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Pittsburgh

Pittsburgh

by Rob Taylor Jr. Courier Staff Writer

Dee Thompson personally interviewed Roberto Clemente.

Need we say more?

Oh, but there’s plenty more.

The number of sports figures Thompson interviewed probably topped 1,000. The number of reports he’s given on television definitely are in the thousands. The impact he made on the community, up-and-coming journalists and fellow co-workers is too hard to define with a number.

DeHaven “Dee” Thompson, who truly made his mark on the Pittsburgh area media scene for nearly 60 years and was very well respected and admired in Pittsburgh’s African American community, died on Thursday, May 9. He was 84.

“I always thought of Dee as a consummate professional,” voiced Pittsburgh media legend Chris Moore of Thompson. “Polite, ever-giving of his time, he worked with the kids in the (Pittsburgh Black Media

Federation Urban Journalism) workshop and for that, I’m thankful, because some of them got to know him before he retired.”

Thompson is mostly known for his 35 years on WPXI-TV (Channel 11).

From 1974 to 1987, Thompson was a sports reporter and anchor at the station, and then progressed into the news arena as an anchor and reporter. Thompson could also be seen hosting weekend specialty programs on WPXI. Prior to Channel 11, Thompson spent eight years at WTAE-TV (Channel 4). It was at WTAE where he interviewed Pirates and baseball icon Roberto Clemente. Clemente helped lead the Pirates to two World Series championships in 1960 and 1971. On Dec. 31, 1972, while on a missionary trip to Nicaragua, the plane he was in crashed moments after takeoff, killing him and four others. Clemente died at age 38.

The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reported that following the crash, WTAE sent Thompson to Puerto Rico as the search for Clemente’s

body was underway.

“I always thought he was very good on air, he had an easygoing manner, worked well with everybody,” Moore, the longtime WQED-TV and PCNC-TV host told the Courier. Moore also has a long-standing radio show on KDKA-AM (1020, 100.1 FM). “He didn’t try to over-talk anybody, he let the guests have their say and he knew sports, but he knew of a lot of other stuff, too. People probably don’t give him enough credit for that...he interviewed presidential candidates, he was in news, he could do it all.”

Thompson was born, Aug. 22, 1939, in Philadelphia, but he was raised in New Brighton, in Beaver County. He began writing sports stories for the Beaver Falls News-Tribune at age 16, the Post-Gazette reported. Thompson also was a member of the U.S. Army before getting the jobs in local sports and news. He attended Geneva College.

WPXI lead anchor David Johnson, who worked at the

‘He could do it all.’

- Media personality Chris Moore, on Dee Thompson

of Pitt’s School of Education

Pitt has appointed Eboni M. Zamani-Gallaher as the new Renèe and Richard Goldman Dean of the School of Education.

Since Zamani-Gallaher joined Pitt in 2022, her scholarship has secured nearly $10.5 million in funding from the National Science Foundation, Alfred P. Sloan Foundation, Lumina Foundation, Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and other organizations. She stepped into her new position May 1 following a rigorous national search led by Vice Provost Luin Wang and School of Social Work Dean Betsy Farmer. Before she became interim dean in August, Zamani-Gallaher was a professor in the Department of Educational Foundations, Organizations and Policy. Her research areas include equitable participation in higher education, transfer and retention policies and racial equity in postsecondary pathways.

“Eboni’s exceptional experience and expertise —and her demonstrated and deep dedication to the mission-vision of the School of Education and the work of its faculty, students, staff and alumni—make her the ideal choice for charting the course for the

school’s next chapter,” said Provost and Senior Vice Chancellor Joseph McCarthy in a May 6 announcement. Zamani-Gallaher earned her doctorate in educational organization and leadership from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign College of Education, where she was a professor and the director of the Office for Community College Research and Leadership. Additionally, she served

EBONI ZAMANI-GALLAHER

as associate head of Illinois’ Department of Education Policy, Organization and Leadership and as associate dean of its Graduate College.

Beyond her academic pursuits, Zamani-Gallaher holds leadership positions in several professional organizations, such as the executive director of the Council for the Study of Community Colleges and the president-elect of the Association for the Study of

Higher Education. She’s also a member of the Community College Review Editorial Board, an advisory board member for the Institute for Women’s Policy Research and a committee member with the Black Learner Excellence Expert Advisory Committee. by Donovan Harrell, Pittwire/University of Pittsburgh

by Macy Meinhardt

Voice & Viewpoint Staff Writer

Mateo Olmos, a San Diego State graduate student is among the thousands of students right now actively exercising their freedom of speech in opposition to the war in Gaza.

“I don’t identify as Middle Eastern or Palestinian, I am Black and Mexican, but I do have friends that identify with both cultures, and I feel strongly about the liberation of people and helping the oppressed be free,” said Olmos, a graduate student in the Public Health Department.

Voice & Viewpoint caught up with Mateo last Tuesday as the “Walk out for Palestine” demonstration was ending at the university. Sporting a Martin Luther King t-shirt and Palestine flag in hand, directly across from him was an Israeli student holding up the Flag of Israel. The conversation was peaceful, but the scene was a sharp contrast to the images seen just an hour ago within the newsroom. Chaotic encounters of police arresting students, and violent engagements between Jewish and Palestinian students dominated the news cycle and took over our television. What was seen in front of Hepner Hall at SDSU couldn’t be farther than that.

“I feel like it is fair to get both points of view, because when people are protesting and there are counter protests or a conflict, there should be room for discussion. Both sides feel strongly about what they believe in, and I find it important to understand the opposing view and both sides of what is going on,” said Mateo. Specifically, among their Jewish and Palestinian students, many campuses have been grappling with the intersection of free speech, censorship, and academic freedom in a way that does not marginalize any belief. Students in support of Palestine have made their reasoning to demonstrate clear: to call upon their institution to cut financial ties with funding sources supporting Israel. Meanwhile, in the wake of this heightened intensity, many Jewish students feel as if their safety is threatened and the demonstrations display antisemitic undertones.

In controversial mitiga-

tion efforts, across 68 campuses since April 12, AP has recorded that 2,400 plus student arrests have been made by law enforcement. Those numbers continue to rise, as of this week,64 UCSD students and supporters at the Gaza Solidarity encampment on campus were arrested by law enforcement for their peaceful protest. Meanwhile over at SDSU the walk, organized by Students for Justice in Palestine, drew a crowd of over 1,000 students gathered in front of SDSU’s Hepner Hall to listen to speeches and rally peacefully in solidarity with Palestine.

“The turnout was great. There were a lot of people. It was peaceful. There was no violence. There was no vandalism—that I know of—just chalk, and the people calmly dispersed after, it was great,” said Olmos.

Officials report that there were no incidents that occurred on Tuesday. In a statement issued by the school, they said: “As a public university, and as aligned with our institutional values, San Diego State University must allow for constitutionally protected free speech and an individual’s right to acts of peaceful protest.”

According to Mateo: “we’re standing up against government powers that have control of our money and have control of our voices and opinions, and a lot of the time they do things that we don’t agree with. And so the people have the right to protest against children, mothers, women, men and families who are losing their lives, and nobody wants to see anybody lose a life.

This Week In Black History A Courier Staple

• MAY 15

1911—Kappa Alpha Psi, one of the nation’s leading Black fraternities, is founded on this day on the campus of Indiana University by 10 young men led by Elder W. Diggs and Byron K. Armstrong.

1942—The 93rd Infantry is activated and assigned to combat in the Pacific. It thus became the first African American division formed during World War II.

• MAY 16

The Israeli, Jewish, Muslim, Palestinian Christian any—nobody wants to see anybody lose a life.”

What did the Israeli student share with you?

“He talked to me about how his family is from Israel and the time he lived there. He told me how he protests the government in Israel and does not believe in what they are doing and how there are a number of people who are protesting their government there as well.”

“I find it necessary and important to speak to people and get their point of view. And I actually learned a lot from that young man, so I’m glad I spoke to him.” Mateo reflects.

However, Mateo emphasizes that there is still a need to recognize what is transpiring in the United States and Israel, as well as the plight of the Palestinian people who are victims of displacement and genocide. Understanding the intricate context of history is essential, he noted.

Whether or not the students will ever see eye to eye, Mateo states that he ultimately recognizes that everyone is a human being in this conflict.

“Life is valuable. You don’t get to choose where you’re born or what culture you’re in. People have the right to live.”

As students and young people across the country navigate the complexities of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, Mateo’s willingness to engage with opposing viewpoints and his call for empathy underscore the universal value of human life and dignity. In a world where voices over this issue continuously clash, the message resonates: regardless of differences, every individual deserves the right to live in peace.

1868—The United States Senate fails by one vote in securing the twothirds vote needed to convict President Andrew Johnson of the articles of impeachment, which had been brought against him. The failure was a major setback for Black rights in America because Johnson had become a leading opponent of voting rights and economic advancement for the recently freed slaves. While the impeachment trial did not center on Black rights, Blacks would have clearly benefited if Johnson had been expelled from office.

1929—Detroit Representative John Conyers Jr., one of the founding members of the Congressional Black Caucus, was born on this day in 1929. He remains one of the most progressive members of the United States Congress.

1966—Janet Jackson, of the famous and talented Jackson family, is born on this day in Gary, Ind. Controversy remains as to whether Janet has a secret daughter.

1990—Sammy Davis Jr. dies in Beverly Hills, Calif., at age 64. Davis, born in Harlem, N.Y., was a world class entertainer who performed well as an actor, singer and dancer. He was also a member of Hollywood’s popular and notorious “Rat Pack,” which included Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Joey Bishop and Peter Lawford.

• MAY 18

1896—The United States Supreme Court issues its infamous ruling in Plessy v. Ferguson. The decision declared the doctrine of “separate but equal” was constitutional. By doing so it, in effect, approved all Jim Crow or segregationist laws designed to degrade Blacks or keep them separate from Whites. The ruling would stand until the Brown v. Board of Education decision of 1954.

1955—Legendary educator Mary McLeod Bethune dies at 79 in Daytona Beach, Fla. Born the 15th of 17 children in Mayesville, S.C., Bethune would rise to become one of the nation’s foremost Black educators and early civil rights activist. She was a driving force behind the founding of Florida’s Bethune-Cookman College.

• MAY 19

1925—Black revolutionary Malcolm X was born Malcolm Little on this day in Omaha, Neb. His father, Earl Little, was an outspoken Baptist minister and a follower of the legendary Black Nationalist Marcus Garvey. For his outspokenness, Earl Little would be brutally killed in 1929 by a Ku Klux Klan type group. A smart and focused student, Malcolm dreamed of becoming a lawyer. But that dream would be crushed by prejudice when one of his favorite teachers told him that was “not a realistic goal for a nigger.” He would end up dropping out of school and moving with his mother to Boston, Mass. He would later travel to New York City where he began a criminal life of petty crimes, but rapidly moved up to coordinating drug, prostitution and gambling rings. With the “heat” on, he moved back to Boston where he was arrested and sentenced to prison on a burglary charge in 1946. By the time he was paroled in 1952, he was a devoted follower of Elijah Muhammad and a small Muslim sect known as the Nation of Islam and had dropped his “slave” last name in favor of being referred to as “Malcolm X.” From 1952 to 1963, he became the primary force behind the

building of the Nation of Islam from a sect of fewer than 1,000 members to a national organization of more than 30,000 members. But his faith in Elijah Muhammad was crushed when he learned in 1963 that the married and outwardly puritanical Muhammad had had extra-marital affairs with at least six young Nation of Islam women. A bitter separation resulted between Malcolm and the Nation. Malcolm then turned to a more orthodox version of Islam and began to seek closer relations with other Black Nationalist and civil rights groups. He was assassinated at Harlem, N.Y.’s, Audubon Ballroom on Feb. 21, 1965 by three men associated with the Nation of Islam. Malcolm X was 39.

1930—Lorraine Hansberry is born in Chicago, Ill. During her short life she becomes one of Black America’s most prolific authors and playwrights. Her most famous play was “A Raisin in the Sun”—which was the first drama written by an African American woman to be produced on Broadway. After her death from cancer in 1965, another one of her plays—“To Be Young, Gifted and Black” became a major off-Broadway production.

1952—Eccentric model and singer Grace Jones is born in Spanish Town, Jamaica. In addition to her singing and modeling, her unusual style propels her into a status as one of the icons of the disco and new music scene of the 1970s.

• MAY 20

1743—Touissant L’Ouverture, the father of Haitian independence, is born. Although he was not part of the initial disturbances, L’Ouverture was quickly drafted into leadership of the 1791 Slave Revolt. He converted the random burnings of plantations and killings of unlucky Whites into a full-scale revolution against slavery on the island. Under his leadership, the slaves were organized into an effective fighting force which would go on to defeat the British army and the greatest conqueror of the period, France’s Napoleon Bonaparte. Indeed, L’Ouverture’s fighting might was indirectly responsible for the growth of America. Desperate to raise money to fight the Haitians, Napoleon sold the massive Louisiana territory to America at an amazingly low price. L’Ouverture was tricked into attending a phony “peace conference” in France. Once there he was jailed. But the leadership void was immediately filled by one of his lieutenants—Jean Jacques Dessalines who would complete the revolution started by L’Ouverture. Haiti became independent in 1804.

• MAY 21

1862—Mary Patterson becomes the first Black woman in U.S. History to be awarded a master’s degree. She earned it from Oberlin College in Ohio.

2009—NFL star quarterback Michael Vick is released from federal prison after serving 19 months of a 23-month sentence for financing a dog fighting ring. Formerly with the Atlanta Falcons, Vick finished his career with the Philadelphia Eagles. 2009—A Black man—James Young—is elected mayor of Philadelphia, Miss.,—a town which during the 1960s had the nation’s most racist reputation. Ku Klux Klan members dominated the town and it was known for the mistreatment and unpunished killings of Blacks. One of the most brutal events in the city was the 1964 murders of three civil rights workers. In his 2009 election victory, Young captured 30 percent of the White vote.

1881—Blanche Kelso Bruce is sworn in as a senator from Mississippi. He became the first Black man to serve a full term in the United States Senate. During his service, he advocated for the political and social rights of Blacks, Indians and Chinese immigrants.

Dee Thompson, celebrated

sports, news reporter, dies at

CouriergaveThompsonspecialawardin2011

station for more than 20 years with Thompson, told the Courier that “when I think of Dee, he always had a smile on his face. And his versatility. He was adept at both news and sports. Just a good, solid guy—whom everyone liked and respected.”

Moore, who has spent decades being a mentor to many journalists in Pittsburgh and beyond, said it was “something in the blood of us old guys” when it came to legendary Black media figures helping today’s journalists. Moore said it was nothing for Thompson to do the same. “We felt like we wanted to extend a hand behind us, sort of like roller derby; grab somebody and push them up ahead, let them score some points.”

One of those people who was mentored by Thompson was Brian Cook Sr., a 1998 Central Catholic High School graduate who spent many years at American Urban Radio Networks. Cook was formerly the president of the Pittsburgh Black Media Federation and now does a variety of media work for entities like WQEDTV and the New Pittsburgh Courier. He owns his own company, Golden Sky Media.

“Very seldom does one meet their professional heroes, and even less often

does one get the rare opportunity to have a robust working relationship with them. Working alongside Dee Thompson, a journalist I admired since childhood, was a dream come true,” Cook told the Courier. “As a youth, I watched

Mr. Thompson on WPXI and loved his on-air presence, way of telling a story, and confidence while doing his live shots.

“Working with him, he mentored and helped shape me and my journalistic skills and instilled

in me a great respect for the craft and a love for the industry. Dee’s guidance and professionalism are two values I and many who have watched him have noted over the years. They were invaluable, second to none, and unique.” Cook also worked with Thompson on a show called “Championship Chase,” which would air weekends on WPXI covering all things Pittsburgh sports. “He taught me the importance of integrity in storytelling, especially when telling stories in sports, a mostly light and fun topic. Through his mentorship, I grew as a journalist and gained a lifelong friend whose impact continues to shape

me,” Cook added.

Younger Pittsburghers may not remember the “Fifth Quarter,” a postgame show following Steelers games on Sundays when the games aired on NBC (WPXI is an NBC affiliate) in the ‘80s and ‘90s. Thompson is credited with starting that show, and much of the similar postgame football shows that air today were modeled after Thompson’s creation.

In 2010, the Pittsburgh Black Media Federation honored Thompson with the “Legacy in Journalism” award. And during the Courier’s “Men of Excellence” awards ceremony in 2011, the Courier presented Thompson with

a special award for his decades of service to journalism and the community. Thompson is survived by two daughters, Shannon Thompson and Tara (Brandon) Arthur, and two grandchildren, Bree Arthur and Braxton Arthur. “He was the consummate professional,” Cook said of Thompson, “and will be truly missed.”

THOMPSON FROM A1

TRUE DETERMINATION—IN 2010, WPXI REPORTER DEE THOMPSON RECEIVED AN AWARD FROM THE PITTSBURGH BLACK MEDIA FEDERATION FOR HIS ACHIEVEMENTS IN THE COMMUNICATIONS FIELD AS A WRITER, PRODUCER AND REPORTER.

COURIER EDITOR AND PUBLISHER ROD DOSS, DEE THOMPSON AND FORMER WPXI REPORTER TIMYKA ARTIST, IN THIS 2011 PHOTO.

JONAS CHANEY, RIGHT, WITH DEE THOMPSON, WHO WAS

The Courier, at Paul Skenes’ Major League debut for the Pirates

The New Pittsburgh Courier's Brian Cook Sr. had a perfect view of the Major League debut of Pirates pitcher Paul Skenes, which took place on Saturday, May 11, at PNC Park against the Chicago Cubs. If you're not up to the latest Pirates news, Skenes was the No. 1 overall pick in the 2023 MLB Draft, chosen of course, by the Pirates. He won a national championship as the star pitcher for the LSU Tigers prior to being drafted. He's known for

Covering the PIRATES

his 100+ miles-per-hour fastball, and he sure showed it off on May 11 in front of a near-sellout crowd at PNC Park. Skenes' afternoon was cut short due to the rain that just wouldn't go away, a more-than twohour rain delay chased Skenes in the fifth inning. The game didn't end until almost 10 p.m., nearly six hours after it started. Thankfully for Pirates fans, the Bucs won, 109.

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EVERYBODY’S TALKING ABOUT PAUL SKENES, THE 21-YEAR-OLD PITCHING SENSATION. (PHOTOS BY BRIAN COOK SR.)

ANDREW MCCUTCHEN CELEBRATES A HOME RUN HIT BY MICHAEL A. TAYLOR IN THE MAY 11 GAME AGAINST THE CUBS.

BRIAN COOK SR.

CHARLIE BATCH’S MOM, LYNN SETTLES, CHARLIE BATCH, AND LATASHA WILSON-BATCH

After outgrowing its former home, the New Pittsburgh Courier was there when the “Best of the Batch Foundation” revealed its brand new 33,000 sq. ft. state-of-theart educational facility during an official Grand Opening Ribbon Cutting Ceremony, April 10, at 2000 West St., Homestead. The original structure is built into the new facility, which includes a state-of-the-art learning environment, a wellness center, a full gym, basketball courts and an elevated walking track.

Founded by former Pittsburgh Steelers and Detroit Lions quarterback Charlie Batch, the Best of the Batch Foundation’s mission is to provide Western Pennsylvania K-12 children with free programs focused on education, health & wellness, and outreach services.

Batch and his wife, Latasha Wilson-Batch, Executive Director of the Batch Foundation, offer a multitude of educational

programs to school-aged children, annually serving more than 3,800 children and their families throughout eight Western Pennsylvania counties.

The expanded Best of the Batch Clubhouse facility offers the space, resources, and tools to increase the number of children and families served annually. The new facility also provides space for the UPMC Munhall Family Medicine Health & Wellness Center as well as opportunities for new and expanded programming.

“We provide a lot of things that I didn’t have access to growing up here,” said Charlie Batch, in a statement. “That’s the reason we do this. We’re an extended arm to help families with children in school that don’t necessarily have access to resources that exist in other areas of the city.”

The Batch Foundation’s crown jewel is the “Clubhouse,” where day-to-day youth programming occurs. The Clubhouse is

a safe place where kids can hang out with their friends, make new friends, and where they can have fun. The Batch Foundation Clubhouse provides all of those things and more, with the critical element of education intertwined. Education is core to the Best of the Batch Foundation and is incorporated into all programming, activities and events.

“When kids walk in the building, it doesn’t remind them of school, where they’re taught to sit down and be quiet all day,” said Charlie Batch. “Here, we expect them to burn that energy off. At the same time, we require them to finish their homework and present their report cards first, so we can hold them accountable and to make sure they’re upholding their end of the deal.”

For more information on the new facility and all it has to offer the area youth, visit batchfoundation.org.

STEELERS PRESIDENT ART ROONEY II

KENNEDY SMITH

CHARLIE BATCH AND PITTSBURGH MAYOR ED GAINEY

FORMER STEELER WILL ALLEN WITH CLAIRTON CITY SCHOOLS SUPERINTENDENT DR. TAMARA ALLEN-THOMAS

our growing Praise and Worship Church Community!

For rate information, call 412-4818302, ext. 128. We want to feature positive youth from our Pittsburgh church community. Please mail their bio and photo to:

Pittsburgh Courier

E. Carson St. Pittsburgh, PA 15219 or email us: religion@newpittsburghcourier.com

Local National Council of Negro Women holds annual Legacy Awards Luncheon

After a four-year hiatus, once again women 80 years of age or older were honored, celebrated and recognized by the local Rankin/Mon Valley/ Pittsburgh Section of the National Council of Negro Women.

The New Pittsburgh Courier has learned that March 23, 2024, marked the return of their annual Legacy Awards Luncheon at The Rivers Club at One Oxford Centre. Fourteen phenomenal women received high praises for their outstanding service to women, their families, and communities.

The women recognized for their commitment and dedication included Dr. Elayne Arrington, Dr. Shirley Biggs, Aralessa Davis Bush, Francis Barr Butts, Alice Paylor Dais, Patricia Ann English, Cecelia Epperson, Georgia

Dunn George, Mildred Glenn, Elizabeth Harris, Marcella Lee-Wilson, Beverly Doyle Shropshire Lowe, Althea Skelton, and Signora Watson. The theme of the evening was “Celebrating History, Service, and Sisterhood.”

This year’s annual Legacy Awards Luncheon was sponsored in part by Pittsburgh Regional Transit, the Honorable Mayor Ed Gainey, and the Hosanna House. A portion of the proceeds from this year’s luncheon provided funding for the V. Schnel Simmons “True Worth Scholarship,” to be issued to a deserving applicant later this spring.

The Rankin/Mon Valley/ Pittsburgh Section was founded in 2009 as a local section of The National Council of Negro Women founded by Mary McLeod Bethune in 1935.

RUTH HELEN WASHINGTON (NEE WILSON)

A beloved and longtime titan of the Philadelphia community, passed away peacefully on May 7, 2024 in Pittsburgh, PA.

Helen was born one of four children in Sumter, South Carolina on June 29, 1925 to the late Catherine Francis Wilson and Willie Wilson. After the death of her mother at the age of three, she was brought to Philadelphia and raised by her surrogate parents, her maternal aunt Louise Francis Dow and her uncle Joseph B. Dow.

Helen graduated from West Philadelphia High School in 1942. She then attended and graduated from Morgan State College earning a B.S. in Biology in 1946 and an M.S. in Zoology from Howard University in 1948.

Helen was employed as an Assistant Professor of Biology at Delaware State College in Dover, Delaware from 1948 to 1961where she met and married her late, former husband (Dr.) Ulysses S. Washington, Jr. in 1951. Their union was blessed by two children, Diane and “Ukee.”

Helen became drawn to teaching in an urban school therefore in 1962 she continued her career in education as a secondary school Biology teacher in the School District of Philadelphia at her alma mater, West Philadelphia High School where she retired from in 1985 after receiving numerous outstanding teaching awards and certificates of appreciation.

Baptized at Shiloh Baptist Church, Helen was a member from 1928 to 1951. While in Dover, DE she joined and was active with Whatcoat United Methodist Church. After moving back to Philadelphia, Helen became a member of Camphor Memorial United Methodist Church and remained active until returning to her roots by joining Pinn Memorial Baptist Church in 1996. In 2019, her membership was transferred to Macedonia Church of Pittsburgh after her daughter brought her to Pittsburgh when she lost her ability to walk as a result of a fall, breaking her hip in 2018.

Helen was a devoted member of the Philadelphia Alumnae Chapter and a charter member of the Dover Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated. She was extremely involved with numerous community and civic organizations. She loved the creative and performing arts, played a fierce game of bridge, and advocated for all things representing truth and justice.

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An unselfish woman of conviction and integrity, Helen was a Christian who knew and loved the Lord and who deeply cherished her family. She is survived by her daughter Diane Carroll (Joe) of Pittsburgh, PA and her son “Ukee” Washington (Laurie) of Wilmington, DE; her granddaughter Alysha Carroll of Pittsburgh, PA, her grandsons Brian Carroll (Maryam) of Luxembourg, and Matthew Carroll of Pittsburgh, PA; and a host of family members and dear friends.

A one time viewing will be held on Sunday, May 19, 2024 from 6-8p.m. at Rose Funeral Home & Cremation Services , 10940 Frankstown Road, Pittsburgh, PA 15235. Celebration of Life services will be held on Monday, May 20, 2024 at 11 a.m. at Macedonia Church of Pittsburgh, 2225 Bedford Ave, Pittsburgh, PA 15219

Donations may be made to the Ruth Helen Washington Scholarship at www.desu.edu/giving/give-now or donations can be mailed with reference to Ruth Helen Washington Scholarship or account #7040 to the following address:

Delaware State University Foundation, Inc, 1200 N. Dupont Hwy., 2nd floor Admin Bldg, Dover, DE 19901

THE AWARDEES AT THE ANNUAL LEGACY AWARDS LUNCHEON

PITTSBURGH RESIDENTS SCORE A SLAM DUNK AT ‘WHAT’S GOING ON!’

:10—To be honest, a slam dunk would be an understatement...it was more like a triple-double as some of Pittsburgh’s most invested and concerned citizens came together at the 3rd annual Achieving Greatness “What’s Going On Town Hall Forum!” The event was held Saturday, April 27, at the Hampton Inn located in Monroeville. The purpose is to bring together like-minded community leaders, educators and civil servants to discuss what’s going on in the Pittsburgh, Allegheny County and Western Pa. communities, both good and bad, in an attempt to improve our living condi-

tions and quality of life for residents of all ages, races, sexes, social and political positions. It’s safe to say a grand time was had by all and at least 10 percent of all the world’s problems were solved! (Featured in the photo first row from left to right are Dana Hunter, Diane Daniels, Kim Young, Carol Brown, Sharon Briggs and Sharon McIntosh—second row left to right are Dr. Sabeer M. Wahhaj, Ph.D., David Freeman, Bill Neal, Roy Blankenship, Lorenzo Boone, Tony Hopson and Warren Wilson.) To join the program next year, please call the Achieving

Greatness office at 412628-4856.

:09—Speaking of a slamdunk, I’ll tell you what wasn’t...the once-again dismissal of the once glorious Los Angeles Lakers. As you loyal readers know, I don’t have LeBron James making my top 5 G.O.A.T. list, and to tell ya the truth, I put him in my top 10 so that people won’t think I started drinking for the first time in my life. But not this time. This time I am sharing the blame with Lakers owner Jeanie Buss for not providing the best available players to win a title. If you want to win the race, you have to have the fastest horse!

:08—How about this for a segue...the photo finish in this year’s Kentucky Derby was Mystik Dan by

a nose, literally...followed by Sierra Leone and Forever Young crossing the finish line just fractions apart! This was for the none-of-you-I-know who go to the Derby!

:07—Speaking of the Derby...and yes, it’s another segue, and I can only hope you can appreciate this middle level of journalistic intelligence. Did you know that Black jockeys won more than half of the Kentucky Derbys held from 1875 to 1903. And 15 of the first 28 races were won by a Black jockey. And you’re going to love this. In the very first Derby, 13 of the 15 jockeys were Black. Black jockeys dominated the early era of horse racing until Jim Crow, the KKK and pure racism closed the door!

:06—I was about to

try to segue over to your Pittsburgh Pirates, but it’s too much of a stretch even for my unique but suspect writing skills... wait, what?

:05—However, what is not at all at question is the Pirates’ new tight end doubling as an MLB pitcher, Paul Skenes. At 6’6” and 235 pounds, the LSU Flame Thrower brings with him the intelligence, work ethic, killer instinct and heart you must have to land top shelf in the U.S. Air Force Academy. And believe me, he’s going to need every bit of it to survive this talent deprived baseball team. Skenes had a good showing in his Major League start on May 11 at PNC Park. Thanks to the rain, we didn’t see his best, but that train is coming!!!

:04—July 25, 2024...

that’s the date you’re looking for. What am I talking about, you ask? Your Pittsburgh Steelers report to training camp! Now you feel better, don’t ya? And you’re welcome! (Oh stop it, please, you know you were thinking it...yes you were...just stop!)

:03—You may now stop your wishful thinking. It will be the Boston Celtics coming out of the NBA Eastern Conference. As much as you want it to be the Knicks, ain’t gonna happen. And of course I want to see more of “the next Jordan,” Anthony Edwards, I really do. But as they say in every barber shop in America, “You have to knock out the champ to be the champ!” I am afraid it’s going to be “Jokic” and the Denver

THE BULL PENITENTIARY

Nuggets.

:02—OK, I’ll say it for you, because I know you’re scared...Nikola Jokic, aka “The Joker”... THAT WHITE BOY CAN BALL! PERIOD, END OF STORY...Peace On Earth, Goodwill To All Men. :01—BTW and FYI, just so you know it, there are only 30 tickets left for the 50th anniversary Willie “Pops” Stargell MVP Awards and Connie Hawkins Summer Basketball League Hall of Fame Inductions, Friday, May 31, 6 p.m. at the Riverside Landings Banquet Hall in Oakmont. No tickets sold at the door. Call Achieving Greatness Inc., at 412682-4856 for information. :00—GAME OVER!

Paul Skenes is a draw for the Bucs...and then

On Saturday, May 11, the Pittsburgh Pirates promoted Paul Skenes from the minor leagues to the big leagues. Paul Skenes was selected by the Pirates as the overall number one draft pick of the 2023 Major League Baseball Draft. For a rookie making his first MLB start on a dreary and unwelcoming day, the Pirates' pitching phenom may have performed a bit above average. Also, observing that the Pirates' bullpen underperformed is a vast understatement. At the top of the 5th inning with the bases loaded, the Pirates' “relievers,” or should we call them “deceivers,” forced in a six-run care package for Chicago, by issuing six bases-loaded walks to the Cubs, turning a Pirates lead into a deficit by the time that the 5th inning was completed. Is it unreasonable to expect the

Pirates relievers not to give up six bases-loaded walks, anytime or anywhere? Are the present Pirates relievers achievers, pretenders, or deceivers? Part of the problem may be how the relief pitchers are utilized. The micromanaging and underachieving of Pirates manager Derek Shelton has been widely documented and scrutinized by many and approved by few. There have been occasions when the scrutiny of his actions has been justifiably reviewed under a microscope. However, there were and continue to be other instances when he is unjustifiably questioned. Considering the pitch count of Paul Skenes when he was removed from the game which was 84 pitches, the precautionary move to relieve the young pitcher at that point in the game, in my opinion, was the right

move to protect Skenes from possible injury. The E.R.A. of the Pirates' pitching staff is still hovering around the 3.85 mark and when forced to depend on a sporadic offense for support, this may not be the time to signal the premature end of their season. But…the offense and defense must begin to perform in sync for the Bucs to have a fighting chance to remain competitive and have an opportunity to perform when “all the leaves are brown, and the skies are gray” as the "boys of

summer" morph into the "boys of Autumn." A starting pitcher performing on the “island of the pitcher’s mound’ is pressure enough. Now, add to that pressure, a group of relief pitchers that may sometimes be incapable of throwing water on an inferno that is not polluted with a bit of colorless, odorless gasoline. Imagine being incarcerated for the short or long term with a cellmate who has terrible hygiene and won’t clean up the living quarters. Is it fair that you are forced to perform the majority of the "house cleaning duties," while your cellmate kicks back, relaxes and chills? The Pirates' starting pitching may turn out to be better than advertised, but the offense and the corps of relievers must mirror the consistency and the effort of the starting pitchers.

In the past, I have pointed out that the fan support for the Buccos has been sporadic at best. But if the attendance of the so-called "Pirates faithful" can be defined as hot and cold, the performance of the team must be cast in the same mold. I suggest that Pirates fans grab the “T” and mosey on over to catch a glimpse of Paul Skenes, Oneil Cruz, Connor Joe, KeBryan Hayes, Rowdy Tellez, and the remainder of the Pirates' "young guns" before they are shipped off to destinations unknown. Paul Skenes is only one man, and one man does not even remotely resemble a team. On the days that Paul Skenes is scheduled to pitch, the turnstiles may click more and a bit faster but will that same loyalty from the fans be exhibited when the next pitcher is up? Imagine that you are a growing "tween" and you come home famished daily, but your mother or father only prepares a meal for you once every five days. Do you think that your stomach might be “growling on the regular?” Currently, many of the young Pittsburgh Pirates players may be starving for attention from their "ravenous" fan base. However, there are many small- to mid-level cities and markets that would kill, dig up the body and kill it again to have an MLB team to call their own. Be ye careful "yinzers!" Ya might wanna stop pining for a new owner, because at this rate if the dough flows right, ya might be rooting for the New Orleans, L.A. or Charlotte Pirates from afar as "twice baked" couch potatoes.

MAYOR ED GAINEY AND CONGRESSWOMAN SUMMER LEE WITH BRENDA TATE AND MON VALLEY/ RANKIN/PITTSBURGH SECTION PRESIDENT CHERYL MCABEE

LOCAL NCNW PRESIDENT CHERYL MCABEE WITH AN AWARDEE, CECELIA EPPERSON

(PHOTOGRAPHY BY TYLER JOHNSON FROM BATZ GRAFIX)

As America’s #1 business lender, we’re invested in local economies with over $40 billion in business loans. Our commitment includes providing funding to under-resourced business owners and supporting entrepreneurs with the tools and resources to help them make every move matter.

My teammates work closely with entrepreneurs here in Pittsburgh. We are here to help them start and grow their business, so they can continue to create jobs and keep our community strong.

John Ciccolella President, Bank of America Pittsburgh

See how we support businesses at bankofamerica.com/pittsburgh

What would you like the power to do?®

DR. JAMIL BEY

Dr. Jamil Bey confirmed as Director of City Planning

The New Pittsburgh Courier has learned that Pittsburgh City Council voted unanimously to confirm Dr. Jamil Bey as the new Director of City Planning.   “I want to thank Council for their support and for their unanimous confirmation of Dr. Jamil Bey as the new Director of City Planning,” said Mayor Ed Gainey. “I look forward to working with Dr. Bey as we embark on the Comprehensive Plan as we work to build Pittsburgh into a city for all.”

Before joining the administration, Dr. Jamil Bey worked as the Founder and CEO of the UrbanKind Institute. Dr. Bey founded the UrbanKind Institute with a focus on building cities for people around the idea that cities will prosper when lived experiences are used to guide city planning and urban design.

Dr. Bey lives in Overbrook and holds a Ph.D. and Master of Science from Penn State University in Geography.  He has served as an original member and organizer of the Pittsburgh Water Equity Task Force, a partnership between PWSA, the US Water Alliance, and community members with a commitment to advancing equitable investments and management practices of our water infrastructure.

“I’m looking forward to working with Mayor Ed Gainey on building out a real plan for the future of our great city,” said Dr. Jamil Bey. “Thank you to Council for their leadership and partnership as I step forward into the role as Director of City Planning.”

Groceries are expensive: Stick to this food budget

by Laura Onyeneho Houston Defender

Today’s Millennials face all kinds of financial woes. Still, this particular problem has people wondering if they’ll have to survive off ramen noodles like in their college days, that is the skyrocketing grocery prices.

A U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics report reveals a brutal truth—groceries are up a staggering 10.7 percent year-over-year, with essentials like meat and eggs taking a bigger bite at 13 percent. This inflation surge forces young adults to embrace a new strategy— conquering the grocery bill.

But don’t worry. With some planning and expert advice, navigating the grocery aisle and enjoying delicious meals doesn’t have to break the bank.

For many people, rising food costs can mean more hardships. Higher earners are more equipped to handle the effects of rising prices. However, a small expense increase might greatly impact those barely making ends meet. This includes households with low incomes, where the expense of food accounts for, on average, thirty percent of income.

Food costs have always fluctuated, but they did so more so during the pandemic. Throughout 2020, food prices have increased steadily due to a mix of supply-chain interruptions, labor costs, inflation, and taxes on select foreign imports.

Luckily, unlike fixed payments like car notes and rent, paying for groceries is more flexible. You can reduce your monthly shopping bill with a few strategies.

Planning is Your Budget Blueprint

Jennifer Jones is a certified integrative nutritionist, executive wellness coach, and the founder of JENuine Nutrition. She teaches

Here’s something that may surprise you. Most people suck at managing money regardless of how much money they make. Yep, it’s possible to be good at earning money and terrible at spending, saving and investing money. It’s possible to be both a tightwad and a spendthrift simultaneously. How can one be a tightwad— someone reluctant to spend money and be a spendthrift—someone who spends money in a reckless way? Easy, we all have things that we absolutely refuse to spend or waste money on. Vice versa, we all have something that we’re passionate about, like to indulge in and spend way more than we should on. I like to refer to things that we tend to overindulge on as vices and gross habits. Truth of the matter is, we’re paying high prices for our vices. How not to suck at money really isn’t a math problem. It’s about reconciling our net income with our gross habits. A year from now or five years from now seems like forever when you’re looking forward. However, when you look backwards, you understand an often-stated truth; time flies. Before you know it, you’re at the age that you once thought was old. In a world and a life that’s fastpaced, managing our finances effectively is crucial. We all want to live a balanced, healthy life, both physically and fiscally. To live a more balanced life fiscally, we want to earn more, save more, invest more, spend less, avoid being ripped off, and manage our money wisely. Here’s how we can elevate our financial

professionals and organizations how to optimize their health and performance through nutrition and lifestyle management.

“Planning and flexibility are key,” says Jones. “Millennials are busy, but dedicating your time during the week to plan meals and create a list can save them significant money.”

She added: “You’re either going to pay in the

Don’t be afraid of store brands! Many private-label brands offer comparable quality to national brands at a fraction of the price. Consider generic versions of your favorite pantry staples and compare unit prices before deciding.

front end or the back end, which means you’re better off paying a little extra for healthy food than cheaper food with chemicals and preservatives that is unhealthy and will eventually contribute to medical expenses for chronic diseases.”

Texans spend, on average, close to $300 every time they shop. The U.S. Census Bureau reports that Texans spend $286.19 on food per week. Houston has the highest food costs in the United States, with an average of $302.65, per a HelpAdvisor review of Census

game and ensure that our bank account is as healthy as our ambitions.

Know Your Numbers: If you can’t measure it, you can’t manage it! The first rule of not sucking at money is knowing where you stand financially at all times. This means being intimately familiar with your income, expenses, debts, savings, investments, credit score, and more importantly, your net worth. Tracking these numbers isn’t just about knowing how much you earn, spend, save, and invest, it’s about understanding your financial flow, your financial health and your financial wealth position. It’s about identifying areas where you can improve. When you know your numbers, you should be able to answer these questions as easily as you can sing your ABCs: What’s your gross income? What’s your net income? What’s your disposable income? What’s your tax bracket? How much are your total monthly expenses? What’s your credit score? What’s your total debt exposure? What’s the balance in your savings account? What’s the balance in your retirement account? What’s your net worth?

Bureau data. Cities with the highest average weekly grocery bills:

1. Miami: $327.89

2. Houston: $302.65

3. Riverside, Calif.: $300.50

4. San Francisco: $298.44

5. Los Angeles: $295.33

6. Seattle: $289.23

7. New York: $282.60

8. Dallas: $282.21

9. Chicago: $278.91

10. Atlanta: $277.54

Jones says there are strategies around purchasing healthy, affordable food without breaking the bank.

“Cooking a large batch of food on the weekend can be used for multiple weekly meals. This reduces the temptation to eat out, which can be significantly more expensive,” she explains. “Leftovers can be re-purposed into new meals, further maximizing your grocery budget.”

Impulse buys at the grocery store are a budget killer. Meal planning is your secret weapon against unplanned spending. Dedicate some time each week to plan your meals and create a grocery list based on those plans. Utilize online resources and cookbooks to find budget-friendly recipes. Consider incorporating seasonal ingredients, which are often more affordable.

Having a well-stocked pantry is a game-changer. Stock up on non-perishable staples like beans, rice, pasta, canned goods, and dried herbs. These versatile ingredients can be transformed into countless meals, reducing reliance on expensive pre-made or precut options.

Set Financial Goals: If you aim at nothing, you’ll hit it every time! Without clear financial goals, it’s easy to wander aimlessly through your financial life wondering where your hard-earned money went. It’s important to set specific, measurable, and realistic goals. Whether it’s building an emergency fund, paying off debt, saving to buy a car, saving for a wedding, saving for a house, saving for college, or saving for retirement. Having concrete, realistic, specific, measurable financial goals will keep you focused and motivated on the real reason why you get up and bust your butt every day to make it happen for you and your family. Regularly review your goals and your progress towards your goals. When making financial decisions, ask yourself, does this decision help me reach my financial goal? Avoid Debt Traps: Debt is hazardous to your wealth! Use debt only when absolutely necessary! Even then, take extreme precaution when taking on debt and seek to pay it off as fast as humanly possible. Debt is the enemy of wealth. Debt will have you singing, “I owe, I owe so off to work I go.” Debt reduces your dis-

posable income and hinders your ability to save. If you become too overburdened with debt and you’re unable to pay, debt can destroy your credit score. I have created guardrails on how to use debt responsibly. These guardrails will help you avoid falling off the financial cliff and into financial ruin. I’ll share my financial guardrail on the most pitiful debt of allcredit cards: Never have more than two credit cards with a limit of more than $2,000 on each card. Never owe more than $600 on each credit card. By doing this, you’ll ensure never get trapped in credit card debt and you’ll always maintain a healthy credit utilization ratio ensuring a respectable credit score. Invest in Your Future: An investment in yourself pays the best dividends! Investing is essential for building wealth. If you ask any current investor their biggest regret when it comes to investing, they’d say they wish they started investing sooner. If you’re reading this and you’re not actively investing for your future, START NOW! Your future self is depending on you. The sooner you start investing, the more time you have to benefit from compound interest. Compound interest is the wealth multiplier. Albert Einstein refers to compound interest as the 8th wonder of the world. Although I’m eager to motivate you to start investing immediately, I want you

The business of tipping: Experts, unions, and tip workers weigh

by Helen Bezuneh

(The Afro)—It’s a situation we’re all familiar with. You’re at a business where you didn’t receive service that’s up to your standards. When the bill arrives, you calculate a low tip, seeing as the service, in your opinion, was quite poor. You do this, perhaps, because you have been taught that tipping is optional and should correlate with how good the service was. But national etiquette expert Diane Gottsman, this idea completely misinterprets the purpose of tipping.

“[A popular misconception is]that if you don’t want to tip, you don’t have to tip,” said Gottsman, founder of The Protocol School of Texas. “Gratuity—tipping, in this case —is part of the service. Those who are working for gratuity are oftentimes taking less hourly wage, and tipping is how they offset the costs, that’s part of their livelihood. So we should consider tipping, and tipping generously when appropriate.”

Since the minimum wage for tipped workers is so low, those workers rely on tips to make a living. So, when you tip, you’re not simply providing workers with a treat for doing a good job—you’re paying for their sustenance.

“While some tipped workers do make good money, particularly in high-volume bars and fine dining restaurants, most do not,” said Restaurant Workers United, a union for restaurant, bar, and cafe workers, in a written statement. “Tips are a very unreliable source of income; no one should have to worry about paying for essentials because

they got stiffed on a few tables.”

Tipped airport service workers at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, for example, struggle to make ends meet, said Jaime Contreras, executive vice president of 32BJ Service Employees International Union (SEIU). The minimum wage for tipped employees in Washington, D.C. recently rose from $6.00 per hour to $8.00.

32BJ, a local branch of the union that represents more than 175,000 members in ten northeastern states, represents some of the airport workers, who work to sustain the travel industry as wheelchair attendants, baggage handlers and more.

“Without a tipped wage, workers pretty much rely on the generosity of customers who may not even know how little tipped workers make, or people don’t even know they have to tip,” said Contreras. “If you’re a wheelchair attendant at the airport and you

help people to and from their gate, who may be from places where tipping is not a cultural thing, that creates a problem. And that’s why we have pushed for tipped wheelchair workers at airports to get a higher wage.”

Tadesse Tadege, a tipped worker in guest services at D.C.’s Marriot Marquis, is a member of Unite Here Local 25, a union that represents over 7,500 hotel, restaurant and casino workers in the D.C. metro region, for similar troubling reasons. Working at the hotel for eight years, he has helped guests check in, helped them with their luggage and directions and more. The gap between the incomes for tipped and nontipped employees at the hotel is wide, Tadege said. “They get $25 and we get $12.99.”

“Eight years ago when I was hired, the tipping was okay,” he said. “But now it’s going down. [Back then] our major income was calling taxis , so peo-

ple gave you two, three dollars here and there. Now, a lot of people use rideshare apps like Uber or Lyft. So they don’t need our help. The other thing is, with the digital age, a lot of people want to give you something, but they don’t even have cash. Because of these reasons, we are affected.”

Tips cover most of his and his coworkers’ expenses, said Tadege. With a lack of tips, most work multiple jobs to fill the gap in their income.

Joining Local 25 has had a major impact on these conditions, he said.

“I didn’t know Local 25 before, but now I see the benefit,” he said. “They are really fighting for us everyday. Everyday they come and check with us if there is any problem. We even got paid for missing payments because of them. Now, I tell people to join unions. They are on our side.”

Local 25 is looking towards improving members’ hourly rate, said

Has tipping culture gone too far?

by Laura Onyeneho

Houston Defender

Americans are at a tipping point—with tipping, that is. There is an increased frustration with “tipflation,” the pressure to tip at places that traditionally didn’t expect it. The result? More people tipping out of guilt than out of appreciation for good service. The culprit? The digital tipping prompt. These screens ask for a 20 percent, 25 percent, or even 30 percent tip from coffee shops to takeout counters to convenience stores. Unlike a tip jar you can easily ignore at the cashier, these digital versions create social pressure and make it difficult to bypass, especially when your choice might be on display for others (including employees) to see. This shift in tipping culture highlights the reliance on a system that

keeps wages low for service industry workers in the expectation that customers will make up the difference. While tipping can be a way to reward exceptional service, the current system needs to be more consistent and leaves workers at the mercy of individual customers. The Downside of Tip Dependence: 1. Unpredictable Income: To meet ends, servers and other tipped workers often rely on inconsistent tip amounts. This makes budgeting and financial planning difficult.

2. Gender and Race Bias: Studies show that women and people of color often receive lower tips than White men, even for the same level of service.

3. Power Imbalance: Customers hold the power to determine a server’s income, creating an uncomfortable dynamic that can discourage com-

plaints or requests for better service.

I remember stopping by one of my favorite Thai food spots, and once I placed my order, the waiter turned the prompt over, giving me three mandatory tip choices. I cocked my head to the side as the waiter patiently held the card payment machine. I clicked the customized tip button and selected “$0.00.” (Yeah, I know it sounds mean, but hear me out). I was taking my food to go. What exactly do you need the tip for? You are doing your job and taking my order.

That’s it.

There should be alternatives that provide service industry workers with a more stable and predictable income while still allowing customers to reward exceptional service.

Here are some possibilities:

1. Raising the minimum wage for tipped

workers would put the onus of fair compensation on employers, eliminating the reliance on unpredictable tips.

2. Implement a service charge: Restaurants could add a service charge to every bill, ensuring staff receive a fair base pay independent of customer tipping practices. This could be a flat fee or a percentage of the bill.

3. Moving to a tipping-optional model: This would allow customers to tip for exceptional service but wouldn’t require them to do so for basic service.

Ultimately, the goal should be a system that ensures fair wages for service industry workers while allowing customers to recognize outstanding service. Moving away from our reliance on tipping fatigue could benefit workers and customers.

Emebet Samuel Kassa, Internal Organizing Director of the union. With workers not making sufficient money and guests not tipping, Local 25 strongly believes that management should make up the difference, said Kassa.

No matter the quality of service, you should always tip 15 to 20 percent, said Gottsman.

“I always like to air on the side of 20,” she said, “but i want to be fair and respectful for those who might have more of a struggle because some people are still struggling with inflation and trying to find jobs after the pandemic.”

In a survey conducted several years ago by William Michael Lynn, a tipping expert who himself paid his way through college by waiting tables and bartending, only 70 percent of people gave an answer in the 15 to 20 percent range when asked how much they think is customary to tip.

Though people need to improve their tipping habits, tipping is not always necessary in all contexts, said Gottsman.

“It’s discretionary,” she said. “If you’re at a counter, let’s say at a coffee shop, and they hand you a cup of coffee and it’s a six second exchange, it’s much like a tip jar. A tip jar is discretionary,” she added. It’s also unacceptable to tip in some situations, she said. Many grocery stores, for example, don’t allow curbside workers to accept a tip since they get paid an hourly wage.

“Most of the time tipping is acceptable, but when in doubt, you ask,” noted Gottsman. While tipping may not be obligatory at cafes and the like, gratuity screens tend to make customers feel pressured to tip, said Gottsman.

“We feel compelled to leave that tip especially when [the displayed tip range] starts out high, so people feel pressure to leave a tip when in fact they wouldn’t have left a tip at all, or they would have left a couple of quarters in the change jar,” she said. “It’s important

to know that you can feel comfortable touching the ‘no tip’ button [for] a service that was very quick. They aren’t working for gratuity, it’s…an hourly worker.”

To target the problematic impacts on workers, some restaurants have made the radical choice to entirely eliminate tipping. In 2015, Danny Meyer decided to do so for his restaurants, raising menu prices to adequately pay his workers instead. He called the model “hospitality included.”  Meyer, however, ended his no-tipping policy in 2020, citing the unpredictable future of the precarious restaurant economy.

Getting rid of tipping is harder than most would think, said Lynn.

“The restaurants that have eliminated tipping have had to do one of two things: either replace tipping with automatic service charges, which by the way nobody likes…or they can increase menu prices and they’ll pay their staff higher wages. But to do that, they’ve gotta increase menu prices. People actually don’t like those higher menu prices either.”

Unions nationwide will persist in their advocacy for workers grappling with detrimental tipping systems. “We generally aren’t looking to do away with tipping right now,” said Restaurant Workers United, “but what we do want is higher wages, better benefits, and more reliable scheduling to make restaurant work a career that we can rely on. The larger cultural conversation about tipping isn’t going to change fundamentally unless we have the power as workers to demand the changes that we want to see in our industry, and that means we have to organize first.”

(The post The business of tipping: experts, unions and tip workers weigh in on gratuity appeared first on AFRO American Newspapers.)

Don’t be afraid of store brands! Many private-label brands offer comparable quality to national brands at a fraction of the price. Consider generic versions of your favorite pantry staples and compare unit prices before deciding.

Loyalty programs and coupons can also

help you save. Utilize store loyalty programs and apps to access exclusive discounts and promotions. Clip coupons from your local newspaper or utilize digital couponing apps. However, remember, coupons should be a tool to enhance your savings, not the sole driver of your shopping decisions.

to investigate before you invest. In other words, educate yourself on different investment vehicles such as stocks, bonds, mutual funds, exchange traded funds, and retirement accounts like 401(k)s and IRAs. Yes, if you’re actively contributing to your company-sponsored 401(k) plan, you are investing in your future. Your company-sponsored retirement plan is the best place to start investing—especially if they match a portion of your contribution. That’s a guaranteed 100 percent return on your investment.

Create Multiple Income Streams: Having multiple streams of income is a necessity, not a luxury!

Relying solely on a single source of income is risky. I believe in diversifying income streams to enhance financial stability. This

could mean starting a side hustle, taking on a parttime job, starting a business, selling merchandise, turning your hobby into a

hustle, investing in rental properties, or finding passive income opportunities. Evaluate your skills and interests to identify po-

tential secondary income sources. These ventures not only bolster your financial resilience, but can also provide an avenue for personal growth and fulfillment. Practice Financial Discipline: Practice discipline or you’ll experience financial setbacks and regrets! Knowing what to do is one thing. Doing what you know you should be doing and avoiding what you shouldn’t be doing is the real litmus test. Ultimately, financial success comes down to discipline. It’s about making the right choices day in and day out, resisting impulses to overspend, consistently saving and investing and more importantly, staying committed to your financial goals. If you don’t get

serious about your money, you’ll never have serious money. Create routines that reinforce good financial habits, such as reviewing your budget weekly, looking at your financial statements monthly, and planning your shopping to avoid impulse buys. Over time, these practices become second-nature, leading to long-term financial health. It SUCKS to suck at money, so stop doing things that set you back financially.

Guest Editorial

As campus protests against war increase, care must be taken to avoid Kent State massacre

Student activists from around the DMV surround one of the tents at a George Washington University encampment on April 25, calling for a cease-fire in Gaza, where over 34,000 Palestinians have died in Israel’s retaliatory response to Hamas terror attacks on Oct. 7. (Ja’Mon Jackson/The Washington Informer)

College campuses across America have become highly polarized hotbeds as students protest the war in Gaza. But historically this is nothing new in our nation’s history.

Fortunately, recent events have yet to escalate to the scale of major student protests that were recorded during the late 1960s and early 1970s against the Vietnam War or the 1980s against South African apartheid. But allowing these protests to become fodder for politicians hoping to secure a foothold in the upcoming elections, or moving to bring police onto college campuses too soon or with unreasonable force could turn today’s protests into mirror images of past tragedies.

The Kent State Massacre, when National Guard soldiers took aim at students on May 4, 1970, immediately comes to mind. The shootings took place during a rally as students voiced their opposition to America expanding its involvement in Vietnam. In just 13 seconds, 28 soldiers fired off nearly 70 rounds, killing four and wounding nine other students.

In the end, over 4 million students engaged in peaceful, organized walkouts at hundreds of colleges, universities and high schools. In a subsequent trial against several of the Kent State shooters who were accused and later acquitted of depriving students of their civil rights, the judge—in accessing the actions taken by the National Guard—said: “such use of force is, and was, deplorable.”

College campuses have long served as breeding grounds for student activism during which young adults exercised their rights of free speech with peaceful protests. Most recent examples have included mass protests against the Iraq War and following the murder of George Floyd, as well as the student participants that were part of the Occupy Wall Street movement—mostly limited to off-campus actions.

So far, given the reported skirmishes that have erupted between students on both sides of the aisle, and even with local police being called in to break up on campus tent encampments and to arrest students who refuse to comply with orders from various college administrations, the protests have remained mostly peaceful.

But this could change if the number of participants multiplies too quickly or if the participation of insurgents—those who are professional protesters unaffiliated with the universities where demonstrations are occurring—are allowed to overshadow the peaceful actions of students and possibly influence their decisions.

Just days ago, at Columbia University, protesters were removed and arrested by police after youth took over a building with some of the students now facing expulsion, forcing the institution to cancel its large commencement ceremony to be replaced with smaller ones.

Meanwhile, and on a more positive note, the University of Michigan successfully held its massive graduation ceremonies at Michigan Stadium, despite disturbances led by pro-Palestinian supporters.   College administrators, for now, can at least celebrate the fact that classes will soon end for the summer, allowing tempers to cool and hopefully, for politicians to sit down in negotiations and find a way to end the conflict in Gaza.

If not, when fall classes resume, and with the general election then just a few months away, college campuses could erupt in ways we have not seen since Kent State—and that would be tragic on all accounts.

(Reprinted from The Washington Informer)

(TriceEdneyWire.com)—I don’t

know if you’ve ever had a Family Reunion. If you haven’t, I think you should have one.  They can be very interesting!

That’s a pledge we made when Mother left us a few years ago. We always had one when she was with us, and we have kept that pledge. We have one every year. After this one, I am tempted to say, “That was a very nice thing to do”, but when you get a family that is as blessed as ours, maybe it is a good idea to give all the new born babies, the one year olds, teenage girls who live in another world with their new found dance moves and cheerleading skills and eye rolls, until they stop responding to you as though you must be from another planet!

As for many of the parents, grand and great grandparents, they are so enamored by what their grown up children have produced that each one, with few exceptions, think theirs can do no wrong. In many cases they are right, and as their Aunt, I love all of them, except when their parents think their child is never wrong in the squabbles their child has with their cousins.

I have no children, but parents with children think that means those of us without children could not possibly understand anything about children.

I must admit I sometimes cannot resist coming to the rescue of the little ones, especially when their parents are chastising them.

As for the noise the little ones produce every day when the big event is going on, they just smile and pretend they even hear it, so it doesn’t bother them. Well, I think all of them surely must have left their hearing aids back home!

Occasionally, we have family reunions at my Mom’s home, but this year, we (THEY) thought it would be a great idea to rent a Texas mansion and we would all live together 24/7!  They were right about the first night. They just didn’t get it right for the rest of the time when everybody seemed to come alive together!

Don’t get me wrong now, because I love all of my family members, but like it is with every family, it might have been wise for some to have been invited on the day of the main event only!

I must admit that I would have been

happier having rotation day where all the children lived together in one house according to the level of age or maturity, and have the parents who believe they have the most wonderful children in the world, live in the house with like-minded parents.

Those who have no children should live in House number 2 and pretend to each other what wonderful nieces and nephews and family members they have, who would never do anything wrong. But of course, when they say it, they know better!

Well, I truly do enjoy family reunions and I will always be present, but I will be happy to be on the next planning committee.

I would be happy to give my niece, Lynne, and her husband, Terry, a break, and everyone should have an opportunity to participate in a Family Reunion.

First, I would give my niece and nephew a break and let somebody else see how much of a challenge family reunions can be…but everybody should have them!

We spent three days together, and as we parted we gave each other hugs and everybody was happy. We took photographs to share the memories and the great times we had.  I am so proud of my family. We have grown closer every year.

We can’t afford to let anyone Swiftboat us on Bidenomics

(TriceEdneyWire.com)—“The truth is that the U.S. economy is a remarkable success story. Don’t let anyone tell you that it isn’t.”—Paul Krugman

Earlier this year, the National Urban League launched our D3 initiative to Defend Democracy, Demand Diversity, and Defeat Poverty.  The initiative to combat poverty emphasizes a comprehensive strategy centered on increasing access and equity across several critical areas, recognizing poverty as a significant national issue that jeopardizes the future prosperity of the United States.

The plan includes expanding access to quality education and financial services, making childcare and healthcare more affordable, and addressing the high costs associated with higher education. It aims to improve social safety nets and create affordable housing while advocating for the decriminalization of poverty and fair pay through living wages. This initiative targets the root causes of poverty, particularly in communities of color, and views the eradication of poverty as crucial for the nation’s moral and economic health.

We prioritize these issues, because we know that there are political forces whose agenda conflicts with our progress and our continued work to keep building on progress and fighting for equity wherever and whenever it is necessary.

As we reported in the 2024 State of Black America, which featured a Progress Report on the Biden-Harris Administration:

“When President Biden took office in January 2021, the Black unemployment rate was 9.2 percent.  As

(TriceEdneyWire.com)—In Waukegan, Illinois, about 40 miles north of Chicago, Dulce Ortiz is celebrating with her children.

Ortiz is a cofounder of the local environmental justice organization Clean Power Lake County. She has been organizing for years to get coal ash waste cleaned up from the site of the retired coal power plant in her town. The historic suite of power plant pollution standards announced last week by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) includes a rule that will finally force power plant owners to clean up their coal ash pollution. This is good news for Dulce Ortiz’s family and countless others, including the 30 million people who get their drinking water from the Great Lakes. Coal ash contains toxic pollutants like mercury, arsenic, and cancer-causing polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) that leach into groundwater. And there are more than 100 coal ash waste sites along the shores of the Great Lakes. That includes legacy sites from retired plants like the one in Waukegan, which left two coal ash ponds and another coal ash deposit.

Ortiz says, “My vision for my family and my community is a lakefront where I can take my children swimming in the waters of Lake Michigan without worrying about toxic pollution; where we can go fishing without worrying about mercury and PCB contamination of the fish we catch; where I can go running along the shores of Lake Michigan without worrying about air pollution triggering my asthma. I want to see a clean energy future for Waukegan and all communities that have borne the burden of coal and industrial plant pollution for

H. Morial

of January 2024, that number is 5.2 percent.  Through a series of bills investing in America’s infrastructure, workforce, technological advantage, and climate, the administration has created opportunities for generations of Black Americans to prosper.”

Simply put, by all economic metrics, Bidenomics is working.  It is working for our communities, and it is working for all of America. Progress works on a continuum and progress requires active participation, that is why our D3 initiative also calls upon every citizen to stand up and defend democracy.  We know that efforts to suppress votes through intimidation, suppression, lack of access and other efforts to change the laws and make it harder are part of the strategy to keep our community from participating.  In 2022 testimony to a Congressional Subcommittee studying “The Impact of Disinformation Targeted at Communities of Color” the head of the University of Texas Center for Media Engagement said:

“Specific content is drafted as well as tactical behavior employed to influence minority groups.  These targeted messages undermine our democracy as they work to alienate and disengage minority groups.”

We see this over and over, so it

decades.”

Waukegan has borne a particularly heavy burden. The predominantly Black and brown residents share their town with five of Illinois’ 11 Superfund hazardous waste sites. That does not include the coal ash deposits. Toxic waste from coal and industrial plants has been a plague for many American communities like Waukegan. One of my mentors, a legendary community organizer in Pittsburgh, once showed me an uncovered coal ash pit there. I asked him where all that waste went when there was a heavy rain. I still remember his response: “nowhere good.”

In addition to addressing coal ash, the new EPA rules also include vital new standards for carbon and other toxic pollutants pumped into our air and water by coal- and gas-burning power plants. The impact of these rules in cutting carbon dioxide (CO2) from power plants—one of the top greenhouse gas contributors—will be to accelerate the decline of carbon emissions and our transition to clean energy. And, of course, these pollution standards mark a tremendous stride for public health that will save lives and prevent chronic illnesses. The rules will remove economic barriers for some America’s communities that need it the most—in particular, the coal ash rule, as Ortiz points out:

shouldn’t be a shock that in March 2024 as the economy continued to grow stronger, we saw that Americans for Prosperity, the conservative think tank funded by the Koch Brothers, launched a very strategic and well-funded effort to Bidenomics and all the good news and positive outcomes for Americans from bipartisan policies that have led to the strongest post-recession recovery in US History.

The sophisticated campaign led by AFP is both national and targeted in specific congressional districts, including a number of Black and Hispanic represented districts.

Millions of dollars are being spent on ads promoting a false narrative on the Biden Administration’s successful economic policies and to algorithmically profile voters who click on these misleading ads.

As I said in my introduction to this year’s state of Black America, “Our abiding commitment to freedom is undermined by discriminatory voter ID laws, gerrymandering, the shuttering of polling places in predominantly minority neighborhoods, limits on early voting, and reckless purging of voter rolls.”     It is also undermined by divisive disinformation. We know that before any election gets here, anti-racial justice forces will push false narratives and disinformation designed to depress us and divide us in America.  By every factor that matters, it is important to remember that Bidenomics Works.  These “Swiftboat” tactics that target us on our phones and in our computers are a dangerous tactic we must remain vigilant about as we fight on for justice and equality.

“Allowing companies to pollute our communities without forcing them to clean up deters future investments in those same communities. We have aspirational plans in Waukegan for lakefront revitalization that have not been able to get off the ground due to the lingering contamination. This is devastating for communities like Waukegan that desperately need new investments and economic renewal.”

The new suite of EPA rules is a critical moment in the fight for a clean energy future and the result of years of advocacy. These common-sense safeguards mark the beginning of our next chapter in the fight to transition to a 100 percent clean energy economy. And, remarkably, they are the latest in a string of groundbreaking actions by the Biden-Harris administration announced throughout April, which is Earth Month. The Bureau of Land Management issued a new federal rule making conservation a priority on our majestic public lands. The Department of the Interior announced new protections for 13 million acres of land in the Western Arctica from oil drilling. That is just to name a couple. What a way to celebrate Earth Month! Today, Dulce Ortiz’s vision for her family and her community is closer to reality because of the EPA’s new power sector rules. And that is a vision that so many of us share for our own families, our own kids, and our own communities. We all deserve a cleaner, healthier future. And the Biden-Harris administration just delivered in a way that is going to help get us there faster. (Ben Jealous is the Executive Director of the Sierra Club and a Professor of Practice at the University of Pennsylvania.)

Justice delayed is justice denied

(TriceEdneyWire.com)—America is a nation of symbols. The bald eagle was designated the national emblem because of its strength and determination. The Statue of Liberty is a symbol of freedom.

The Liberty Bell is an iconic symbol of independence. While people are quick to embrace these and other symbols of American patriotism, the true meaning behind these iconic symbols is often rejected and ignored.

The Lady Justice Statue is the most recognized symbol of American justice, depicted as a blindfolded woman holding scales and a sword. The scales represent the balance of justice. They imply a systematic, rational process of fairness where both sides of a case will be considered even-handedly. It counters the reality of a shameless segment of society with its “thumb on the scale” approach to justice—an approach where too much weight (or biased influence) on one side will cause the scales to tilt unfairly in one direction.

The sword in the hand of Lady Justice represents power and authority as well as the power to punish injustice. The most severe blow from the sword is capital punishment. The true meaning of the blindfold tells us that justice is blind in its impartiality and objectivity of the law. Justice does not see who is before her. Whether rich or poor, Black or White, brown, friend or foe, male or female, everyone receives equal treatment. External factors from partisan politics, wealth, gender, power, race, or fame are removed to allow the unhindered execution of an honest and objective final judgment. Yet, justice is not always blind when it comes to the presumption of innocence. The presumption of innocence is the fundamental principle of our American judicial system. It means every person accused of a crime is presumed innocent unless and until his or her guilt is established beyond a reasonable doubt. Behind this one principle is an individual’s basic right to have a fair trial where the burden of proof is placed squarely on the government. States must prove a person’s guilt to the highest standard.

If there is “reasonable doubt,” an accused person must be given the benefit of the doubt and cleared because the state’s burden of proof has not been met. What happens when Lady Justice decides to remove her blindfold? Regardless of whether it occurs in the past or present, the presumption of innocence has proven to be no match for Jim Crow-type justice. The racist stereotypes of Black men as predators have contributed to the higher rates of incarceration and wrong-

David W. Marshall

Commentary

ful convictions for Black men. The failure and breakdown of our criminal justice system by way of police coercion tactics, youth vulnerability to false confessions, racial profiling, media bias, the exclusion of DNA evidence, and wrongful conviction despite inconsistent evidence is an unfailing side of America’s dark and painful history. From the Emmett Till story to the Scottsboro Boys, who were wrongly convicted of raping two White women, to the Exonerated Five, who were wrongly convicted of brutally assaulting and raping a White woman jogging in New York City’s Central Park, Black men in America have continued to be perceived as dangerous and violent. The perception of Black men as a danger to White women, in particular, is deeply rooted in the history and legacy of slavery. In Louisiana, for instance, rape was only considered a crime when the victim was a White woman, according to the American Bar Association, and capital punishment was a mandatory punishment for rape and attempted rape only when the alleged attacker was an enslaved person (and Black). This is what happens when Lady Justice removes her blindfold, sees the race of the people before her, and then decides to abuse the authority of the sword. As a result, Black men were killed for crimes they didn’t commit, and it still occurs today. In the American justice system, no one is above the law, not even a president. The law is to be fairly, impartially, and consistently enforced by the courts, which should be independent from other branches of government. Again, what happens when Lady Justice removes her blindfold, sees the wealth and power of the person before her, and then decides to allow the “thumb on the scale” type of justice to tip the balance of fairness in one direction? While Donald Trump is no longer president, as a citizen, he still has a tremendous amount of power and influence throughout our nation and within all levels of our legal justice system. Four separate jurisdictions, New York, Florida, Georgia, and Washington D.C., have criminal prosecutions against the former president.

Three of the four might not reach the courtroom before the 2024 presidential election. Justice is best served when trials take place without undue delay. If the defendant were anyone other than Donald Trump, the wheels of justice would likely not be grinding to a halt. This now denies the American voter the opportunity to see the facts and outcomes from all four cases prior to choosing the next president of the United States. With the Trump-appointed Judge Aileen Cannon, the “thumb on the scale” justice is most obvious in Florida. Critics of Cannon point to her slow-walking her decisions and the apparent pandering to Trump’s requests to delay the trail. Now, Judge Cannon has postponed the trial indefinitely, thereby removing the balance of justice. Trump’s long-term strategy is to delay his trials, get elected, and then make the trials go away.

Justice delayed by Judge Cannon and the U.S. Supreme Court means justice could ultimately be denied to the American people.

(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)

There’s lies, darn lies, and crime statistics

In April 2015, a Black man died in the back of a police vehicle in Baltimore, sparking weeks of protests and rioting.

Black Lives Matter activists told the media that White racism was the source of “state-sponsored violence.”

Conservatives argued that internal problems in Black communities, such as Black-on-Black violence, were more serious than external issues. The BLM activists accused conservatives of blaming the victims while disregarding systemic racism.

While BLM activists and conservatives yelled at one another, USA Today published a headline that attracted little notice. The headline read: Baltimore’s May homicides are the highest in nearly 40 years.

Following the violence in Baltimore, the 2015 Aspen Ideals Festival invited author Ta-Nehisi Coates and New Orleans Mayor Mitch Landrieu to discuss ways to break the cycle of violence in the inner city. Before the discussion began, Coates and Landrieu briefed the audience on the grim statistics of urban America.

Since 1980, 630,000 Americans have been killed, outnumbering those killed in both World Wars. African Americans accounted for half of the victims, despite the fact that they make up only 13 percent of the US population. In New Orleans, there were 150 to 200 homicides each year, eight times the national average; 95 percent of the murder victims were African Americans aged 16 to 25.

Coates proposed that the only way to break the cycle of violence was to make policy decisions that resulted in the elimination of White supremacy. Landrieu argued that policy changes took too long, particularly in cities plagued by this “culture of violence.” Instead of attempting to transform society, Landrieu stated that we must change the way individuals think.

Coates objected to Landrieu’s claim that

J.

Pharoah

Doss Check It Out

Black Americans have created a “culture of violence.” Coates claimed that African American life in this country has been brutal since 1619. African Americans have always lived in a violent culture. It is unsurprising that violence occurs, but African Americans do not have a “culture of violence”; rather, they have a culture of self-preservation.

Coates captivated the audience more than Landrieu did.

That same year, BLM attracted even greater attention by disrupting events during the Democratic Presidential Primary. Landrieu attempted to lower the number of Black-on-Black homicides in New Orleans, and Coates relocated to France.

Subsequently, the Journal of the American Medical Association released a study that received little attention due to its failure to confront White supremacy or promote a culture of self-preservation. The study’s title was Suicide Trends Among Elementary School-Age Children in the United States. According to the study, suicide was the leading cause of death among children under the age of 12, and the number of Black children under the age of 12 had doubled between 1993 and 2012. According to the investigators, “To their knowledge, this was the first national study to observe higher suicide rates among Blacks compared to Whites.”

That historic first remained unnoticed because Black Americans were too preoccupied with condemning President

Donald Trump’s racism. By 2018, suicide had become the second leading cause of death for Black adolescents aged 10 to 14, and the third leading cause of death among Black teenagers aged 15 to 19.

Today, Black suicide rates remain unnoticed, but another troubling number has arisen in 2024.

Three months ago, President Biden met with police chiefs at the White House. The president and police chiefs were proud of a report that showed 32 cities had a 10 percent decrease in homicides in 2023 compared to 2022.

In 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic, homicides in the United States increased dramatically. Unfortunately, the 10 percent reduction in homicides just returned the murder rate in most US cities to pre-pandemic levels, which were nothing to brag about. Despite a 10 percent decline in homicides in 2023, the report emphasized that the most startling statistic about homicide in the United States is that Black Americans are murdered at eight times the rate of White Americans.

As horrible as eight times the rate sounds, it is not the disturbing numbers that have arisen in 2024.

According to the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department’s police chief, juvenile crime is the most pressing issue in his jurisdiction. We’re seeing a lot—not just the numbers themselves of how many more juvenile crimes we’re seeing, but the age of them and how they are decreasing in age. It’s depressing to see 12- and 13-year-olds wielding guns and shooting and murdering one another.

If the adolescent crime rates in Charlotte-Mecklenburg are any indication of what to expect in other American inner cities, it’s even more depressing that they went unnoticed when President Biden praised homicide rates returning to pre-pandemic levels.

Justice for Marilyn Mosby and other Black women

(TriceEdneyWire.com)—Marilyn

Mosby is the fearless Baltimore chief prosecutor who took on the six police officers who essentially killed Freddy Gray, a young man who was arrested and given such a “rough ride” that he suffered fatal neck injuries. Mosby’s bold attempt to hold so-called “law enforcement” accountable attracted the ire of the Baltimore police department, then-Governor Larry Hogan, the status-quo “law and order” establishment, and others. How dare she, this young Black woman, the youngest ever to earn election as chief prosecutor, take on the police? Now, she has been convicted on a flimsy charge and may face as many as 40 years in jail.

Usually, prosecutors look the other way toward police violence, which is why so few officers are indicted, much less convicted, for violations of both the law and human decency. In Baltimore, the officers broke laws that required passengers in police transport to be secured by seat belts as they were moved from their arrest site to a police station. Mosby took the unprecedented step of indicting six police officers involved in the death of Freddy Gray. Two were acquitted, one had a hung jury, and three others had their charges dismissed. The federal government declined to prosecute the officers, which means they got away with murder; the City of Baltimore paid Gray’s family $6.4 million when they threatened to sue.

All of this happened in 2015, five years before the murder of George Floyd. Officers were convicted in that case, and the ringleader of the mob, Derek Chauvin, will spend two decades in jail after he infamously put his knee to Floyd’s neck for more than nine minutes. Arguably, had Marilyn Mosby not had the courage to indict officers in the death of Freddy Gray, there would have been no precedent in indicting Chavin and his gang of thugs for killing Freddy

by A. Peter Bailey

(TriceEdneyWire.com)—As we witness and experience what is happening today on the continents of North America and Africa, it’s absolutely important to study and act on the serious guidance for unity left to us by Brother Malcolm X. That’s the important way to celebrate what would have been his 99th birthday on May 19, 2024. A letter sent by Bro. Malcolm on July 31, 1963 to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and several other civil rights leaders including the following: “A united front involving all negro factions, elements and their leaders is absolutely necessary. If capitalistic Kennedy and communistic Khrushchev can find something in common on which to form a united front despite their tremendous ideological differences, it is a disgrace for negro leaders not to be able to submerge our ‘minor’ differences in order to seek a common solution to a common problem caused by a common enemy. On Saturday, August 10th, from 1 – 7pm, the Muslims are sponsoring another giant outdoor rally at 116th Street and Lenox Avenue. Two previous rallies at the same

Julianne Malveaux

Gray. Mosby, in other words, is a trailblazer. She is now being punished for her boldness. Convicted of, essentially, lying on a mortgage application and using her 401-k savings to fund an investment, she could face as many as 40 years in jail. Many Black women, including political pundit Angela Rye and Dick Gregory Society leader E. Faye Williams, have rallied around her as she has asked for a presidential pardon. She has lost almost everything she values—her reputation, her marriage, her property, and there is a motion to revoke her law license, leaving her with no means of support. This case is not only about Marilyn Mosby. It is about the misogynoir that she has faced. She was targeted and prosecuted because she had the nerve to take the system on, targeted, and charged just like Fannie Lou Hamer, who was blinded and then evicted from her home after she registered voters. She has been targeted because she has been a vocal advocate for justice, opposing mass incarceration, racial disparities, and police violence. Pushing for police accountability, she has collided with well-financed opponents who want to see her punished, making an example of her as a deterrent to others who speak up.

I do not use the term lynching lightly. There were nearly five thousand documented lynchings in this country, and nothing compares to a noose around the neck or the burning alive that so many of our people experienced. But the writer Richard Wright once spoke to the widespread

location, attracted 5,000 – 7,000 Harlemites, respectively. We expect our largest crowd this time, rain or shine. There will be no debating, arguing, criticizing or condemning. I will moderate the meeting and guarantee order and courtesy for all speakers. This rally is designed not only to reflect the spirit of unity, but it will give you a chance to present your views to the largest and most explosive elements in metropolitan New York. If you cannot come, please send your representative. Invitations to participate have been sent to: Dr. Gardner C. Taylor, Dr. Adam C. Powell, James Farmer, Whitney Young, A. Phillip Randolph, Dr. Ralph Bunch and Dr. Joseph H. Jackson.” He signed the letter, your Brother, Malcolm X.   A statement he issued to African leaders and other attendees at the July 1964 Organization of African Unity meeting in Cairo, Egypt included the following: “Our problems are your problems: We have lived for over three hundred years in the American den of racists wolves in constant fear of losing life and limb. Recently, three students from Kenya were mistaken for American Negroes and were brutally beaten by the New York

effect of lynching, saying that a lynching that happened in Mississippi could be felt in Chicago. In other words, lynchings were a warning to Black people—stay in your place. Similarly, the prosecution of Marilyn Mosby is a warning to Black women. Stay in your place. How dare you challenge the establishment? It is a warning to other Black women. In Georgia, prosecutor Fanni Willis has had her personal life embarrassingly explored in public because the former President doesn’t want to face charges that he tampered with in an election. In New York, prosecutor Letitia James has faced potshots, threats, and ignorance because she has pursued financial fraud charges against the former President. In Maryland, billionaire bully David Trone has spent $57 million of his own money to defeat Prince George’s County Executive Angela Alsobrooks. Alsobrooks may beat him, but if not, will she pay a price for standing up to a bully? He has the dollars and the racist, vindictive nature to hurt her. In San Francisco, Mayor London Breed is up against financial bullies whose misogynoir is troubling. It’s open season for Black women, and we must respond in kind. Black women can support the sisters on the firing line, Mosby, who will be sentenced in May unless she secures a pardon (www.justiceformarilynmosby.com); Alsobrooks, whose primary is May 14 (www.angelaalsobrooks.com), and Breed, who is in a fight to retain her mayoralty (www. londonbreedformayor.com). We must be vigilant about attacks against those courageous prosecutors who are simply doing their job of bringing charges against the former President. A specious attack on one of us is an attack on all of us. Misygonoir is a disease, and it puts us all in jeopardy.

(Dr. Julianne Malveaux is an economist and author based in Washington, DC. Juliannemalveaux.com)

Police. Shortly after that, two diplomats from Uganda were also beaten by New York Police who mistook them for American Negroes. If Africans are brutally beaten while only visiting in America, imagine the physical and psychological suffering received by your Brothers and Sisters who have lived there for over three hundred years.

“Our problem is your problem. No matter how much independence Africans get here, unless you wear your national dress when you visit America, you may be mistaken for one of us and suffer the same psychological humiliation and physical mutilation that is an everyday occurrence in our lives. Your problem will never be fully solved until and unless ours are solved. You will never be respected until and unless we are also respected. You will never be recognized as free human beings until and unless we are also recognized as human beings.” Again, the most important way to honor Bro. Malcolm is to study and act on what he advocated about unity and plan to announce what we have accomplished on May 19, 2025, which will be the 100th Anniversary of his birth.

ANNOUNCEMENTS Public Notice

ANNOUNCEMENTS Public Notice

CONDITIONS OF SALE

Effective with the August 3, 2020, Sheriff Sale of real estate and all such monthly public sales thereafter shall be conducted virtually through video conferencing technology or live streaming. ALL PARTICIPANTS OR BIDDERS MUST BE REGISTERED AT LEAST 7 DAYS BEFORE THE DATE OF THE SALE IN ORDER TO PARTICIPATE (VIRTUALLY OR IN PERSON) AT THE ALLEGHENY COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE SALES OF REAL ESTATE. REGISTRATION WILL BE AVAILABLE ON THE ALLEGHENY COUNTY SHERIFF’S WEBSITE: SHERIFFALLEGHENYCOUNTY.COM

The Successful bidder will pay full amount of bid in CASH, CERTIFIED CHECK OR CASHIERS CHECK at time of sale, otherwise the property will be resold at the next regular Sheriffs Sale; provided, that if the sale is made on MONDAY, JUNE 3, 2024 the bidder may pay ten percent of purchasing price but not less than 75.00 in CASH, CERTIFIED CHECK, OR CASHIERS CHECK THE DAY IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWING THE SALE, e.g. TUESDAY, JUNE 4, 2024, BETWEEN THE HOURS OF 8:30AM AND 2:30PM IN THE ALLEGHENY COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE. Failure to pay the 10% deposit will have you banned from future Sheriff Sales. And the balance in CASH, CERTIFIED CHECK, OR CASHIERS CHECK, on or before MONDAY, JUNE 10, 2024, at 10:00 O’CLOCK A.M. The property will be resold at the next regular Sheriff’s Sale if the balance is not paid, and in such case all money’s paid in at the original sale shall be applied to any deficiency in the price of which property is resold, and provided further that if the successful bidder is the plaintiff in the execution the bidder shall pay full amount of bid ON OR BEFORE THE FIRST MONDAY OF THE FOLLOWING MONTH, OTHERWISE WRIT WILL BE RETURNED AND MARKED “REAL ESTATE UNSOLD” and all monies advanced by plaintiff will be applied as required by COMMON PLEAS COURT RULE 3129.2 (1) (a).

FORFEITED SALES WILL BE POSTED IN THE SHERIFF’S OFFICE AND LISTED ON THE SHERIFF OF ALLEGHENY COUNTY WEB SITE. AMENDMENT OF THE CODE SECOND CLASS COUNTY NEW CHAPTER 475 THE ALLEGHENY COUNTY CODE OF ORDINANCES, CHAPTER 475, ENTITLED TAXATION IS HEREBY AMENDED THROUGH THE CREATION ARTICLE XII, ENTITLED, “SHERIFF SALES”, AND COMPRISED AS FOLLOWS: SUBSECTION 475-60: RECORDING OF DEEDS AND NOTIFICATION OF SHERIFFS SALES TO TAXING BODIES.

A. FOR ANY REAL PROPERTY OFFERED AT SHERIFFS SALE DUE TO NONPAYMENT OF REAL ESTATE TAXES AND PURCHASED BY A THIRD PARTY THROUGH SUCH SALE, THE SHERIFF SHALL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR FILING THE DEED AND, WITHIN SEVEN DAYS OF FILING OF THE SHERIFFS DEED, PROVIDE WRITTEN NOTICE OF THE CONVEYANCE TO THE ALLEGHENY COUNTY OFFICE OF PROPERTY ASSESSMENTS. THE WRITTEN NOTICE REQUIRED PURSUANT TO THIS SUBSECTION SHALL INCLUDE THE DATE OF THE SALE, IDENTIFICATION OF THE PROPERTY SOLD BY BOTH ADDRESS AND LOT AND BLOCK NUMBER, AND THE NAME AND ADDRESS OF THE INDIVIDUALS OR OTHER ENTITY THAT PURCHASED THE PROPERTY.

B. AT THE TIME OF THE SALE THE SHERIFF SHALL COLLECT ALL REQUISITE FILING COSTS, REALTY TRANSFER TAXES AND FEES, NECESSARY TO PROPERLY RECORD THE DEED. C. WITHIN SEVEN DAYS OF RECEIPT OF WRITTEN NOTICE FROM THE SHERIFF, THE ALLEGHENY COUNTY OFFICE OF PROPERTY ASSESSMENTS SHALL FORWARD COPIES OF SUCH NOTICE TO ALL TAXING BODIES LEVYING REAL ESTATE TAXES ON THE PROPERTY DESCRIBED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO THE MUNICIPALITY AND SCHOOL DISTRICT WHERE THE PROPERTY IS LOCATED. AS REQUIRED BY SECTION 14 OF ACT NO. 77 OF 1986, THE COST OF ALL DOCUMENTARY STAMPS FOR REAL ESTATE TRANSFER TAXES (STATE, LOCAL, AND SCHOOL) WILL BE DEDUCTED BY THE SHERIFF FROM THE PROCEEDS OF THE SALE. Purchasers must pay the necessary recording fees. Pursuant to Rule 3136 P.R.C.P. NOTICE is hereby given that a schedule of distribution will be filed by the Sheriff not later than 30 days from date of sale and that distribution will be made in accordance with the schedule unless exceptions are filed thereto within 10 days thereafter. No further notice of the filing of the schedule of distribution will be given.

A Land Bank formed under 68 Pa. C.S.A. 2101 et seq. may exercise its right to bid pursuant to 68 Pa. C.S.A. 2117(d) (2) through Pa. C.S.A. 2117(d) (4) on certain properties listed for sale under the municipal claims and Tax Lien Law, 53 P.S. 7101 et seq. The Sheriff of Allegheny County will honor the terms of payment which the Land Bank has entered with any municipalities having a claim against the property. If the Land Bank tenders a bid under Pa. C.S.A. 2117(d)(3) or 2117(d)(4) the property will not be offered for sale to others and the Property will be considered sold to the Land Bank for the Upset Price as defined in P.S.7279 and no other bids will be accepted.

NOTICE IS GIVEN THAT ALL SHERIFFS DEEDS TENDERED TO PURCHASERS WILL CONTAIN THE FOLLOWING: NOTICE: The undersigned, as evidenced by the signature(s) to this notice and the acceptance and recording of this deed, (is/are) fully cognizant of the fact that the undersigned may not be obtaining the right of protection against subsidence, as to the property herein conveyed, resulting from coal mining operations and that the purchased property, herein conveyed, may be protected from damage due to mine subsidence by a private contract with the owners of the economic interest in the coal. This notice is inserted herein to comply with the Bituminous Mine Subsidence and Land Conservation Act of 1966. as amended 1980. Oct. 10, P.L 874, No. 156 §1. “This document may not sell, convey, transfer, include, or insure the title to the coal and right of support underneath the surface land described or referred to herein and the owner or owners of such coal may have the complete legal right to remove all of such coal, and in that connection damage may result to the surface of the land, any house, building or other structure on or in such land.”

1JUNE24

D ANDERSON, DECEASED, THE UNKNOWN HEIRS OF DARNELL D ANDERSON DECEASED CASE NO. MG-23-000968 DEBT $23,060.72 ********* NAME OF ATTORNEY(S): KML LAW GROUP, P.C. *********************** ADDRESS OF ATTORNEY(S): SUITE 5000, 701 MARKET STREET PHILADELPHIA, PA 19106

ATTORNEY TELEPHONE NUMBER: (215) 627-1322 ***********-******************* SHORT DESCRIPTION: IN THE COMMONWEAL TH OF PENNSYLVANIA, COUNTY OF ALLEGHENY, 13TH WARD CITY OF PITTSBURGH:

HAVING ERECTED THEREON A DWELLING BEING KNOWN AND NUMBERED AS 7235 UPLAND STREET, PITTSBURGH, PA 15208. DEED BOOK 9732, PAGE 245. BLOCK AND LOT NUMBER 174-B-69.

4JUNE24

DEFENDANT(S) ANTHONY NGUYEN, HELEN NGUYEN

CASE NO. MG-23-000936 ************* DEBT $74,728.86 *********

NAME OF ATTORNEY(S): KML LAW GROUP, P.C. ***********************

ADDRESS OF ATTORNEY(S): SUITE 5000, 701 MARKET STREET PHILADELPHIA, PA 19106

ATTORNEY TELEPHONE NUMBER: (215) 627-1322

***********-******************* SHORT DESCRIPTION: IN THE COMMONWEAL TH OF PENNSYLVANIA, COUNTY OF ALLEGHENY, 20TH WARD CITY OF PITTSBURGH:

PARCEL ONE: HAVINO ERECTED THEREON A DWELLING BEING KNOWN AND NUMBERED AS 2468 POTOMAC AVENUE PITTSBURGH, PA 15216. DEED BOOK VOLUME 11894, PAGE 283, BLOCK AND LOT NUMBER 36-J-176

PARCEL TWO: HAVING THEREON A VACANT LAND BEING KNOWN AS POTOMAC AVENUE PITTSBURGH, PA 15216. DEED BOOK VOLUME 11894, PAGE 283, BLOCK AND LOT NUMBER 36-J-175.

5JUNE24

DEFENDANT(S) CARL SONETTI AND JOANNE SONETTI

******************** CASE NO. MG-23-000822

DEBT $100,130.16

NAME OF ATTORNEY(S): Jill M. Fein, Esquire. Hill Wallack LLP

ADDRESS OF ATTORNEY(S): 1000 Floral Vale Blvd. Suite 300, Suite 250, Yardley, PA 19067

**************************

ATTORNEY TELEPHONE NUMBER: (215) 579-7700

***********-*******************

SHORT DESCRIPTION: ********************

In the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, County of Allegheny, Municipality Of Penn Hills: HAVING ERECTED THEREON A 1 STORY DWELLING KNOWN AND NUMBERED AS 814 9TH ST. VERONA, PA 15147 DEED BOOK VOLUME 20658, AND PAGE 421 BLOCK & LOT NO. 445-F-239

6JUNE24

DEFENDANT(S) PEARL CURRIE

CASE NO. MG-23-000892

DEBT $97,553.78 ********* NAME OF ATTORNEY(S): Jill M. Fein, Esquire. Hill Wallack LLP ***********************

ADDRESS OF ATTORNEY(S): 1000 Floral Vale Blvd. Suite 300, Suite 250, Yardley, PA 19067 **************************

ATTORNEY TELEPHONE NUMBER: (215) 579-7700 ***********-*******************

SHORT DESCRIPTION:

In the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, County of Allegheny, PLUM BOROUGH : HAVING ERECTED THEREON A 2 STORY

DWELLING KNOWN AND NUMBERED AS 533 Center Hill Rd, Pittsburgh PA 15239 DEED BOOK VOLUME 17355, AND PAGE 148 BLOCK & LOT NO. 852-L-256

7JUNE24

DEFENDANT(S) Annie L Banaszak

********************

CASE NO. MG-22-000474

*************

DEBT $127,835.15

NAME OF ATTORNEY(S): Stem & Eisenberg, PC

***********************

ADDRESS OF ATTORNEY(S): The Shops at Valley Square, 1581 Main Street, Suite 200 Warrington, PA 18976

ATTORNEY TELEPHONE NUMBER: (215) 572-8111

***********-*******************

SHORT DESCRIPTION:

In the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, County of Allegheny and the Township of South Fayette: Having erected thereon a dwelling being known and numbered as 6 Morgan St, Morgan, PA 15064. Deed Book Volume VI -17632, Page 441. Block and Lot Number 325-M-25.

8JUNE24

DEFENDANT(S) Stephen Pirschl

********************

CASE NO. MG-23-001023

*************

DEBT $29,264.44

NAME OF ATTORNEY(S): Kristine M. Anthou, Esquire

ADDRESS OF ATTORNEY(S): Grenen & Birsic, P.C. One Gateway Center, 9th Floor, Pittsburgh, PA 15222

ATTORNEY TELEPHONE NUMBER: (412) 281-7650

***********-*******************

SHORT DESCRIPTION:

In the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, County of Allegheny, City of Pittsburgh, 29th Ward:

HAVING ERECTED THEREON A DWELLING KNOWN AS 121 DUFFLAND STREET, PITTSBURGH, PA 15210. DBV 18935 PG 295, BLOCK & LOT NO. 95-D-361.

9JUNE24

DEFENDANT(S) GARY DAVIS

CASE NO. MG-23-000709 DEBT $29,616.94 *********

NAME OF ATTORNEY(S): KML LAW GROUP, P.C. ***********************

ADDRESS OF ATTORNEY(S): SUITE 5000, 701 MARKET STREET PHILADELPHIA, PA 19106

ATTORNEY TELEPHONE NUMBER: (215) 627-1322

***********-*******************

SHORT DESCRIPTION: IN THE COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA, COUNTY OF ALLEGHENY, TOWNSHIP OF STOWE: HAVING ERECTED THEREON A DWELLING BEING KNOWN AND NUMBERED AS 1143 9TH STREET, MC KEES ROCKS, PA 15136. DEED BOOK 16746, PAGE 176. BLOCK AND LOT NUMBER 72-B-275.

10JUNE24

DEFENDANT(S) Judy D. Amon fka Judy D. Wacker aka Judy D. Wacker-Amon

CASE NO. MG-23-000788 ************* DEBT $309,985.94

*********

NAME OF ATTORNEY(S): Benjamin Hoen, Esquire

*********************** ADDRESS OF ATTORNEY(S): 965 Keynote Circle, Cleveland, OH 44131-1829

**************************

ATTORNEY TELEPHONE NUMBER: 216/739-5100

***********-*******************

SHORT DESCRIPTION:

******************** SITUATED IN THE TOWNSHIP OF CRESCENT, COUNTY OF ALLEGHENY, COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA. HAVING ERECTED THEREON A DWELLING KNOWN AND NUMBERED AS 456 CRESCENT BOULEVARD EXT, CRESCENT, PA 15046. DESCRIBED AT DEED BOOK 15504, PAGE 548, INSTRUMENT NO. 2014-2492, PARCEL NUMBER 0811R-00330-0000-00.

11JUNE24

DEFENDANT(S) Brandi L. Bailey ******************** CASE NO. GD-23-012092

DEBT $56,626.31

NAME OF ATTORNEY(S): Manley Deas Kochalski LLC

ADDRESS OF ATTORNEY(S): P. 0. Box 165028 Columbus, OH 43216-5028

************************** ATTORNEY TELEPHONE NUMBER: 614-220-5611 ***********-******************* SHORT DESCRIPTION: ******************** In the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, County of Allegheny, Municipality of Penn Hills:

Having erected thereon a dwelling being known and numbered as 186 Stephens Lane, Verona, PA 15147. Document Number 2014-16393, Deed Book Volume 15641, Page 389. Block and Lot Number 0367-H-00117-0000-00.

12JUNE24

PLAINTIFF(S) South Allegheny School District VS. DEFENDANT(S) ELLIS LEGACY LLC

CASE NO. GD 23-010952 ************* DEBT $25,649.89

********* NAME OF ATTORNEY(S): Jennifer L. Cerce, Esquire ***********************

ADDRESS OF ATTORNEY(S): 424 S. 27th Street, Ste. 21O Pittsburgh, PA 15203

ATTORNEY TELEPHONE NUMBER: (412) 242-4400 ***********-******************* SHORT DESCRIPTION:

In the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, County of Allegheny, Borough of Glassport: HAVING ERECTED THEREON A TWO FAMILY DWELLING BEING KNOWN AND NUMBERED AS 743 INDIANA AVE., GLASSPORT, PA 15045. DEED BOOK 18911, PAGE 526. BLOCK AND LOT NUMBER 558-G-359.

13JUNE24

PLAINTIFF(S) Wilkinsburg School District and Wilkinsburg Borough VS. DEFENDANT(S) SPONCE A. CADE & VONDA L. HARRIS-CADE AND THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA ******************** CASE NO. GD 23-002923 ************* DEBT $18,926.09

NAME

18JUNE24 PLAINTIFF SHALER AREA SCHOOL DISTRICT VS. DEFENDANT(S) ALEXANDRA MEYER NK/A ALEXANDRA CHRIEST, ADMINISTRATRIX OF THE ESTATE OF WILLIAM J. MEYER, JR., DECEASED, AND ALL UNKNOWN HEIRS, EXECUTORS, ASSIGNS, AND ALL PERSONS, FIRMS, OR ASSOCIATIONS CLAIMING RIGHT, TITLE, OR INTEREST, FROM OR UNDER WILLIAM J. MEYER, JR., DECEASED, WRIT NO. GD 22-012809

DEBT $25,275.78 *********

NAME OF ATTORNEY(S): JOHN T. VOGEL, TUCKER ARENSBERG, P.C.

ADDRESS OF ATTORNEY(S): TUCKER ARENSBERG, P.C., 1500 ONE PPG PLACE, PITTSBURGH, PA 15222 **************************

TELEPHONE NUMBER: 412.594.3902

DESCRIPTION: ******************** IN THE COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA, COUNTY OF ALLEGHENY, TOWNSHIP OF SHALER:

HAVING ERECTED THEREON A RESIDENTIAL DWELLING KNOWN AND NUMBERED AS 1013 GARDEN PLACE, GLENSHAW, PENNSYLVANIA 15116-2213, DEED BOOK VOLUME 15383, PAGE 543, BLOCK AND LOT 355-F-105 19JUNE24 DEFENDANT(S) Chelsea K. Long as personal representative of the Estate

22JUNE24 DEFENDANT(S) Marlene D. Harris

ADDRESS

NUMBER: 215-942-2090

In the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, County of Allegheny, Municipality of Penn Hills:

Having erected thereon a dwelling being known and numbered as 380 Collins Drive, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15235. Deed Book Volume 15734, Page 559, Instrument Number 2014-25992, Block and Lot 538-P-234

23JUNE24

DEFENDANT(S) Colin O’Rourke, solely in his capacity as known heir of Dolores E. O’Rourke a/k/a Dolores O’Rourke, deceased and Leean Kaminski, solely in her capacity as known heir of Dolores E. O’Rourke a/k/a Dolores O’Rourke, deceased and Shawn O’Rourke, solely in his capacity as known heir of Dolores E. O’Rourke a/k/a Dolores O’Rourke, deceased and Terry O’Rourke Donoghue, solely in her capacity as known heir of Dolores E. O’Rourke a/k/a Dolores O’Rourke, deceased and The Unknown Heirs of Dolores E. O’Rourke a/k/a

Dolores O’Rourke, deceased ******************** CASE NO. GD-23-000447 ************* DEBT $307,483.82

NAME OF ATTORNEY(S): Stem & Eisenberg, PC

ADDRESS OF ATTORNEY(S): The Shops at Valley Square, 1581 Main Street, Suite 200 Warrington, PA 18976 **************************

ATTORNEY TELEPHONE NUMBER: (215) 572-8111 ***********-******************* SHORT DESCRIPTION: ******************** In the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, County of Allegheny and the TOWNSHIP OF NORTH FAYETTE:

Having erected thereon a dwelling known and numbered as 2000 Robb Hill Road, Oakdale, PA 15071. Deed Book Volume 4829, PAGE 1. Block and Lot Number 587D-1.

24JUNE24

DEFENDANT(S) Leslie Gray ******************** CASE NO. MG-23-000376 ************* DEBT $178,343.16

NAME OF ATTORNEY(S): Stem & Eisenberg, PC

ADDRESS OF ATTORNEY(S):

The Shops at Valley Square, 1581 Main Street, Suite 200 Warrington, PA 18976 **************************

ATTORNEY TELEPHONE NUMBER: (215) 572-8111 ***********-******************* SHORT DESCRIPTION: ********************

In the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, County of Allegheny and the Borough of West Mifflin:

Having erected thereon a dwelling being known and numbered as 1860 Ohio Avenue, West Mifflin, PA 15122. Deed Book Volume 17306, Page 363. Block and Lot Number 305-N-136.

25JUNE24

DEFENDANT(S) Marita Zumpano

CASE NO. MG-20-000218 ************* DEBT $154,475.21

*********

PA 15146. Deed Book Volume 12503, Page 269, Instrument Number 2004-43577. Block and Lot Number 0639 H-00335-0000-00.

20JUNE24 DEFENDANT(S) Estate of Mary Ellen Besselman a/k/a Mary Besselman ******************** CASE NO. GD-23-001021 DEBT $45,178.29

NAME OF ATTORNEY(S): Roger Fay, Esquire

ADDRESS OF ATTORNEY(S): 14000 Commerce Parkway, Suite H, Mount Laurel, NJ 08054

TELEPHONE NUMBER: (856) 724-1888

DESCRIPTION: ******************** In the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, County of Allegheny, 29th Ward of the City of Pittsburgh:

NAME OF ATTORNEY(S): Stem & Eisenberg, PC ***********************

ADDRESS OF ATTORNEY(S): The Shops at Valley Square, 1581 Main Street, Suite 200 Warrington, PA 18976

ATTORNEY TELEPHONE NUMBER: (215) 572-8111 ***********-******************* SHORT DESCRIPTION:

In the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, County of Allegheny and the 20th Ward of the City of Pittsburgh:

Having erected thereon a dwelling being known and numbered as 128 High Oak Place, Pittsburgh, PA 15220. Deed Book Volume 11458, Page 262. Block and Lot Number 036-P-318.

26JUNE24

DEFENDANT(S) Johnielee Covington aka Johnnielle Covington aka Johnnielee Covington ******************** CASE NO. MG-23-000981 DEBT $66,347.43

NAME OF ATTORNEY(S): Stem & Eisenberg, PC

ADDRESS OF ATTORNEY(S): The Shops at Valley Square, 1581 Main Street, Suite 200 Warrington, PA 18976 ************************** ATTORNEY TELEPHONE NUMBER: (215) 572-8111 ***********-******************* SHORT DESCRIPTION: ******************** In the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, County of Allegheny and the 20th Ward of the City of Pittsburgh:

Having erected thereon a dwelling being known

27JUNE24

28JUNE24

DEFENDANT(S) The Unknown Heirs of Diane L. Mills a/k/a Diane Mills, deceased. ******************** CASE NO. MG-23-000059 DEBT $23,520.67

NAME OF ATTORNEY(S): Stem & Eisenberg, PC

ADDRESS OF ATTORNEY(S): The Shops at Valley Square, 1581 Main Street, Suite 200 Warrington, PA 18976

**************************

ATTORNEY TELEPHONE NUMBER: (215) 572-8111 ***********-******************* SHORT DESCRIPTION:

******************** In the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, County of Allegheny and the Borough of Coraopolis:

Having erected thereon a dwelling being known and numbered as 735 1/2 7th Avenue, Coraopolis, PA 15108. Deed Book Volume 9441, Page 515. Block and Lot Number 419-G-320.

29JUNE24

DEFENDANT(S) Stephanie Macsurak, solely in her capacity as Administratrix of the Estate of Linda M. Macsurak, Deceased

******************** CASE NO. MG-24-000056

*************

DEBT $37,847.07

NAME OF ATTORNEY(S): Powers Kirn, LLC

ADDRESS OF ATTORNEY(S): Eight Neshaminy lnterplex, Suite 215, Trevose, PA 19053

**************************

ATTORNEY TELEPHONE NUMBER: 215-942-2090

***********-*******************

SHORT DESCRIPTION:

******************** In the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, County of Allegheny, Borough of West Mifflin:

Having erected thereon a dwelling being known and numbered as 6816 Adams Avenue, West Mifflin, Pennsylvania 15122. Deed Book Volume 14678, Page 59, Instrument Number 2011-21830, Block and Lot Number 3 I0-C-333.

30JUNE24

DEFENDANT(S) Warren M. Jones and Wendy W. Jones and The United States of America

********************

CASE NO. GD-14-019902

*************

DEBT $73,557.86

NAME OF ATTORNEY(S): Stem & Eisenberg, PC

ADDRESS OF ATTORNEY(S): The Shops at Valley Square, 1581 Main Street, Suite 200 Warrington, PA 18976

**************************

ATTORNEY TELEPHONE NUMBER: (215) 572-8111

***********-*******************

SHORT DESCRIPTION:

********************

In the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, County of Allegheny and the Municipality of Monroeville:

Having erected thereon a dwelling being known and numbered as 584 Firethorne Drive, Monroeville, PA 15146. Deed Book Volume 7808, Page 584. Block and Lot Number 637-M-291.

31JUNE24

DEFENDANT(S) AUDREY D. ARDIS

******************** CASE NO. MG-24-000060

*************

DEBT $130,867.62

NAME OF ATTORNEY(S): LEON P. HALLER, ESQUIRE

***********************

ADDRESS OF ATTORNEY(S): PURCELL, KRUG AND HALLER 1719 NORTH FRONT STREET HARRISBURG, PA 17102

ATTORNEY TELEPHONE NUMBER: 717-234-4178

***********-*******************

SHORT DESCRIPTION:

In the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, County of Allegheny, Municipality of Penn Hills:

HAVING ERECTED THEREON A DWELLING BEING KNOWN AND NUMBERED AS 117 VERONICA DRIVE, PITTSBURGH, PA 15235. DEED BOOK VOLUME 14931, PAGE 434. BLOCK AND LOT NUMBER 369-G-367.

32JUNE24

DEFENDANT(S) CHANTEL PRIMER

CASE NO. MG-23-000308 ************* DEBT $61,407.45 *********

(215) 572-8111

NAME OF ATTORNEY(S): LEON P. HALLER, ESQUIRE *********************** ADDRESS OF ATTORNEY(S): PURCELL, KRUG AND HALLER 1719 NORTH FRONT STREET HARRISBURG, PA 17102 ************************** ATTORNEY TELEPHONE NUMBER: 717-234-4178 ***********-******************* SHORT DESCRIPTION: ******************** In the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, County of Allegheny, 20th Ward City of Pittsburgh:. HAVING ERECTED THEREON A DWELLING BEING KNOWN AND NUMBERED AS 1405 EVANSTON STREET PITTSBURGH, PA 15204. DEED BOOK VOLUME 16067, PAGE 288. BLOCK AND LOT NUMBER 71-S-110.

33JUNE24

DEFENDANT(S) CHRISTOPHER J. EDMUNDS AND THE SECRETARY OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT ******************** CASE NO. MG-23-000677

************* DEBT $119,960.78

NAME OF ATTORNEY(S): LEON P. HALLER, ESQUIRE

ADDRESS OF ATTORNEY(S): PURCELL, KRUG AND HALLER 1719 NORTH FRONT STREET HARRISBURG, PA 17102

ATTORNEY TELEPHONE NUMBER: 717-234-4178 ***********-*******************

SHORT DESCRIPTION: In the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, County of Allegheny, Township of East Deer:

HAVING ERECTED THEREON A DWELLING BEING KNOWN AND NUMBERED AS 510 WEST 8TH AVENUE, TARENTUM, PA 15084. DEED BOOK VOLUME 17348, PAGE 55. BLOCK AND LOT NUMBER 1087-D-169.

35JUNE24

DEFENDANT(S) MICHAEL T. HOLLERICH Ill AND STACEE R. HOLLERICH ******************** CASE NO. MG-23-000731 ************* DEBT $64,147.87

NAME OF ATTORNEY(S): Jill M. Fein, Esquire. Hill Wallack LLP

ADDRESS OF ATTORNEY(S): 1000 Floral Vale Blvd. Suite 300, Suite 250, Yardley, PA 19067 ************************** ATTORNEY TELEPHONE NUMBER: (215) 579-7700 ***********-*******************

DESCRIPTION: ******************** In the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, County of Allegheny, GLASSPORT BOROUGH HAVING ERECTED THEREON A 1 STORY DWELLING KNOWN AND NUMBERED AS 609 9TH ST, GLASSPORT PA 15045 DEED BOOK VOLUME 34891 AND PAGE 185 BLOCK & LOT NO. 558-L-321

36JUNE24

DEFENDANT(S) DARLENE L. BARRON ******************** CASE NO. MG-23-000621 ************* DEBT $15,508.86

NAME OF ATTORNEY(S): Jill M. Fein, Esquire. Hill Wallack LLP

ADDRESS OF ATTORNEY(S): 1000 Floral Vale Blvd. Suite 300, Suite 250, Yardley, PA 19067

**************************

ATTORNEY TELEPHONE NUMBER: (215) 579-7700

***********-*******************

SHORT DESCRIPTION:

******************** In the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, County of Allegheny, STOWE TOWNSHIP: HAVING ERECTED THEREON A 1 STORY DWELLING KNOWN AND NUMBERED AS 128 BELLMAWR DR, MCKEES ROCKS PA 15136 DEED BOOK VOLUME 30771 AND PAGE 173 BLOCK & LOT NO. 111-D-334

37JUNE24

DEFENDANT(S) Stephanie Grzech, Personal Representative of the Estate of Joanne L. Grzech a/k/a Joanne Lynn Grzech, Deceased ******************** CASE NO. MG-23-001110

************* DEBT $57,879.75

NAME OF ATTORNEY(S): The Law Office of Gregory Javardian, LLC

ADDRESS OF ATTORNEY(S): 1310 Industrial Boulevard, 1st Floor, Suite 101, Southampton, PA 18966

**************************

ATTORNEY TELEPHONE NUMBER: 215-942-9690

***********-******************* SHORT DESCRIPTION: ******************** In the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, County of Allegheny, Borough of Carnegie: HAVING ERECTED THEREON A DWELLING BEING KNOWN AND NUMBERED AS 623 GORMLEY AVENUE, CARNEGIE, PA 15106. DEED BOOK VOLUJ\1E 12539, PAGE 559. BLOCK AND LOT NUMBER. 66-F-152.

38JUNE24

PLAINTIFF(S) Wilkinsburg School District and Wilkinsburg Borough VS. DEFENDANT(S) ANTHONY C. BROWN AND THE UNKNOWN HEIRS OF JAMES S. TATTON, DECEASED CASE NO. GD 21-004613 ************* DEBT $23,367.85 ********* NAME OF ATTORNEY(S): Jennifer L. Cerce, Esquire

PA 19106

(215) 627-1322

536. BLOCK AND LOT NUMBER 295-E-108

49JUNE24

PLAINTIFF(S): Mt. Lebanon, Pennsylvania VS. DEFENDANT(S) Jeanne H. Jenkins, with Notice to Heirs and Assigns ******************** CASE NO.: GD 22-014551 ************* DEBT: $6,244.92

NAME OF ATTORNEY(S): Joseph W. Gramc, Esquire

ADDRESS OF ATTORNEY(S): 525 William Penn Place, Ste. 3110 Pittsburgh, PA 15219 **************************

ATTORNEY TELEPHONE NUMBER: (412) 281-0587 ***********-******************* SHORT DESCRIPTION:

********************

In the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, County of Allegheny, Municipality of Mt. Lebanon:

Having erected thereon a one story brick house being known as 450 Willow Drive, Pittsburgh, PA 15243. Deed Book Volume 11380, Page 251. Block & Lot No. 142-K160.

50JUNE24

PLAINTIFF(S): Borough of Avalon VS.

DEFENDANT(S) William L. Wray & Susan E. Wray

CASE NO.: GD 22-008654 *************

DEBT: $4,545.01 *********

NAME OF ATTORNEY(S): Joseph W. Gramc, Esquire ***********************

ADDRESS OF ATTORNEY(S): 525 William Penn Place, Ste. 3110 Pittsburgh, PA 15219

ATTORNEY TELEPHONE NUMBER: (412) 281-0587 ***********-******************* SHORT DESCRIPTION: ********************

In the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, County of Allegheny, Borough of Avalon:

Having erected thereon a two story frame house being known as 418 Ohio River Boulevard, Pittsburgh, PA 15202. Deed Book Volume 8259, Page 641. Block & Lot No. 159-C-245.

51JUNE24

PLAINTIFF(S): Municipality of Bethel Park VS. DEFENDANT(S) Rudolph F. Coates, Jr. & Dawn Marie Nee

CASE NO.: GD 22-011556 ************* DEBT: $2,960.01 *********

NAME OF ATTORNEY(S): Joseph W. Gramc, Esquire ***********************

ADDRESS OF ATTORNEY(S): 525 William Penn Place, Ste. 3110 Pittsburgh, PA 15219

ATTORNEY TELEPHONE NUMBER: (412) 281-0587 ***********-*******************

SHORT DESCRIPTION:

In the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, County of Allegheny, Municipality of Bethel Park:

Having erected thereon a one story brick house being known as 3928 Mimosa Drive, Bethel Park, PA 15102. Deed Book Volume 18158, Page Q2. Block & Lot No. 665-B-302.

52JUNE24

PLAINTIFF(S): County of Allegheny VS. DEFENDANT(S) RHBPl, LP

CASE NO.: GD 23-006335

DEBT: $4,528.44 *********

NAME OF ATTORNEY(S): Joseph W. Gramc, Esquire ***********************

ADDRESS OF ATTORNEY(S): 525 William Penn Place, Ste. 3110 Pittsburgh, PA 15219

ATTORNEY TELEPHONE NUMBER: (412) 281-0587 ***********-*******************

SHORT DESCRIPTION:

In the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, County of Allegheny, City of ClairtonWard 2:

Parcel #1: Having erected thereon a two story commercial building known as 512 Saint Clair Avenue, Clairton, PA 15025. Deed Book Volume 16413, Page 104. Block& Lot No. 879-H-39.

Parcel #2: Having erected thereon a one story commercial auxiliary building known as 512 Saint Clair Avenue, Clairton, PA 15025. Deed Book Volume 16413, Page 104. Block &Lot No. 879-H34.

53JUNE24

PLAINTIFF(S): Borough of Avalon VS. DEFENDANT(S) Clara Ann Derbish ********************

CASE NO.: GD 23-001009

DEBT: $4,694.35 *********

NAME OF ATTORNEY(S): Joseph W. Gramc, Esquire

ADDRESS OF ATTORNEY(S): 525 William Penn Place, Ste. 3110 Pittsburgh, PA 15219 ************************** ATTORNEY TELEPHONE NUMBER: (412) 281-0587 ***********-******************* SHORT DESCRIPTION:

In the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, County of Allegheny, Borough of Avalon: Having erected thereon a one and one half story frame house being known as 621 North Birmingham Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15202. Deed Book Volume 8977, Page 47. Block &Lot No. 214-M-110 54JUNE24

PLAINTIFF(S): Borough of Avalon VS. DEFENDANT(S) Betty M. Grogan, With Notice to Heirs and Assigns ******************** CASE NO.: GD 23-006063 ************* DEBT: $2,586.09 NAME OF ATTORNEY(S): Joseph W. Gramc, Esquire *********************** ADDRESS OF ATTORNEY(S):

PLAINTIFF(S): Township of

55JUNE24

DEFENDANT(S) Truong Bui & Phuc Nguyen

DEBT: $6,092.29

NAME OF ATTORNEY(S): Joseph W. Gramc, Esquire

ADDRESS OF ATTORNEY(S): 525 William Penn Place, Ste. 3110 Pittsburgh, PA 15219

**************************

ATTORNEY TELEPHONE NUMBER: (412) 281-0587

***********-*******************

SHORT DESCRIPTION:

******************** In the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, County of Allegheny, Township of Hampton: Having erected thereon a two story frame house being known as 5013 Meadow Crest Drive, Allison Park, PA 15101. Deed Book Volume 15886, Page 460. Block & Lot No. 1213-G-9.

56JUNE24

PLAINTIFF(S): County of Allegheny VS. DEFENDANT(S) Ann Suzich, with Notice to Heirs and Assigns

********************

CASE NO.: GD 23-009864

DEBT: $3,152.18

NAME OF ATTORNEY(S): Joseph W. Gramc, Esquire

ADDRESS OF ATTORNEY(S): 525 William Penn Place, Ste. 3110 Pittsburgh, PA 15219

**************************

ATTORNEY TELEPHONE NUMBER: (412) 281-0587

***********-*******************

SHORT DESCRIPTION:

******************** In the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, County of Allegheny, City of DuquesneWard 2:

Having erected thereon a two story commercial building being known as 917 Grant Avenue, Duquesne, PA 15110. Deed Book Volume 4488, Page 285. Block & Lot No. 305-G-143.

57JUNE24

PLAINTIFF(S): Quaker Valley School District VS.

DEFENDANT(S) Pamela A. Heckmen, Administratrix of the Estate of Tracy Fichera, Deceased

********************

CASE NO.: G.D. 16-023855

DEBT: $4,574.12

NAME OF ATTORNEY(S): Joseph W. Gramc, Esquire

ADDRESS OF ATTORNEY(S):

525 William Penn Place, Ste. 3110 Pittsburgh, PA 15219

**************************

ATTORNEY TELEPHONE NUMBER: (412) 281-0587

***********-*******************

SHORT DESCRIPTION:

********************

In the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, County of Allegheny, Borough of Sewickley:

Having erected thereon a two story frame house being known as 915 Cook Street, Sewickley, PA 15143. Deed Book Volume 11554, Page 242. Block & Lot No. 421-C264.

58JUNE24

PLAINTIFF(S): Municipality of Bethel Park VS. DEFENDANT(S) Bonidie & Associates, Inc

CASE NO.: GD 22-009889

*************

DEBT: $2,353.25

*********

NAME OF ATTORNEY(S): Joseph W. Gramc, Esquire

***********************

ADDRESS OF ATTORNEY(S): 525 William Penn Place, Ste. 3110 Pittsburgh, PA 15219

ATTORNEY TELEPHONE NUMBER: (412) 281-0587

***********-*******************

SHORT DESCRIPTION:

******************** In the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, County of Allegheny, Municipality of Bethel Park: Having erected thereon a one story commercial warehouse being known as 94-96 Loretta Street, Bethel Park, PA 15102. Deed Book Volume 17582, Page 257. Block & Lot No. 317-K-163.

59JUNE24

DEFENDANT(S) JOHN EVERETT, IN HIS CAPACITY AS HEIR OF YOLANDA F. EVERETT AKA YOLANDA FLORES EVERETT; UNKNOWN HEIRS, SUCCESSORS, ASSIGNS AND ALL PERSONS, FIRMS OR ASSOCIATIONS CLAIMING RIGHT, TITLE OR INTEREST FROM OR UNDER YOLANDA F. EVERETT AKA YOLANDA FLORES EVERETT

CASE NO.: MG-23-000201

DEBT: $131,865.02

*********

NAME OF ATTORNEY(S): Robertson, Anschutz, Schneid, Crane & Partners, PLLC

ADDRESS OF ATTORNEY(S): 133 GAITHER DRIVE, SUITE F MOUNT LAUREL, NJ 08054

**************************

ATTORNEY TELEPHONE NUMBER: 855-225-6906

***********-*******************

SHORT DESCRIPTION: ******************** In the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, County of Allegheny, Second Ward of the City of Duquesne: Having erected thereon a dwelling being known and numbered as 1506 Highland Avenue Duquesne, PA 15110. Deed Book Volume 12213, Page 433. Block and Lot 0305-P-00374-0000-00.

60JUNE24

DEFENDANT(S) Ryan J Ohm, Frank N. Vertullo, Mary C Vertullo, Gina Vertullo and The United States of America

CASE NO.: MG-24-000037 ************* DEBT: $282,206.98 ********* NAME OF ATTORNEY(S): Powers Kirn, LLC *********************** ADDRESS OF ATTORNEY(S): Eight Neshaminy lnterplex, Suite 215, Trevose, PA 19053

61JUNE24

DEFENDANT(S) Darryl E. Pingor, in his capacity as Heir of Matthew Edward Pingor and Unknown Heirs, successors, assigns and all persons, firms or associations claiming right, title or interest from or under Matthew Edward Pingor, ******************** CASE NO.: GD-23-004630 *************

DEBT: $83,849.48

NAME OF ATTORNEY(S): Lois M. Vitti

ADDRESS OF ATTORNEY(S): 663 Fifth Street, Oakmont, PA 15139 ************************** ATTORNEY TELEPHONE NUMBER: 412-281-1725 ***********-******************* SHORT DESCRIPTION: In the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, County of Allegheny, Borough of Mt. Oliver: HAVING ERECTED THEREON A SINGLE FAMILY DWELLING BEING KNOWN AND NUMBERED AS 523 BROWNSVILLE ROAD, PITTSBURGH, PA 15210. DEED BOOK DE-18987, PAGE 533. BLOCK AND LOT 33-G-203

62JUNE24

DEFENDANT(S) Wayne Nieser, AKA Wayne A. Nieser CASE NO.: MG-24-000070 DEBT: $16,555.61 *********

NAME OF ATTORNEY(S): Manley Deas Kochalski LLC

***********************

ADDRESS OF ATTORNEY(S): P. 0. Box 165028 Columbus, OH 43216-5028

ATTORNEY TELEPHONE NUMBER: 614-220-5611 ***********-*******************

SHORT DESCRIPTION: ********************

In the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, County of Allegheny, Borough of Plum: Having erected thereon a dwelling being known and numbered as 2746 Leechburg Road, Pittsburgh, PA 15239. Document Number 2005-22154, Deed Book Volume 12508, Page 110. Block and Lot Number 0737-J-00284-0000-00.

63JUNE24

DEFENDANT(S) Monroe Living LLC ******************** CASE NO.: GD-24-000712 ************* DEBT: $73,793.77

NAME OF ATTORNEY(S): Manley Deas Kochalski LLC

ADDRESS OF ATTORNEY(S): P. 0. Box 165028 Columbus, OH 43216-5028 ************************** ATTORNEY TELEPHONE NUMBER: 614-220-5611 ***********-*******************

SHORT DESCRIPTION:

In the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, County of Allegheny, Borough of Turtle Creek:

Having erected thereon a dwelling being known and numbered as 1427 Oak Avenue Extension, Turtle Creek, PA 15145. Document Number 2020-8279, Deed Book Volume 17978, Page 211. Block and Lot Number 0455-S-00122-0000-00.

64JUNE24

PLAINTIFF(S) EAST ALLEGHENY SCHOOL DISTRICT AND TOWNSHIP OF NORTH VERSAILLES VS.

DEFENDANT(S) DEBORAH HAYDEN, BARBARA MCCUE AND SHERRI BAUM, AS KNOWN HEIRS OF ROBERT H. BAUM, JR. AND CAROL A. BAUM, DECEASED AND ALL UNKNOWN HEIRS OF ROBERT H. BAUM, JR. AND CAROL A. BAUM, DECEASED

CASE NO.: GD-22-009583

DEBT: $ 33,850.23

*********

NAME OF ATTORNEY(S): CHRISTOPHER E. VINCENT

***********************

ADDRESS OF ATTORNEY(S): 546 WENDEL ROAD, IRWIN, PA 15642

ATTORNEY TELEPHONE NUMBER: 724-978-0333

***********-*******************

SHORT DESCRIPTION:

********************

In the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, County of Allegheny, TOWNSHIP OF NORTH VERSAILLES:

HAVING ERECTED THEREON A DWELLING BEING KNOWN AND NUMBERED AS 3112 ORRIS ROAD, NORTH VERSAILLES, PA 15137. DEED BOOK 4474, PAGE 666. BLOCK AND LOT NUMBER 459-E-043.

65JUNE24

PLAINTIFF(S) EAST ALLEGHENY SCHOOL DISTRICT AND TOWNSHIP OF NORTH VERSAILLES VS. DEFENDANT(S) JUDY A. VIGLAND CASE NO.: GD-23-009750

DEBT: $15,756.35 *********

NAME OF ATTORNEY(S): CHRISTOPHER E. VINCENT

***********************

ADDRESS OF ATTORNEY(S): 546 WENDEL ROAD, IRWIN, PA 15642

ATTORNEY TELEPHONE NUMBER: 724-978-0333

***********-*******************

SHORT DESCRIPTION:

******************** In the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, County of Allegheny, TOWNSHIP OF NORTH VERSAILLES: HAVING ERECTED THEREON A DWELLING BEING KNOWN AND NUMBERED AS 3112 ORRIS ROAD, NORTH VERSAILLES, PA 15137. DEED BOOK 4474, PAGE 666. BLOCK AND LOT NUMBER 459-E-043.

66JUNE24 PLAINTIFF(S) Penn Hills School District and Municipality of Penn Hills VS.

DEFENDANT(S) ANTHONY R. KOLANO & THERESA ANNE KOLANO

CASE NO.: GD 23-000777 *************

$13,263.53 ********* NAME OF ATTORNEY(S): Jennifer L. Cerce, Esquire *********************** ADDRESS OF ATTORNEY(S): 424 S. 27th Street, Ste. 21O Pittsburgh, PA 15203

ATTORNEY

72JUNE24

REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATIONS

Urban Design/Planning - Regional historic preservation and economic development organization requests Qualifications relative to any or all of the following: 1) site and building assessments at a neighborhood level, 2) infrastructure assessments and public space improvements, 3) market analysis, 4) site reuse vision, 5) revitalization plans, 6) individuals available for assignment, 7) working with multiple stakeholders and the public and building consensus, 8) minority and women-owned businesses participation, and 9) Method and/or rates of compensation. Within thirty days of publication of this notice, firms/individuals should send Qualifications as outlined above to: Young Preservationists Association, 700 River Avenue, Suite 318, Pittsburgh, PA 15212.

TOWNSHIP OF WILKINS PUBLIC NOTICE OF INTENT TO ADOPT

PROPOSED ORDINANCE NUMBER 1124

The Wilkins Township Board of Commissioners will consider adoption of the following ordinance at a public meeting to be held on the 10th day of June 2024 at 7:00 p.m. in the Municipal Building, 110 Peffer Road, Wilkins Township, Pennsylvania. The complete text of the Ordinance is on file and may be inspected in the Office of the Township Secretary at the aforesaid Municipal Building during normal business hours.

The title and a summary of the ordinance is as follows.

PROPOSED ORDINANCE #1124

TITLE AN ORDINANCE OF THE TOWNSHIP OF WILKINS, ALLEGHENY COUNTY,PENNSYLVANIA, AMENDING CHAPTER 379, STREETS AND SIDEWALKS, ARTICLE V, DUMPSTERS IN THE PUBLIC RIGHT OF WAY, TO ADD A DEFINITION FOR BAGSTER AND ADD PROVISIONS FOR DUMPSTERS AND BAGSTERS ON PRIVATE PROPERTY SUMMARY

The Ordinance regulates the timing and placement of bagsters and dumpsters on private residential property.

LEGAL ADVERTISING Legal Notices

Estate of DENISE BASKIN, Deceased of Pittsburgh, PA, Estate No. 022205327, Edward Smith, Administrator, or to Quinntarra Morant, Esq., PO Box 10946, Pittsburgh, PA 15236

Estate of TAMMY B CHONKO, Deceased of 835 Eureka Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15210, Estate No. 02-24-02782, Julia L. Chonko, 835 Eureka Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15210 , Executrix, or to William C. Price, Jr., Price & Associates, P.C., 2005 Noble Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15218

Estate of MS. KATHLEEN J. GILMARTINVESCO, Deceased of 238 Krist Glen Drive, Swissvale, PA 15218, Estate No. 02-2402715, Mr. John Randall Vesco, Executor, c/o Max C. Feldman, Esquire and the Law Office of Max C. Feldman, 1322 Fifth Avenue, Coraopolis, PA 15108

Estate of MR. CHARLES C. POIRIER, IV Deceased of 1704 Northfield Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15204, Estate No. 02-24-02053, Ms. Patricia Burrell, Administratrix, c/o Max C. Feldman, Esquire and the Law Office of Max C. Feldman, 1322 Fifth Avenue, Coraopolis, PA 15108

Estate of LOUISE M. GAMBINO, Deceased of Forest Hills, PA 15204, Estate No. 022402569 of 2024, Michael J. Gambino, Extr ,1608 Ardmore Blvd, Pittsburgh, PA 15221

Estate of SHERRY L. CROSBY AKA SHERRY L. TOLIVER, Deceased of Pittsburgh, PA, No. 08653 of 2023, Renita Bradford, Extr, 107 Walpole Drive, Pittsburgh, PA 15235

Estate of JAMES A. DAUBE, Deceased of the Borough of Castle Shannon, Pennsylvania, No.: 02-24-02747, Linda A. Daube, Administratrix or to Ryan W. Brode, Atty, 6 Clairton Blvd, Pittsburgh, PA 15236

Estate of ANTHONY JOHN KAMINSKI a/k/a ANTHONY J. KAMINSKI, Estate No. 02-2401626, Deceased of 1524 Mansion Place, Pittsburgh, PA 15218, John E. Kaminski, 4454 Hearthstone Way, Medina, OH 44256, Lynn Marie Checchio, 1524 Mansion Place, Pittsburgh, PA 15218 or to William C. Price, Jr., Price & Associates, P.C., 2005 Noble Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15218

Estate of KERRY A. O’CONNOR, Deceased of Mt. Lebanon, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, No.: 02-24-02561, Owen M. Descalzi, Administrator, 764 Osage Road, Pittsburgh, PA 15243 or to AUBREY H. GLOVER, Atty; BRENLOVE & FULLER, LLC., 401 Washington, Avenue, Bridgeville, PA 15017

Estate of CHRISTOPHER D. POWELL

Deceased of Pittsburgh, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, No.: 02-24-02695, L. Jeffrey Powell, Co-Administrator, 2102 Tee Court, Presto, PA 15142 or to Kathryn Powell, Co-Administrator, 2102 Tee Court, Presto, PA 15142 or to AUBREY H. GLOVER, Atty; BRENLOVE & FULLER, LLC., 401 Washington, Avenue, Bridgeville, PA 15017

HACP MAY BOARD OF COMISSIONERS MEETING

The next regular HACP Board of Commissioners Meeting will take place on Thursday, May 23, 2024 at 10:30 a.m. EST. This will be a hybrid meeting (with limited in-person seating (on a first come, first serve basis) and a remote Zoom viewing option). The meeting agenda will be posted to the HACP website: www.hacp.org on Monday, May 20 2024. Registration to at- tend the meeting in-person and registration to provide public comment will both open on Monday, May 20, 2024 at 11 a.m. and posted to www.hacp.org.

HACP conducts business in accordance with all federal, state, and local civil rights laws, including but not limited to Title VII, the Fair Housing Act, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the Americans with Disabilities Act, The PA Human Relations Act, etc. and does not discriminate against any indi- viduals protected by these statutes

BOROUGH OF BELLEVUE

CIVIL SERVICE MEETING

The Civil Service Commission of the Borough of Bellevue will hold its public meeting on Tuesday, May 28, 2024, at 6:30 p.m. at the Bellevue Borough Municipal Building, 537 Bayne Avenue, Bellevue, PA 15202.

James E. Kelly

Director of Administrative Services

BOROUGH OF BELLEVUE

The Town Council of the Borough of Bellevue will be voting on the adoption of the following Ordinances at its Council Meeting on Tuesday, May 28th, at 7:00 pm.

Ordinance No. 24-09, Amending Ordinance 96-14, Civil Service Rules, and Regulations.

Ordinance No. 24-10, Amending Personnel Code Sections 30-2 and 30-3, Changing Requirements for Employment.

Ordinance No. 24-11, Regulating the movement, operation, and parking of vehicles.

Copies of the proposed ordinances may be obtained by contacting the Borough of Bellevue Administrative Offices at 412/766.6164 from 9:00 am to 4:30 pm, Mondays through Fridays. The meeting will be held on the 2nd floor of the Council Chambers at the Bellevue Borough Municipal Building, 537 Bayne Avenue, Bellevue, PA 15202.

James E. Kelly Director of Administrative Services

BELLEVUE BOROUGH

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING

The Borough of Bellevue will hold a Public Hearing on Tuesday, May 28, 2024, at 6:45 p.m. to review the proposed Ordinance 24-10 Amending sections 30-2 and 30-3 of the Personnel Code changing requirements for employment. The meeting will be held at the Bellevue Borough Municipal Building, 537 Bayne Avenue, Bellevue, PA 15202.

The purpose of the Public Hearing is to receive comments and suggestions regarding the proposed Ordinance. Action will be taken on the proposed Ordinance at the May 28, 2024 Regular Meeting of the Bellevue Borough Council. Copies of the Proposed Ordinance will be available for inspection beginning May 13, 2024, by contacting the Borough Administrative office at 412/766.6164 or via email to: info@bellevueboro.com during regular business hours.

James E. Kelly Director of Administrative Services

OFFICIAL BID NOTICE

TOWNSHIP OF UPPER ST. CLAIR

Sealed and separate bids will be received by the Township of Upper St. Clair, 1820 McLaughlin Run Road, Upper St. Clair, PA 15241, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania until 9:00 a.m., Tuesday, June 18, 2024, and the BIDS will be publicly opened and read thereafter in the Township Building at the same address for the following:

OLD FARM ROAD TRAIL RENOVATION PROJECT

Please refer to https://www.twpusc.org/business/ bid_information.php, for details regarding specifications and Bidding requirements.

Matthew R. Serakowski Township

Manager

REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS - PROJECT BASED VOUCHER PROGRAM (RFP)

CONTRACT NO. ACHA - 1713

The Allegheny County Housing Authority is seeking proposals from responsible property owners interested in providing expanded rental housing opportunities for low income residents of Allegheny County. Properties must be existing housing in Allegheny County, excluding the City of Pittsburgh and the City of McKeesport, in areas with a poverty rate of less than 10% or in a census tract area with a poverty rate between 10% and 15%. The minimum contract term will be 15 years with a maximum contract term of 20 years at the ACHA’s option.

The ACHA will begin to accept proposals on a one-time basis beginning Friday, May 24, 2024 with a closing date of Friday May 31, 2023. Any proposal received after the expiration of this application period will not be considered. Once received, each proposal will be rated for the program compliance with the goals of deconcentrating poverty, expanding housing and economic opportunities. Once reviewed the successful proposer will be notified in writing of award as well as required public notification.

Detailed Applications and selective information will be provided by request to the:

Ms. Kimberly Longwell Director, Housing Choice Voucher Program Allegheny County Housing Authority 301 Chartiers Avenue McKees Rocks, PA 15136 412-402-2410 412-355-2175 Fax klongwell@achsng.com

Frank Aggazio

Executive Director Allegheny County Housing Authority REQUEST

The Allegheny County Housing Authority is seeking proposals from responsible property owners interested in providing expanded rental housing opportunities for low income Homeless residents of Allegheny County. Properties must be existing housing in Allegheny County, excluding the City of Pittsburgh and the City of McKeesport. The minimum contract term will be 15 years with a maximum contract term of 20 years at the ACHA’s option. The ACHA will begin to accept proposals on a one-time basis beginning Friday, May 24, 2024 with a closing date of Friday May 31, 2023. Any proposal received after the expiration of this application period will not be considered.

Once received, each proposal will be rated for the program compliance with the goals of providing housing to Homeless Individuals. Once reviewed the successful proposer will be notified in writing of award as well as required public notification.

Detailed Applications and selective information will be provided by request to the:

Ms. Kimberly Longwell

NOTICE TO PROPOSERS

of the City of Pittsburgh. The Request for Proposals may be obtained after the date identified below from Alicia Matos, Procurement & MWBE Specialist, Email: amatos@pgh-sea.com, Telephone: 412.393.7106.

This Advertisement applies to the following Request for Proposal:

Project: Parking Garage Power Washing on the North Shore

RFP Available: Friday, May 10, 2024

Pre-Proposal Meeting: 10:00 AM | Friday May 17, 2024 at Gold 1 Garage

Time/Date/Location for Proposals: 2:00 PM | Tuesday, May 28, 2024 Sports & Exhibition Authority Offices Attn: Alicia Matos 171 10th Street 2nd Floor Pittsburgh, PA 15222 amatos@pgh-sea.com

NOTICE TO PROPOSERS

The Sports & Exhibition Authority will receive proposals for Design, Engineering, and Inspection of Concrete Sidewalk Replacement Around PNC Park. The agreement for this work will be with the Sports & Exhibition Authority of Pittsburgh and Allegheny County. The Request for Proposals may be obtained after the date identified below from Alicia Matos, Procurement & MWBE Specialist, Email: amatos@pgh-sea.com, Telephone: 412.393.7106.

This Advertisement applies to the following Request for Proposal: Project: Design, Engineering, and Inspection of Concrete Sidewalk Replacement Around PNC Park

RFP Available: Friday, May 10, 2024

Pre-Proposal Meeting: None

Time/Date/Location for Proposals: 2:00 PM EST | Tuesday, May 28, 2024 Sports & Exhibition Authority Offices Attn: Alicia Matos 171 10th Street 2nd Floor Pittsburgh, PA 15222 amatos@pgh-sea.com

THE BOARD OF PUBLIC EDUCATION OF THE SCHOOL DISTRICT OF PITTSBURGH

Sealed bids will be received in the Bellefield Avenue Lobby, Administration Building, 341 South Bellefield Avenue until 11:00 A.M. prevailing time May 21, 2024 and will be opened at the same hour in the administration building cafeteria: Teacher Summer Academy Professional Learning Books

General Information regarding bids may be obtained at the Purchasing Office, 341 South Bellefield Avenue, RM 349 Pittsburgh, PA 15213. The bid documents are available on the School District’s Purchasing web site at: www.pghschools.org Click on Our Community; Bid Opportunities; Purchasing - under Quick Links. The Board of Public Education reserves the right to reject any and all bids, or select a single item from any bid.

We are an equal rights and opportunity school district

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 May 28, 2024, until 2:00 P.M., local prevailing time for: Pgh. Obama 6-12 (Jr./Sr. High School) Bleacher Demolition and UST Removal General Primes Project Manual and Drawings will be available for purchase on April 29, 2024, at Modern Reproductions (412-488-7700), 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.

CLASSIFIEDS GET RESULTS!

LEGAL ADVERTISING

PORT AUTHORITY OF ALLEGHENY COUNTY ADVERTISEMENT

Separate sealed Bids for the Work as listed hereinafter will be received at the Purchasing and Materials Management Department of Port Authority of Allegheny County (Authority) Heinz 57 Center, 345 Sixth Avenue, Third Floor, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, 15222-2527 until 1:30 p.m. on June 11, 2024 and will be publicly opened and read at 2:00 p.m. via Microsoft Teams Meeting (Meeting ID: 255 393 956 673 Passcode: qbDP5A or call in phone number: 1+(412)-927-0245, Phone Conference ID: 415 822 074#). Each Bidder shall be solely responsible for assuring that its Bid is both received and time stamped by a representative of the Purchasing and Materials Management Department at or before the advertised time for submission of Bids. Bidders submitting bids via FedEx, UPS, USPS or other carrier must immediately provide tracking information to the assigned contract specialist via e-mail. Upon delivery, Bidder will notify the assigned contract specialist with an e-mailed receipt. Bids received or time stamped in the Purchasing and Materials Management Department after the advertised time for the submission of Bids shall be non-responsive and therefore ineligible for Award.

MT. WASHINGTON TUNNEL RAIL AND PAVEMENT REPLACEMENT PROJECT CONTRACT NO. SYS-24-03

The Work of this Project includes, but is not limited to, the furnishing of all required materials and installation of all concrete, embedded rail trackwork, and OCS replacement from the Mt. Washington Tunnel’s South Portal at South Hills Junction to Station Square Station. Scope also includes demolition and construction of concrete busway terminus to Carson Street and coordination with Duquesne Light Company (DLC) Vault Repairs. Bid Documents will be available for public inspection and may be obtained on or after May 12, 2024 at Authority’s offices at the following address: Port Authority of Allegheny County Purchasing and Materials Management Department Heinz 57 Center 345 Sixth Avenue, Third Floor Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15222-2527

A copy of the bid documents will be available on or after May 12, 2024 and can be obtained by accessing or creating your eBusiness account at the Authority’s eBusiness website: http://ebusiness.ridePRT.org. Guides are provided for accessing, updating, or creating an eBusiness account. Please be sure to register for any/all construction categories relevant to your firm.

This Project may be funded, in part, by, and subject to certain requirements of, the County of Allegheny and/or the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Authority, in compliance with 2 C.F.R., § 200.321(b)(1)-(5), as amended, and 74 Pa.C.S. § 303, as may be amended, implements positive affirmative action procedures to ensure that small and minority businesses, women’s business enterprises, and labor surplus area firms are used when possible and certified Diverse Businesses (“DBs”) have the required opportunity to participate in the performance of contracts and subcontracts financed, in whole or in part, with federal and state funds provided for this Project. In this regard, all Bidders shall take all necessary affirmative steps identified in 2 C.F.R., § 200.321(b)(1)-(5) to ensure that small and minority businesses, women’s business enterprises, and labor surplus area firms are used when possible, and in accordance with 74 Pa.C.S. § 303, to insure that DBs, have the maximum opportunity to compete for and perform contracts. Bidders shall also not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, creed, age, disability, national origin, sexual origin, gender identity or status as apparent in the award and performance of DHS-assisted contracts. It is a condition of this Contract that all Bidders shall follow the required procedures as set forth in the Bid Documents. If assistance is required to involve small and minority businesses, women’s business enterprises, and labor surplus area firms and DBs in the Work, Bidders are to contact Authority’s Diverse Business Representative, Sue Broadus at (412) 5665257.

The Bidder’s attention is directed to the following contact for Bidder’s questions:

Procedural Questions Regarding Bidding: Cindy Denner – Authority (412) 566-5117 cdenner@rideprt.org

All other questions relating to the Bid Documents must be submitted by mail or email to: Port Authority of Allegheny County Heinz 57 Center 345 Sixth Avenue, Third Floor Pittsburgh, PA 15222-2527 Attn: Cindy Denner email: CDenner@rideprt.org

In addition, the Bidder’s attention is directed to the following schedule of activities for preparation of its Bid:

9:00 AM Pre-Bid Conference

May 20, 2024 Port Authority of Allegheny County Heinz 57 Center Neil Holmes Conference Room 345 Sixth Avenue, Fifth Floor Pittsburgh, PA 15222-2527

And via Microsoft Teams Meeting: Meeting ID: 291 805 597 11 Passcode: 9S7msT Or call in phone number: 1+412-927-0245

Phone Conference ID: 245 107 138#

(Attendance is not mandatory, but strongly recommended)

1:30 AM

May 21, 2024

1:30 AM

Pre-Bid Site Tour (Option 1)

South Hills Junction Light Rail Transit Station

All Participants must provide and wear Safety Vests and Appropriate Footwear. A Site Visit is mandatory to view the work area.

(Attendance at one of the two Pre-Bid Site Tours is mandatory)

Pre-Bid Site Tour (Option 2)

May 22, 2024 South Hills Junction Light Rail Transit Station

All Participants must provide and wear Safety Vests and Appropriate Footwear.

(Attendance at one of the two Pre-Bid Site Tours is mandatory)

Bids Due

1:30 p.m.

June 11, 2024

Purchasing and Materials Management Department

Bids submitted via Fed Ex, UPS, USPS or other carrier are subject to the notification requirements indicated above.

2:00 p.m.

Bid Opening

June 11, 2024 Will be conducted via Microsoft Teams meeting.

To join the bid opening meeting through Microsoft Teams on your computer, mobile app, or room device Meeting ID: 255 393 956 673 Passcode: qbDP5A Or call in (audio only:) 412-927-0245 Conference ID 414 882 074#

Authority reserves the right to reject any or all Bids.

PORT AUTHORITY OF ALLEGHENY COUNTY ADVERTISEMENT

Separate sealed Bids for the Work as listed hereinafter will be received at the Purchasing and Materials Management Department of Port Authority of Allegheny County (Authority) Heinz 57 Center, 345 Sixth Avenue, Third Floor, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, 15222-2527 until 1:30 p.m. on June 13, 2024 and will be publicly opened and read at 2:00 p.m. via Microsoft Teams Meeting at: (Meeting ID: 288 568 820 065 Passcode: YGCsBY or call in phone number: 412-927-0245 and conference ID 127 793 300#). Each Bidder shall be solely responsible for assuring that its Bid is both received and time stamped by a representative of the Purchasing and Materials Management Department at or before the advertised time for submission of Bids. Bidders submitting bids via FedEx, UPS, USPS or other carrier must immediately provide tracking information to the assigned contract specialist via e-mail. Upon delivery, bidder will notify the assigned contract specialist with an e-mailed receipt. Bids received or time stamped in the Purchasing and Materials Management Department after the advertised time for the submission of Bids shall be non-responsive and therefore ineligible for Award.

SOUTH HILLS VILLAGE RAIL CENTER AND SOUTH HILLS JUNCTION BUILDING #5 IMPROVEMENTS CONTRACT NO. SYS-24-02 G, H, P, E.

The Work of this Project includes, but is not limited to, the furnishing of all labor and materials for the interior and exterior renovations of South Hills Village Rail Center Transportation and Maintenance Buildings and South Hills Junction Building 5, including General, HVAC, Plumbing, and Electrical construction.

A copy of the bid documents will be available on or after May 12, 2024 and can be obtained by accessing or creating your eBusiness account at PRT’s eBusiness website: http://ebusiness.ridePRT.org. Guides are provided for accessing, updating, or creating an eBusiness account. Please be sure to register for any/all construction categories relevant to your firm. This Project may be funded, in part, by, and subject to certain requirements of, the County of Allegheny and/or the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Authority, in compliance with 74 Pa.C.S. § 303, as may be amended, require that certified Diverse Businesses (“DBs”) have the maximum opportunity to participate in the performance of contracts and subcontracts for this Project. In this regard, all Bidders shall make good faith efforts in accordance with 74 Pa.C.S. § 303, to ensure that DBs have the maximum opportunity to compete for and perform contracts. Bidders shall also not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, creed, age, disability, national origin, sexual origin, gender identity or status as a parent in the award and performance of contracts for this Project. If aid is required to involve DBs in the Work, Bidders are to contact Authority’s DBE Representative, Susanna Broadus at (412) 566-5257.

The Bidder’s attention is directed to the following contacts for Bidder’s questions:

Procedural Questions Regarding Bidding: Cindy Denner - Authority (412) 566-5117 cdenner@rideprt.org

All other questions relating to the Bid Documents must be submitted by mail or email to:

Port Authority of Allegheny County Procurement Office – Construction Division 345 Sixth Avenue, Third Floor Pittsburgh, PA 15222-2527

Attn: Cindy Denner (412) 566-5117 email: cdenner@rideprt.org

In addition, the Bidder’s attention is directed to the following schedule of activities for preparation of its Bid:

Pre-Bid Conference

9:00 a.m.

May 23, 2024 will be conducted via Teams at: Meeting ID: 269 046 553 910

Passcode: C9QMae Or call in (audio only): 412-927-0245

Phone Conference ID: 840 676 247# Attendance is not mandatory but strongly recommended.

Pre-Bid Site Tour

9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

May 29, 2024

Contractors to initially meet at: South Hills Village Maintenance Building 1000 Village Drive Pittsburgh, PA 15241

South Hills Village Rail Center Transportation Building and South Hills Junction Building #5 to follow.

Transportation will be provided via light rail service. All participants shall bring their own bagged lunch, if necessary. All participants must provide and wear safety vests and appropriate footwear; all participants – IF UNVACCINATED AGAINST COVID-19 – must provide and wear a mask at all times and practice minimum social distancing of 6 feet between other individuals. Tours will be conducted in limited group sizes and in the order of which bidders sign-in at the site. (Attendance is not mandatory but strongly recommended.)

1:30 p.m.

Bids Due June 13, 2024

Port Authority of Allegheny County

Procurement Office 345 Sixth Avenue – Third Floor –Pittsburgh, PA 15222

Please print, fill out, place in envelope with identifying label, seal and deliver by the time and date indicated. Bids submitted via Fed Ex, UPS, USPS or other carrier are subject to the notification requirements indicated above. Please call Cindy Denner at (412) 566-5117 prior to arriving. All participants – IF UNVACCINATED AGAINST COVID-19 – Must

The Washington County Housing Authority will receive separate, and SEALED bids for the following prime contract bid with the Authority:

BENTLEY TOWER EIFS REPAIR AND REPLACEMENT PROJECT

304 WASHINGTON STREET BENTLEYVILLE, PA 15314 WCHA 2024-G1 CONTRACT A/E PROJECT 2143

A certified check or bank draft payable to the Washington County Housing Authority; a US Government Bond or satisfactory Bid Bond executed by the Bidder and acceptable sureties in the amount equal to ten percent (10%) of the bid shall be submitted with each bid.

Bids will be received no later than 11:00 AM DST, WEDNESDAY, JULY 10, 2024 at the Washington County Housing Authority, 100 Crumrine Tower, Franklin Street, Washington, PA 15301 at which time the bids will be publicly opened and read aloud. Bids will be held by the Housing Authority for a period not to exceed sixty (60) days prior to the contract award.

A Non-Mandatory Pre-bid Meeting will be held starting at 11:00 AM DST, WEDNESDAY, JUNE 12, 2024 onsite at Bentley Tower, 304 Washington Street, Bentleyville, Pa 15314

Plans, specifications, and contract documents may be examined at these locations: Bid Documents are being distributed, with twenty-four hour prior notice of pick-up, by Ditto (www.dittoplanroom.com), 1020 Ridge Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15233, by phone (412) 231-7700. All prime bidders are REQUIRED to buy the full set of plans and specifications.

Contact Ditto for cost of plans and specifications. Free examination of said documents is available at the office of Canzian/Johnston & Associates LLC and Pennsylvania Builders Exchange.

Submit all required documents in a SEALED envelope clearly marked:

“BENTLEY TOWER EIFS REPAIR AND REPLACEMENT PROJECT”

The work to be performed under this contract is a Section 3 Project under Provisions of the Housing & Urban Development Act of 1968, as amended, and must, to the greatest extent feasible, provide opportunities for training and employment for lower-income residents of the project and contracts for work in connection with the project be awarded to business concerns which are located in, or owned by, Washington County residents. Particular attention is directed to requirements of Executive Order 11246, 11625 and 12138, as well as Section 3 requirements, as set forth in the Specifications.

The Authority reserves the right to reject any or all bids for any reason(s) what so ever and to waive informalities in the bidding process as the WCHA deems absolutely appropriate.

STANLEY P. SHOOK DEPUTY EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

The Washington County Housing Authority will receive separate, and SEALED bids for the following prime contract bid with the Authority:

FREDERICK TERRACE WINDOWS AND ROOFS REPLACEMENT PROJECT 747 CRAWFORD ROAD FREDERICKTOWN, PA 15333

WCHA 2024-G3 CONTRACT A/E PROJECT 2623

A certified check or bank draft payable to the Washington County Housing Authority; a US Government Bond or satisfactory Bid Bond executed by the Bidder and acceptable sureties in the amount equal to ten percent (10%) of the bid shall be submitted with each bid. Bids will be received no later than 1:30 PM DST, WEDNESDAY, JULY 10, 2024 at the Washington County Housing Authority, 100 Crumrine Tower, Franklin Street, Washington, PA 15301 at which time the bids will be publicly opened and read aloud. Bids will be held by the Housing Authority for a period not to exceed sixty (60) days prior to the contract award.

A Non-Mandatory Pre-bid Meeting will be held starting at 1:30 PM DST, WEDNESDAY, JUNE 12, 2024 onsite at Frederick Terrace, 747 Crawford Road, Fredericktown, Pa 15333

Plans, specifications, and contract documents may be examined at these locations: Bid Documents are being distributed, with twenty-four hour prior notice of pick-up, by Ditto (www.dittoplanroom.com), 1020 Ridge Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15233, by phone (412) 231-7700. All prime bidders are REQUIRED to buy the full set of plans and specifications. Contact Ditto for cost of plans and specifications. Free examination of said documents is available at the office of Canzian/Johnston & Associates LLC and Pennsylvania Builders Exchange.

Submit all required documents in a SEALED envelope clearly marked:

“FREDERICK TERRACE WINDOWS AND ROOFS REPLACEMENT PROJECT”

The work to be performed under this contract is a Section 3 Project under Provisions of the Housing & Urban Development Act of 1968, as amended, and must, to the greatest extent feasible, provide opportunities for training and employment for lower-income residents of the project and contracts for work in connection with the project be awarded to business concerns which are located in, or owned by, Washington County residents. Particular attention is directed to requirements of Executive Order 11246, 11625 and 12138, as well as Section 3 requirements, as set forth in the Specifications.

The Authority reserves the right to reject any or all bids for any reason(s) what so ever and to waive informalities in the bidding process as the WCHA deems absolutely appropriate.

STANLEY P. SHOOK DEPUTY EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

BID ADVERTISEMENT CONTRACT NUMBER: 47-35-15 2024 ROAD IMPROVEMENTS

Sealed Bids are requested by the Borough of Thornburg. Bids will be received by the Borough’s Consulting Engineer, NIRA Consulting Engineers, Inc. at 950 Fifth Avenue, Coraopolis, PA 15108 until 4:00 P.M. prevailing time, Wednesday, May 29, 2024 for the 2024 Road Improvements. Bids will be opened publicly and read aloud immediately after the closing time for receipt of Bids.

Interested parties may view the Profile and Bid Schedule for this Project on the internet at: www.niraengineers.com. Copies of the Bid Documents may be examined at the office of NIRA Consulting Engineers, Inc., 950 Fifth Avenue, Coraopolis, Pennsylvania 15108. Copies thereof may be obtained from the office of NIRA Consulting Engineers, Inc., upon payment of a non-refundable sum of $60.00. An additional charge of $15.00 will be required for handling of Plans and Specifications when shipping is requested. Checks are to be made payable to NIRA Consulting Engineers, Inc. Bids must be submitted on the forms provided, and completed in strict accordance with the instructions provided. Each Bid must be accompanied by a Bid Bond, in the form of a Certified Check or Corporate Surety Bid Bond, in the amount of ten percent (10%) of the Bid Proposal made in the favor of the Borough of Thornburg. Only documents obtained directly from the Engineer will be valid at bid opening. A Performance Bond, Labor and Material Payment Bond, and Maintenance Bond in the amounts specified within the Contract Documents will be required of the successful Bidder. Bidders on this work will be required to comply with the Provisions of the Pennsylvania Prevailing Wage Act 442. The Prevailing Wage Scale is included in these Specifications. Bidders on this work will be required to comply with the Provisions of the Public Works Employment Verification Act (PWEVA). Adherence to Instructions to Bidders is required. No Bid or any part thereof shall be withdrawn by Bidder for a period of sixty (60) days subsequent to the Bid Opening.

The right is reserved by the Owner to reject any or all Bids or parts of bids and to waive technical

LEGAL ADVERTISING

Bids/Proposals

LEGAL ADVERTISING

Bids/Proposals

PORT AUTHORITY OF ALLEGHENY COUNTY D.B.A. PRT

Electronic Proposals will be received online at PRT’s Ebusiness website (http://ebusiness.portauthority.org).

Proposals/bid submittals will be due 11:00 AM on May 24, 2024 and will be read at 11:15 AM., the same day, through your web browser via Microsoft Teams video conferencing, for the following:

Electronic Proposal - Ebusiness website (http://ebusiness.portauthority.org) Bid

1 B24-04-33A

Contactless Smart Fare Media

To join the bid opening through Microsoft Teams meeting on your computer, mobile app or room device

Meeting ID: 249 742 942 703

Passcode: bMd3Nt

Or call in (audio only)

412-927-0245

Phone Conference ID: 750 539 556

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 on each of the above items at 10:00 AM on May 9, 2024 through your web browser via Microsoft Teams video conferencing.

Join on your computer, mobile app or room device

Meeting ID: 241 754 564 498

Passcode: ie9brD

Or call in (audio only)

412-927-0245

Phone Conference ID: 847 728 56

Attendance at this meeting is not mandatory, but is strongly encouraged.

Questions regarding any of the above bids will not be entertained by the PRT 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 d.b.a. PRT 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 d.b.a. PRT 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 PRT reserves the right to reject any or all bids.

JOB OPPORTUNITIES Help Wanted

PPG Industries, Inc., headquartered in Pittsburgh, PA has work-athome Senior Data Scientist position (w/ability to telecommute w/approp. telecommuting sys.; remote worksite must be w/in commuting distance of Pittsburgh, PA for weekly trips to corp. office) responsible for contributing to specific bus. prjcts utilizing machine learning, computer vision, advncd statistical analysis, data mining, optimization, & data visualization mthds to drive prdct & service dvlpmnt at intersection of digital & physical sci. Must be willing & able to travel domest’ly & internat’ly up to 20% of the time. Apply online at careers.ppg.com.

Thar Energy LLC has job opening for Mechanical Engineer in Pittsburgh, PA. Send resume by mail to 150 Gamma Drive, Pittsburgh, PA 15238 Attn: P. McDonough

Courier’s ‘Fab 40’ honorees don’t let anyone, anything stop them from succeeding

by Rob Taylor Jr. Courier Staff Writer

AWARD SPONSOR

PATRON SPONSOR

And to our VIP Table Sponsors, Advertisers and Guests

Pittsburgh Mayor Ed Gainey seemed to speak for the nearly 500 people in attendance at the New Pittsburgh Courier’s annual “Fab 40 Under 40” awards celebration, May 2, at the Sheraton Pittsburgh Hotel: “For a long time in the city, they used to say they can’t find qualified people that look like us. I look around in the room and I see qualified people that look like us,” he said.

Qualified people were everywhere. Like Fab 40 honoree Talia Kirkland, one of the more celebrated reporters today for WPXITV (Channel 11), NAACP Pittsburgh Branch President Daylon A. Davis, City of Pittsburgh Deputy Solicitor Jesse Exilus, Esq., and August Wilson African American Cultural Center Senior Director of Programming Orlando Watson.

The Courier honored 36 additional young African American professionals under 40, proving that Pittsburgh has very talented African Americans who have decided to make Pittsburgh home, rather than leave for the Charlottes, the Atlantas and the Raleighs.

“I want to thank you for making this city a great city,” Mayor Gainey said, one of the many speakers at the event. “I always say diversity is the spice of life and without it, we can’t grow, and tonight, when I look out here and I see all

the wonderful people, regardless of what industry you’re in, what business you work for, thank you for helping to grow this city.”

The mayor added that the Black young profes-

sionals are showing that “we don’t have to leave this city, we can stay here, we can make it here, we can show everybody that there’s a life here.”

FAB 40 HONOREE ASRAIEL HAREWOOD, LEFT, AT THE COURIER’S FAB 40 UNDER 40 CELEBRATION, MAY 2, AT THE SHERATON PITTSBURGH HOTEL. (ALL PHOTOS BY J.L. MARTELLO)

As is the usual now at Courier events, the honorees strutted into the Sheraton ballroom and were instantly met with cheers as they walked onto the stage, then off the stage to their tables.

Celebrity Host Mikey Hood of KDKA-TV (Channel 2) welcomed everyone to the ceremony, and then introduced Rev. A. Marie Walker, who gave the invocation. Then, dinner was served, but let’s not forget about all the “throwback” songs that accompanied the dinner, mixed by DJ Brother Marlon of WAMO-FM (107.3).

Following the dinner, speakers included Courier Sales Director Ashley Johnson and Courier Editor and Publisher Rod Doss. Johnson thanked the award sponsor for the event, Duquesne Light Company, and the patron sponsor, The Pittsburgh Foundation. Doss gave words of encouragement to the 40 honorees, while also showing appreciation for the honorees’ parents who were in attendance. Hood then called off,

one by one, each honoree’s name, and each one was met with thunderous applause from their supporters in the crowd. Doss handed each honoree their award, photographer Ricco J.L. Martello took their photo, and the honoree then took a seat on the stage to prepare for the group photo. After the group photo, you thought the night was over? No sir. The Courier’s first-ever dessert afterparty was held in an adjoining room, where honorees and other family members were spotted doing the “Cupid Shuffle,” the “Wobble” and other line dances. The afterparty was held from 9 to 10:30 p.m.

One of the honorees, MacKaiya Cherry, told the Courier she was “really grateful to be part of such a group of distinguished individuals.” Cherry, who is in the communications department for the Pittsburgh Steelers, said she was “shocked” when she got the email stating she was named an honoree, but “really excited to be a part of it.”

For 1 Hood Media Direc-

tor of Policy and Advocacy Miracle Jones, she told the Courier she was “very blessed and lucky” to have “people in Pittsburgh that love me, that support me, that cheer for me and believe in the work that I do.”

Sydni Goldman, another honoree who has her own show on the Cornerstone Television Network, told the Courier she was one of

those people who thought she was never coming back to Pittsburgh, due to the lack of diversity, after attending Temple University for college in Philadelphia.

But, she’s back home.

“Now just to see what’s happening, there’s truly a movement, an undercurrent of entrepreneurship, I just see a trailblazing spirit that I haven’t really seen

in the city, and it’s beautiful to see how it is rising up,” Goldman said. And the Fab 40 honor was particularly gratifying to Lytia Brock. Her father, the well-known Pastor Gary L. Brock Sr., passed away on April 30. He was pastor of Narrow Way International Ministries in Beltzhoover. He was laid to rest the day before the

Fab 40 celebration.

“My dad always told me to be myself,” Lytia Brock told the Courier, surrounded by her sister and daughter. “We don’t believe that the sky is the limit, because the sky is endless. You’re your only limitation.”

FAB 40 HONOREES MACKAIYA CHERRY, BROOKE RAWLS, TIFFANY STANLEY AND YASMEEN MANYISHA AT THE SHERATON PITTSBURGH HOTEL, MAY 2. (PHOTOS BY J.L. MARTELLO)

NEW PITTSBURGH COURIER FAB 40 2024

NEW PITTSBURGH COURIER

40 2024

FAB 40 HONOREE ASHLEY COMANS, LEFT, WITH HUSBAND, WILKINSBURG MAYOR DONTAE COMANS

PITTSBURGH MAYOR ED GAINEY AND FIRST LADY MICHELLE GAINEY WITH FAB

40 HONOREES JHASON DICKSON, ERIKKA GRAYSON, DEANNA DIAS, ORLANDO WATSON AND LYTIA BROCK

NEW PITTSBURGH COURIER FAB 40 2024

GOTTA HAVE THAT SELFIE!

FAB 40 HONOREE FRED BUCKNER WITH FAMILY

NEW PITTSBURGH COURIER

2024

FAB 40 HONOREE DANIELLE COLQUITT, SECOND FROM LEFT, WITH FAMILY

FAB 40 HONOREES CAMILLE EDMONDS AND SYDNI GOLDMAN

FAB 40 HONOREES DAYLON DAVIS, DANIELLE COMMODORE WALKER AND NATHANIEL BROWN

FAB 40 HONOREES JHASON DIXON AND PASTOR MICHAEL A. DAY

NEW PITTSBURGH COURIER FAB 40 2024

THE LADIES OF DELTA SIGMA THETA SORORITY INCORPORATED

FAB 40 HONOREES DEANNA DIAS AND ERIKKA GRAYSON

NEW PITTSBURGH COURIER FAB 40 2024

FAB 40 HONOREE NATHANIEL BROWN WITH FAMILY

FAB 40 HONOREES DARIUS WALLACE, LAWRENCE URADU AND JOHN A. UKENYE

SUPPORTING THEIR FRIENDS AND LOVED ONES...

NEW PITTSBURGH COURIER

FIRST LADY MICHELLE GAINEY WITH FAB 40 HONOREES MIRACLE JONES AND ASHLEY COMANS

THE FAB 40 AFTERPARTY!

TALIYA R. ALLEN

Program Associate for Arts and Culture,

The Pittsburgh Foundation;

Visibility Chair, Black Transformative Arts Network

CHANTAL BRAZIEL

Soprano Classical Singer

DANAI BATTLE

Program Director

ACH Clear Pathways

LYTIA S. BROCK

Founder

Cloaked in Favor Outreach Ministries

TYRELL A. BEST-SAVAGE

Deputy District Director

PA Congressional District 12, Office of Congresswoman Summer Lee

NATHANIEL BROWN

Owner

Nate Brown Demolition, LLC and Brown Abatement, LLC

FRED BUCKNER

Senior Contract Specialist-Professional Services

Pittsburgh Regional Transit

TYLER COULVERSON

Branch Manager, Allegent Federal Credit Union; Podcaster, Financial Literacy with TC!

MACKAIYA CHERRY

Communications Assistant/Social Media

Pittsburgh Steelers

ASHLEY R. COMANS

School Board Director-Vice President, Wilkinsburg

School District ;

Media & Government Relations Manager, Healthy Start Inc.

DANIELLE V. COLQUITT

Licensed Funeral Director and Embalmer/ General Manager

Coston Funeral Homes Inc.

DAYLON A. DAVIS

President

NAACP Pittsburgh Branch

PASTOR MICHAEL ANTHONY DAY

Founder & Senior Pastor, Legacy International Worship Center;

Founder & President, Legacy Community Options for All People Inc.

DORIN DICKERSON

Host, 93.7 The Fan Morning Show Audacy

BRANDY DAYE

Principal UNITED at Twin Rivers Elementary School

JHASON DIXON

Controller

Sports & Exhibition Authority of Pittsburgh and Allegheny County

DEANNA D. DIAS

CEO

Daressia Industries, LLC and Bangolz Boutique, LLC

CAMILLE L. EDMONDS

Founder & Owner Her Salon, LLC

Deputy City Solicitor City of Pittsburgh

ERIKKA B. GRAYSON

Project Manager, Early Excellence Project; CEO & Founder, Bomb Moms, LLC

SYDNI GOLDMAN

Host & Producer of ‘The Glory Hour with Sydni Goldman’ Cornerstone Television Network

DR. SYLVESTER C. HANNER

School Counselor, Pittsburgh Public Schools; Mental Health Educator, SCH Counseling and Consulting

DORIEN GOODNIGHT-GIDDENS

Senior Vice President, Principal for Enterprise-Wide Functions Compliance Bank of NY Mellon

ASRAIEL HAREWOOD

Director of Enrollment Operations and Strategy Carnegie Mellon University

RASHAWD HATTEN

Supervisor, IT Governance, Risk and Compliance, Duquesne Light Co. ; Head Basketball Coach, Clairton High School

TALIA D. KIRKLAND

TEMPESTT HENDERSON-SUTTON

Assistant Executive Director, Greater Valley Community Services Inc.; Owner, Varie-T

YASMEEN MANYISHA

MIRACLE JONES

Director of Policy and Advocacy

1Hood Media

DANICA PHILLIPS

Principal & Founder, Sienna Dawn Media Integrated Marketing Agency;

Assistant Director of Communications, Bridgeway Capital

BROOKE RAWLS, PH.D., LCSW

CWEB Academic Coordinator and Clinical Assistant Professor

University of Pittsburgh School of Social Work

AUDIA ROBINSON,

CANDIDATE

Community

Founded 1910

Rod Doss Editor & Publisher

Stephan A. Broadus Assistant to the Publisher

Rob Taylor Jr. Managing Editor Ashley Johnson Director of Sales

Warren King Graphic Designer Allison Palm Office Manager

PATRON