the amount of Five Thousand Dollars ( $5, 000. 00) is r equir ed. The successful Bidder will be required to furnish a Performance Bond equal to the Bid Price. Contract documents must be purchased directly from ALCOSAN to qualify as an eligible bidder. Any questions regarding the Contract Documents should be directed to Julia Spicher, ALCOSAN, via email to julia.spicher@alcosan.org. Any questions regarding the Purchase of Contract Documents should be directed to Kathleen P. Uniatowski, ALCOSAN, via email to contract. clerks@alcosan.org . The Authority reserves the right to reject any or all bids, to waive any informality in any bid and to accept any bid should it be deemed in the interest of the Authority to do so. ALLEGHENY COUNTY SANITARY AUTHORITY Michael Lichte, P.E. Director of Regional Conveyance CLASSIFIEDS GET RESULTS!
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MARCH 16-22, 2022
LEGAL ADVERTISING
LEGAL ADVERTISING
JOB OPPORTUNITIES
Bids/Proposals
Bids/Proposals
Help Wanted
NOTICE TO BIDDERS The Sports & Exhibition Authority will receive sealed bids for Loading Dock Drain System Replacement as identified below for the David L. Lawrence Convention Center. The contract for this work will be with the Sports & Exhibition Authority of Pittsburgh and Allegheny County. Inquiries regarding the bidding should be made to the Sports & Exhibition Authority 171 10th Street, 2nd Fl o or, P it t s bur gh, PA 1 5 2 2 2 , Atte n ti o n : R y a n B ur ies- E -m ail: rburies@pittsburghcc.com, Telephone: 412-325-6151. Bid Packages may be obtained after the date identified below through Accu-Copy at (724) 935-7055. Additional information on the project can also be found of Accu-Copy’s website at https://accu-copy.com/plan-room The Instructions to Bidders that is part of the Bid Package will set forth in detail the conditions of the Bid, which will include, among other things, the following: (a) Bids. Bids shall be sealed and submitted on the Bid form provided. Bids will be opened publicly. The contract will be a prime contract with the Owner. Bid pricing (for base bid and/or alternates) may be held open by Owner for a period of ninety (90) days following bid opening before award of contract. (b) Bid Bonds. All Bids will require a ten percent (10%) surety in the form of a Bid Bond, a certified check, or cashier’s check in the amount of no less than ten percent (10%) of the total amount of the Base Bid (unless otherwise noted in the Bid Form Document). The surety is required as a guarantee that the bidder will, if awarded the contract, enter into a written contract with the Owner. All sureties must be licensed to conduct business in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Bid Bonds should name Owner as obligee. All checks should be made payable to the order of Owner. (c) Letter of Assent. All bidders must acknowledge their agreement to the terms of the Project Labor Agreement by submitting a Letter of Assent with their bid. (d) MBE and WBE Participation. The SEA has goals of 25% MBE and 10% WBE participation in this project. Bidders must provide a completed Certificate of MBE/WBE Participation form and a Solicitation Statement with their bid. (e) Non-Collusion Affidavit. (f) Public Works Employment Verification Form. (g) Contractor Workforce Information Form. This Advertisement applies to the following Bid Package: Project: David L Lawrence Convention Center Bid Package Name: Loading Dock Drain System Replacement Bid Package Available: March 18, 2022 Approximate Value: $35,000 Time/Date/Location for Pre-Bid Meeting: 10:00am, Thursday, March 24, 2022 David Lawrence Convention Center 1000 Ft. Duquesne Blvd Pittsburgh, PA 15222 Time/Date/Location for Bid: 2:00 PM, Friday, April 7, 2022 David Lawrence Convention Center 1000 Ft. Duquesne Blvd Pittsburgh, PA 15222 ANNOUNCEMENTS
LEGAL ADVERTISING
Meetings
Legal Notices
HACP MARCH BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS MONTHLY MEETING Due to the COVID-19 protective guidelines set forth by federal, state, and local governments, the Housing Authority of the City of Pittsburgh’s Board of Commissioners will hold its monthly meeting for March on March 24, 2022, at 10:30 a.m. on a remote basis. The meeting will be held remotely, with public access to be provided online. HACP will provide a direct link to a livestream of the meeting, and instruction on how to make a public comment. Details will be made available on http://www.hacp.org, in advance of the meeting. LEGAL ADVERTISING Legal Notices
NOTICE OF TRUST ADMINISTRATION
The Trustee named below gives notice to the death of MICHAEL STEFANCHIK, late of Carnegie, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, who died on December 10, 2021. During his lifetime, the said Decedent established the Michael Stefanchik and Kathleen M. Stefanchik Revocable Trust under Trust Instrument dated September 19, 2002, as the same has been amended. The Trustee requests all persons having claims against the Decedent to make known the same in writing to him or his attorney, and all persons indebted to the Decedent to make payment to him without delay: Michael J. Stefanchik, Trustee 376 Golden Grove Road Baden, PA 15005 or to: Todd A Fuller, Atty. Brenlove & Fuller, LLC. 401 Washington Avenue Bridgeville, PA 15017
NOTICE OF FILING OF ARTICLES OF INCORPORATION:
Notice is given that the Articles of Incorporation of Fab Baths Inc. have been filed with the Pennsylvania Department of State, and the corporation has been incorporated under the provisions of the Business Corporation Law of 1988.
ARTICLES OF INCORPORATION NONPROFIT CORPORATION
Estate of RONALD E. HAMMILL A/K/A RONALD EDWARD HAMMILL, Deceased of Baldwin Bororugh, Pennsylvania Estate No. 02-2201629, Ryan W. Brode, Esq., Administrator, or to Robert S. Bootay III, Atty, 6 Clairton Blvd. Pittsburgh, PA 15236 Estate of MARGARET FLENORY, deceased, of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Estate No. 022201138, Paula Flenory, Administratrix, 736 Bryn Mawr Road, Pittsburgh, PA 15219. Estate of JAMES E. VINCENT, JR. Deceased of Pittsburgh,PA 15235 Estate No. 09188 of 2022, Lorraine D. Vincent, Executor, P.O. Box 17536. Pittsburgh, PA 15235, or to Sheila M. Ford Esq, 6419 Stanton Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15206 Estate of JOHN F. SAMBOLT, Deceased of 1414 Fourth Avenue, Coraopolis, PA 15108 Estate No. 02-22-04523, Ms. Karen M. Wojtechko, Executrix, c/o Max C. Feldman, Esquire and the Law Office of Max C. Feldman, 1322 Fifth Avenue, Coraopolis, PA 15108 Estate of MS. FLORENCE L. PALLAS, Deceased of 1536 Vance Avenue, Coraopolis, PA 15108 E state N o . 0 2 - 2 2 - 0 1 2 8 5 , M s. Ta r a A. Pallas-Sheetz, Executrix, c/o Max C. Feldman, Esquire and the Law Office of Max C. Feldman, 1322 Fifth Avenue, Coraopolis, PA 15108 Estate of SHIRLEY GRACE KNIGHT, Deceased of 365 Wheeler Street, McKees Rocks, PA 15136 Estate No. 02-22-01284, Mr. John William Knight Jr., Executor, c/o Max C. Feldman, Esquire and the Law Office of Max C. Feldman, 1322 Fifth Avenue, Coraopolis, PA 15108 Estate of DIANE C. GAUTHIER, Deceased of Allegheny County, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania Estate No. 02-21-06712, Chad A. Gauthier, Administrator, D.B.N., 8905 Cornish Hen Cove Austin, TX 78747 or to TODD A. FULLER, Atty; BRENLOVE & FULLER, LLC. 401 Washington Avenue Bridgeville, PA 15017 Estate of CLARENCE W. GARNER, Deceased of Bridgeville, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, Estate No. 02-22-01163, Terrance Zinger, Executor, 1061 Sarah Street, Bridgeville, PA 15017, or to ROBIN L. RARIE, Atty; BRENLOVE & FULLER, LLC. 401 Washington Avenue, Bridgeville, PA 15017 Estate of ROSINA DIPERNA A/K/A ROSE DIPERNA, Deceased of Pittsburgh, Estate No. 022200708 of 2022, Ronald Diperna Executor, 729 Liberty Circle, Macclenny, FL 32063, or to c/o Jacqueline H. Brangard, Esquire, Scolieri Law Group, P.C., 1207 Fifth Avenue, Suite 200, Pittsburgh, PA 15219 Estate of MR. CARL A. HANEY, Deceased of 812 Benwood Avenue, McKees Rocks, PA 15136 Estate No. 02-22-01022, Mr. Gary W. Feist, Executor, c/o Max C. Feldman, Esquire and the Law Office of Max C. Feldman, 1322 Fifth Avenue, Coraopolis, PA 15108
Jay Arthur Gilmer, Esq., 7246 Campania Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15206. Notice is hereby given that Articles of Incorporation were filed with the Department of State of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, on November 22, 2021, with respect to a nonprofit corporation, LIFE AFTER HIGH SCHOOL, which has been incorporated under the Nonprofit Corporation Law of 1988.
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ATTEND THE ECS VIRTUAL CAREER FAIR: MARCH 19 The Environmental Charter School (ECS) is hosting a Virtual Career Fair on Saturday, March 19 from 9-10:30 a.m. for potential applicants to meet the staff and learn about the school culture. ECS is seeking innovative and highly motivated individuals for a variety of positions for the 2022-2023 school year as the district grows to a K-11 public charter school. RSVP by March 17 at 11:59 p.m. at ecspgh.org/careers to guarantee your spot at the ECS Career Fair. WOMEN’S CENTER & SHELTER OF GREATER PITTSBURGH (WC&S) is a comprehensive domestic violence program hiring a wide variety of positions right now. If you’re energized by survivor-centered advocacy, go to wcscanhelp.org to learn more and apply. Competitive wages, comprehensive benefits package, and a supportive environment! R&D ENGINEER L.B. Foster (Pittsburgh, PA) to be resp. for design, engnrng & project mngmnt functions in new product dvlpmnt (“NPD”) projects in the Rail Products Grp. Crtng & mntng dcmntn related to NPD projects; prfrmng cost estmtn, feasibility anls, engnrng clcltns, & prototyping related to product dvlpmnt; crdntng NPD activities among suppliers, customers, & product mngmnt groups; crtng 3D dsgng & drawings of products; strctrl engnrng anls by using hand clcltns & finite element mdlng; rsrchng various materials, mnfctrng prcs, & design concepts for their potential implmntn in NPD projects. Master’s degree in Mchncl, Strctrl or Civil Engnrng. Must know (through academic training or work exp.) 3D design & structural anls for railroad products. If you meet the qualifications & would like to be considered for this position, please apply online at www.lbfosterjobs.com
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FANNY EDEL FALK LABORATORY SCHOOL UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH 4060 ALLEQUIPPA STREET PITTSBURGH, PA 15261 WWW.FALKSCHOOL.PITT.EDU TEACHING POSITIONS ANNOUNCEMENT Falk School, a coeducational K-8 school in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, is currently seeking full-time teachers for the next academic year beginning Fall 2022 for the following positions. K-5 Elementary Teacher K-8 Music K-8 Spanish Teacher Middle School Language Arts and History Teacher For full detailed position announcements and consideration for any of these positions, please go to https://www.join.pitt.edu under faculty positions and upload your materials. Review of applications will continue through March 25, 2022 or until the position is filled. The University of Pittsburgh is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer and values equality of opportunity, human dignity, and diversity. EEO/AA/M/F/Vets/Disabled.
DIRECTOROFCAMPUSDEVELOPMENT PENNSYLVANIA STATE UNIVERSITY Penn State has an opportunity for a top frontline fundraiser in the role of Director of Campus Development for its Greater Allegheny Campus. The University is committed to ensuring that diversity, equity, and inclusion are central to the success of a world-class research institution. We are dedicated to fostering institutional change required to realize a more socially just University and we value inclusion as a core strength and an essential element of our public service mission. The campus is known for its diversity with approximately 43% of students and 17% of faculty/staff coming from underrepresented groups. The campus also places priority on strong academics, student support, community outreach, economic development and a deep commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion programming. To review detailed responsibilities and requirements, please visit: https://recruitment.giveto.psu.edu/ PITTSBURGH ARTS & LECTURES is hiring a TICKETING MANAGER Join a dynamic, fun, and friendly literary arts organization presenting essential voices of our time. Tessitura and ticketing experience is required. Salary is $40,000-50,000, plus full healthcare coverage, generous paid time off, and a 25% match for 403b retirement plan. Apply at pittsburghlectures.org/careers
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MARCH 16-22, 2022
NEW PITTSBURGH COURIER
It’s March... Bring on the Madness!!! :10—March is here...but first, let me school you once again. I know you don’t want it... but I know you need it. The following b-ball information will get you ready for the “Big Dance.” :09—Let’s get it started with the top nine NCAA basketball teams of all-time: - #1 - 1972 UCLA Bruins (30-0, Bill Walton, average margin of victory; 32 points) #2 - 1996 Kentucky Wildcats (five 1st-round draft picks & 4 other players that played in the NBA) #3 - 1968 UCLA Bruins (47-game win streak, 1 loss, and some guy named Lew Alcindor) #4 - 1976 Indiana Hoosiers (last team to go undefeated, coached by the master, Bobby Knight) #5 - 1992 Duke Blue Devils (Grant Hill, Bobby Hurley, Christian Laettner & company and of course “Coach K”) #6 - 1956 San Francisco Dons (29-0 undefeated season, Bill Russell & KC Jones, Russell averages 20 points and 21 rebounds a game, Russell back-to-back Finals MVP) #7 - 1982 NC Tar Heels (Sam Perkins, James Worthy and a skinny freshman by the name of Michael Jordan) #8 - 1974 NC State Wolfpack (30-1 and led by the magnificent David Thompson and 7’4” Tom Burleson) #9 -
1985 Georgetown Hoyas (the greatest collection of ballers ever, led by the great Patrick Ewing and coached by the legend John Thompson) :08—Who are the top NCAA players of all-time? According to most, it’s...1) Lew Alcindor - Kareem Abdul-Jabbar - UCLA. 2) - Bill Russell SF Dons. 3) - Pete
my list. Clearly you have to have Wilt Chamberlain, Michael Jordan, Sam Bowie, James Worthy, Patrick Ewing... ut you also have to keep in mind the teams they were on, the era and the need to show quality White players... hey, hey, hey, don’t kill the messenger. I am just saying!
Maravich - LSU. 4) - Bill Walton - UCLA. 5) - Oscar Robertson - Cincinnati. 6) Elvin Hayes - Houston. 7) Jerry Lucas - Ohio State. 8) David Thompson - NC State. 9) - Tom Gola - LaSalle. 10) - Christian Laettner - Duke :07—Of course you want to question that Top 10 college player list, just know it’s not
:06—While we’re back in the gym please let me tell you again - Please, please, please do your history on “Pistol” Pete Maravich and you’ll see why he’s #3 on the list. :05—For those of you from another planet or new to the dance...68 teams go into the Men’s NCAA Bracket. After
automatic conference winners, a committee completes the lineup. The same goes for the Women’s Tournament with the women now also placing 68 teams in their tournament. :04—The Sweet 16 will take place on March 24-25 with the Elite 8 March 26-27. The Final Four will be held in New Orleans on Saturday, April 2 and the National Championship game on Monday, April 4. The Final Four and championship will be on TBS (not CBS). :03—The women’s Final Four is on April 1 and the title game is Sunday, April 3. :02—To be sure, and for what it’s worth, of course we suffered through an unusual and insane basketball season for the local teams. But rest assured Pitt, Duquesne, Robert Morris and West Virginia will never collectively be this bad again in the same season. Truly. :01—As you know, I am a Pitt man and I know the Pitt Panthers will roar again. Give Coach Jeff Capel a few years and he’ll get it done. And the legendary BB Flenory says the same about Coach Keith Dambrot - the Dukes will never see the likes of this season again! :00—GAME OVER. BILL RUSSELL, as a San Francisco Don in the ‘50s.
Kayla Harris named Campus Compact Newman Civic Fellow Beaver County native; Duquesne University graduate student The New Pittsburgh Courier has learned that Duquesne University graduate student Kayla Harris, known at the university for her vibrant personality and in the community for her social justice advocacy, has been named to the 2022-2023 class of Campus Compact Newman Civic Fellows. Fellows are nominated by their president or chancellor on the basis of their potential for public leadership. Following a rigorous selection process, this prestigious honor is awarded to college stu-
dents who have created positive change in their communities and beyond. Harris, a student in the Master of Education in Clinical Mental Health Counseling Program, is a resilient advocate for equity and access to opportunities. From a young age, she has aspired to be a changemaker and create a better world for future generations. “When I learned that my race and biological sex created automatic setbacks for me in society, it challenged me to understand how oth-
er societal systems define us,” said Harris, a native of Beaver County. “People do not get to choose the circumstance they are born into, so I want to work with communities to provide them with better opportunities so that every person has the ability reach their greatest potential.” Campus Compact, a national coalition of colleges and universities working to advance the public purposes of higher education, is connecting 173 students from 38 states, Washington, D.C., and Mexico to
KAYLA HARRIS form this year’s cohort. “I am thrilled that a changemaker like Kayla has been selected for such a distinguished honor,” said Duquesne University President Ken Gormley, who nominated Harris for the fellowship. “Like Duquesne, Campus Compact recognizes the importance of working alongside our neighbors to address systemic challenges. Kayla lives out our Duquesne mission by standing up for equity and opportunity in Pittsburgh—being named a Newman Civic Fellow is a testament to her ability to ignite positive change.” The fellows will immerse themselves in a year of learning and networking opportunities that emphasize personal, professional and civic growth. The cornerstone of the fellowship is the annual Convening of Fellows, which offers intensive skill-building and networking over the course of two days. Fellows are also offered pathways to apply for exclusive scholarship and post-graduate opportunities. “We are proud to name such an outstanding and diverse group of students Newman Civic Fellows,” said Campus Compact President Bobbie Laur. “Their passion and resolve to take action on the wide range of issues challenging our neighborhoods and communities is inspiring
and deeply needed.” Harris arrived at Duquesne as an undeclared transfer student with bigger goals to use medicine to address the societal problems she saw and wanted to learn more about and to make an impact on the world. After much thought, Harris decided on pursuing a double major in Psychology and Women’s and Gender Studies with minors in Sociology and Pre-Medical. Connecting with the Center for Community-Engaged Teaching and Research (CETR) was a milestone moment for her. “CETR is one of my best takeaways from Duquesne. It has really helped me discover who I am as a Black person, who I am to other people and who I am to America.” CETR’s Community Engaged Scholars program attracts students who want to learn more about systemic injustice and want to be involved as student-leaders for community engagement at Pittsburgh area non-profit organizations. After a highly selective process, Harris was accepted into the CETR program where she worked alongside Duquesne’s neighbors at the Macedonia Family and Community Enrichment Center which supports families in need of food, housing and educational
resources. On campus, Harris was actively involved with student organizations, taking many leadership positions. She served as a resident assistant in St. Martin Hall and received the 2021 Student Life Leadership Award. “Programming was definitely one of my favorite parts of Residence Life, especially the diversity pillar. I tried my best to make sure my residents understood the importance of diversity on our floor and out in the community.” Additionally, she served as executive vice president of the Black Student Union (BSU), a Cultural Ambassador, member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc., Strong Women, Strong Girls and was recognized as a Spirit of Diversity award winner by the Center for Excellence in Diversity and Student Inclusion in recognition of her commitment to academic excellence and diversity and inclusion. In her role with BSU, Harris and the leadership team developed Duquesne’s first-ever Black Cultural Awareness Week in the fall of 2020. Harris is pursuing her master’s in Clinical Mental Health Counseling through Duquesne’s School of Education. Harris has also accepted a position as a graduate assistant with CETR.