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Lifestyles A9

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Vol. 110 No. 51

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DECEMBER 18-24, 2019

THE KIDS’ MAIN ATTRACTION?

$1.00

Homewood YMCA youth music programs to get $100,000 grant The New Pittsburgh Courier has learned that a fund established last year at The Pittsburgh Foundation to honor the legacy of rapper Mac Miller has awarded $100,000 to music programs for teenagers and young adults at the Homewood-Brushton YMCA. The Mac Miller Fund was established at the Foundation by the family of the recording artist after his death at age 26 in September 2018.

In a release provided to the Courier, the grant, which will be paid over a threeyear period, will provide operating funds for The YMCA Lighthouse Project and for apprenticeships at Tuff Sound, a program operated at the YMCA that trains young adults to be sound engineers. Managers of the programs hosted an open house on Dec. 17, as students toured the facility and learned about upcoming programs.

In a statement announcing the fund, the SEE YMCA A3

FROM PENN HILLS, IT’S THE TUCKER FAMILY, with Santa and Mrs. Claus, at the August Wilson African American Cultural Center Community Day Holiday Edition 2019, Dec. 14. (Photo by J.L. Martello)

Black Santa Claus and Black Mrs. Claus August Wilson Center holds Community Day Holiday Edition 2019

by Rob Taylor Jr. Courier Staff Writer

What would an August Wilson African American Cultural Center Community Day Holiday Edition be without a…Black Santa Claus?

Santa Claus portrayed as a Black man is not something you see every day, certainly not from a national and international perspective.

That’s why Pittsburgh’s premier venue for African American entertainment made sure that the mostly-Black children that came to the Community Day Holiday Edition at the August Wilson Center talked with and took pictures with a Santa that looked just like them.

“They (Mr. and Mrs. Claus) reflect the community that we serve,” Janis Burley Wilson, President and CEO of the AWAACC, told the New Pittsburgh Courier

BRENDAN YOUNGER, 3, enjoying the holiday event.

during the Saturday, Dec. 14 event, Downtown. “It’s an African American Cultural Center and we wanted a Santa that looks like the children that are waiting for Santa on Christmas Eve. We’re really happy that the kids came out, families came out.”

Candace Foster, a proud Homewood resident, was one of the hundreds of parents or grandparents that brought children to see Santa. One of the kids told her as soon as they entered the room, “I want to take a picture with Black Santa!” Foster said.

“These are images of what they need to understand as they grow up, that we are African Americans and so we need to see images of such that reflect who we are,” Foster told the Courier, with 1-year-old grandson Noah in her arms.

What did Vonsharie Audiles’ son, Israel, ask Santa for at the event? “He just asked

Jenee Oliver aims to connect local Black businesses with airport contracts

by Alyson Walls Blue Sky News

Jenee Oliver grew up in Homewood, where her family has owned a small trucking business since the 1930s. She grew up hearing about the struggles of small- and minority-business owners.

“Our family trucking garage became an unofficial gathering spot for local community business owners to meet and seek resources to grow their business,” she said.

Helping others succeed became part of Oliver’s DNA, which makes it all the more fitting that she now serves as business diversity and outreach manager for the Allegheny County Airport Authority (ACAA) and, in particular, the Terminal Modernization Program.

“Growing up in a small-business family, I witnessed firsthand the obstacles

SEE COMMUNITY DAY A3

SEE OLIVER A4

Local artists featured at South Side art show Curtis Cureton, Diarra Imani—artists by heart

by Rob Taylor Jr. Courier Staff Writer

No one becomes an artist in their adult years.

Sure, possibly by the time the person is an adult, they could be profiting off their creations. Or be part of art shows. Or travel around the country showcasing their works.

You may have never heard of said artist until that artist is in their 20s, 30s, or even 40s.

Don’t get it twisted—that artist has always been an artist, from the time they could walk.

That’s the story of Pittsburgh artists Curtis Cureton, Diarra Imani and pretty much every other artist that ever lived.

For Imani, now in her mid-20s, she told the New Pittsburgh Courier how she used to love painting as a youngster in school.

For Cureton, now at the seasoned age of 59, he told the Courier he’s been “doing

this since I was 5 years old.”

On Nov. 24, at the Natural Healing and Wellness Center, 2336 E. Carson St., South Side, Cureton and Imani showcased their unique views on the world via art.

Cureton has a specialty in creating wood sculptures, such as former Pittsburgh Pirate Andrew McCutchen on a living room table. Imani is able to make moves with the paintbrush, but considers her artistry as a “multi-disciplinary creative.” She said her artistry first came in the form of spoken word, then through singing, songwriting, and ultimately, visual art.

But that’s not all for Imani. She views art as another creative expression—working with kids, as her Star Seed company provides curricula to local schools on how kids can best express themselves through art.

“I tell all students that they are artists.

They start off as artists,” Imani said, as

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SEE ARTISTS A5

CURTIS CURETON AND DIARRA IMANI, with their artwork at the Natural Healing and Wellness Center on E. Carson Street, Nov. 24. (Photo by Marlon Martin)

J. Pharoah Doss asks

Progress doesn’t Forum leave people behind?

B6 Forum B6

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DECEMBER 18-24, 2019

INTERNATIONAL

NEW PITTSBURGH COURIER

This Week In Black History

ZOZIBINI TUNZI, MISS SOUTH AFRICA 2019, is crowned Miss Universe at the conclusion of The Miss Universe Competition on Dec. 8, from Tyler Perry Studios in Atlanta. Tunzi will move to New York City where she will live during her reign and become a spokesperson for various causes alongside The Miss Universe Organization. (HO/The Miss Universe Organization—Wikimedia Commons)

South African beauty queen crowned Miss Universe 2019

by Stacy M. Brown For New Pittsburgh Courier

Zozibini Tunzi said she grew up in a world where a woman who looks like her, was never considered beautiful.

On Sunday, Dec. 8, the South Africa beauty queen was crowned Miss Universe.

“I grew up in a world where a woman who looks like me, with my kind of skin and my kind of hair, was never considered beautiful,” Tunzi stated.

“I think it is time that that

stops today. I want children to look at me and see my face, and I want them to see their faces reflected in mine,” she added.

The 26-year-old from Tsolo, South Africa, speaks English and Isixhosa.

Tunzi’s official biography notes that she’s a passionate activist and engaged in the fight against gender-based violence. Tunzi has devoted her social media campaign to changing the narrative around gender stereotypes, and she said she’s a proud advocate for natural beauty.

Tunzi also works to encourage women to “love themselves the way they are,” she stated.

“Tonight, a door was opened, and I could not be more grateful to have been the one to have walked through it,” Tunzi wrote on Twitter after being crowned Miss Universe 2019.

“May every little girl who witnessed this moment forever believe in the power of her dreams, and may they see their faces reflected in mine. I am Miss Universe 2019,” she stated.

Sofia Aragón of Mexico and Madison Anderson of Puerto Rico were the two runners-up in the pageant.

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Week of December 18-24 December 18 1865—Congress passes the 13th Amendment to the Constitution officially abolishing slavery in America.

The actual ratification of the Amendment had been completed on Dec. 6. Reconstruction began and legendary abolitionist Frederick Douglass considered retiring to a farm after urging the nation to insure Black voting rights. But a February 1866 meeting with President Andrew Johnson shocked him out of retirement. Johnson told the Douglass delegation that he intended to support the interests of Southern Whites and would oppose giving voting rights to the ex-slaves. Johnson’s racism led to a radicalized Congress passing pro-Black legislation over his vetoes.

1917—Performer Ossie Davis is born Raiford Chatman Davis on this day in Cogdell, Ga. Davis was probOSSIE DAVIS and RUBY DEE ably Black America’s best example of a combination entertainer and political activist. In addition to his stage and movie careers, Davis and his wife, Ruby Dee, were deeply involved in the Civil Rights Movement. Davis was a key speaker at the funerals of both Malcolm X and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. He died Feb. 4, 2005 of natural causes while in Miami Beach, Fla. 1971—National Black political leader Rev. Jesse Jackson founds Operation PUSH (People United to Save Humanity) in Chicago. Breaking with some of the older civil rights organizations, Jackson declared that the modern problems facing Blacks “are economic so the solution and goal must be economic.”

1996—The Oakland, Calif., school board shocks the nation and angers much of the educational establishment by recognizing “Ebonics” (Black English) as a separate language and not a dialect or slang.

December 19 JESSE JACKSON 1875—The man who would become recognized as the “Father of Black History,” Carter Godwin Woodson, is born on this day in New Canton, Buckingham County, Va. Woodson founded the Washington, D.C.,-based Association for the Study of Afro-American Life and History. He wrote hundreds of articles about Black history and published several books with the most widely circulated being “The Negro in Our History” and launched the information celebration now known as Black History Month. His famous warning to African-Americans about the need to know and study Black history was, “Those who have no record of what their forebears have accomplished lose the inspiration which comes from the teaching of CARTER G. WOODSON biography and history.” Woodson died suddenly on April 3, 1950.

1891—One of the pioneers of Black Catholicism, Charles Randolph Uncles, was ordained the first African-American priest in America on this day in Baltimore, Md. 1910—Two of the nation’s leading Black newspapers were founded on this day: the Pittsburgh Courier and the Norfolk Journal and Guide. The Pittsburgh Courier would become the nation’s largest circulation Black-oriented newspaper after Robert Lee Vann became editor & publisher. The Norfolk Journal and Guide evolved from a fraternal order publication known as the Lodge Journal and Guide.

1930—Perhaps the nation’s leading Black sorority, Delta Sigma Theta, is officially incorporated. The sorority was actually founded in 1913 by 22 coeds at Howard University in Washington, D.C. One of the first public acts by the group was to participate in a demonstration in March 1913 demanding that women be given the right to vote.

December 20 ROBERT L. VANN 1860—Believing the November election of Abraham Lincoln would bring the end of slavery; on this day in 1860 South Carolina becomes the first Southern state to secede from the Union. Other states hold conventions and by the time Lincoln takes office on March 4, 1861, seven Southern states had seceded to form the Confederacy. The secessions lay the foundation for the start of the Civil War. In 1865, the victory of the North brings an end to slavery but not before more than 600,000 people had been killed.

1988—Max Robinson, the first Black co-anchor of a nightly network news program (ABC’s World News Tonight), dies in Washington, D.C., of complications due to AIDS. The 49-year-old Robinson was officially thought to be straight. It was never publicly explained how he contracted the deadly disease. Robinson’s given name was Maxie Cleveland Robinson Jr. December 21 1865—Following the example set by Mississippi, South Carolina on this day enacted a series of “Black Codes.” The codes displayed a White Southern obsession with three things after losing the Civil War. 1) They still desperately wanted to control Blacks. The primary method was forcing the now landless and money-less ex-slaves to sign “labor contracts” with White employers, which were so strict that they came close to re-instituting slavery. 2) They were obsessed with preventing sexual relations between Blacks and Whites. This took the form of banning interracial marriages and relationships. 3) They wanted to retard Black economic progress with a series of measures designed to require that Blacks work for Whites and not establish their own businesses. The codes barred Blacks from even selling farm products without the permission of a White employer. Fortunately, many of the codes were never fully enforced because Northern troops occupied the South and voided many of the “Black Codes.”

1956—The Montgomery Bus Boycott ends. For more than a year, Montgomery, Ala., Blacks had boycotted city buses to demand an end to segregation and demeaning treatment of African-Americans. The boycott had been sparked by the dramatic refusal of Rosa Parks to give up her seat on the bus to a White man. The boycott ended when the United States Supreme Court ruled that public transportation segregation was unconstitutional. By the time the boycott ended, Parks and boycott leader Martin Luther King Jr. were national heroes (at least among Blacks).

1988—National Black political leader Jesse L. Jackson Sr. begins a campaign encouraging use of the designation “African American” instead of “Black” to denote Americans of African ancestry.

December 22 1898—Historian and author Chancellor Williams is born on this day in Bennettsville, S.C. Williams authored the book “Destruction of Black Civilization: Great Issues of Race from 4500 B.C. to 2000 A.D.” The book is considered a must-read for any serious student of Black history. Williams died in 1992.

December 23 1815—Abolitionist Henry Highland Garnet is born in Kent County, Md. Perhaps second only to Frederick Douglass, Garnet was the leading Black abolitionist of the 1800s. He was known for his tremendous oratorical skills and being bold in expressing his opinions. After the Civil War, however, he became frustrated with the slow pace of Black progress in America and favored the establishment of an independent Black nation in Africa.

1867—Madame C.J. Walker is born Sarah Breedlove on a Delta Plantation in Louisiana. A high level of self-esteem and a near unmatchable level of energy enabled her to launch a MADAME C.J. WALKER hair care products business, which is believed to have made her the first Black millionaire in America. Her story is truly an amazing one. As an orphan at age 7, she quickly became an independent woman. She began working for another Black woman with a line of hair care products. But she soon launched her own—“Madame Walker’s Wonderful Hair Grower.” She traveled for a year and a half promoting her products throughout the South and Southwest. By 1910, she had settled in Indianapolis, Ind., where she built her factory. By 1913, she traveled through the Caribbean and Central America promoting her products. By 1916, she moved to New York in a Harlem townhouse that was as fabulous as anything on Fifth Avenue. In 1917, she was part of a delegation of prominent Blacks who visited the White House to protest against lynching. Once asked the secret to her success, she said, “I got myself a start by giving myself a start.” She died in 1919 as the wealthiest Black woman in America.

December 24 1881—The Edgefield Exodus begins. More than 5,000 Blacks, driven in part by a wave of White violence and economic exploitation, begin leaving Edgefield County, S.C., and resettled in Arkansas. The movement was also encouraged by people like Pap Singleton who believed Southern Blacks could enjoy a better life if they moved to the Midwest. It is also believed that some Whites also encouraged the exodus in a bid to reduce South Carolina’s Black population, which was a majority in the state in the 1870s and 1880s.

1881—With the Reconstruction period over and federal troops withdrawn from the former slave states, Whites began to reassert their authority with a host of segregationist and anti-Black laws. On this day, Tennessee led the way to modern segregation with a “Jim Crow” railroad car statute. Basically, “Jim Crow” meant segregation. Virtually all the other Southern states soon did the same, passing laws designed to segregate or keep Blacks and White separated. How the name “Jim Crow” came to represent segregation is unclear. It is believed to have originated from a White minstrel show performer of the 1830s named Thomas “Daddy” Rice who stole the phrase from a slave who did a song and dance using the words “Jim Crow” as a criticism of his slave master.

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August Wilson Center holds Community Day Holiday Edition 2019 Pittsburgh Chapter, and The inaugural AWAACC for a thousand dollars,” Au- Sankofa Village.

Community Day Holiday diles said. “And a Blaster. I Burley Wilson called this Edition occurred in 2018. think it’s one of those Nerf year’s event “fantastic, it’s Burley Wilson told the Courier that the AWAACC is primed to have more enlightening attractions in 2020, with a poetry slam entitled “Poetry Unplugged” to celebrate Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. on Jan. 17, celebrated author and educator Dr. Michael Eric Dyson on Feb. 3, jazz standout Joshua Redmond on Feb. 15, and #MeToo movement founder Tarana Burke on March 9.

Burley Wilson also said to look out for another Pittsburgh International Jazz Festival and Blues and Heritage Festival next year.

She said the popular Black Bottom Film Festival will return in 2021.

If you haven’t been to the 1-YEAR-OLD AUGUST, with mother, Davonna, at the August Wilson AWAACC in a while, or at African American Cultural Center, Dec. 14. (Photos by Courier pho- all, “You’re missing a lot,” tographer J.L. Martello) Burley Wilson said. “This is a home for the art and guns.” exactly what we wanted. storytelling and exchange Audiles also brought her We have all kinds of people of ideas around the African daughter, Imani, to the here, the crowd is extreme- American experience. And event, and nephew, V’Cetres. ly diverse and we wanted keeping with the legacy of

COMMUNITY DAY FROM A1

ANTWANE AND CHRISTIAN, from East Hills, playing the drums.

She said the kids reacted differently to Black Santa than they did at Monroeville Mall with White Santa.

“You could feel the love, they just went right up and gave him a hug,” Audiles said about Black Santa. “The one at the mall, they (the kids) were more distant.”

While Black Santa and Black Mrs. Claus was the highlight of the day, there was also a Kwanzaa section and various Black vendors such as LaShesia Holliday of Naptural Beauty Supply.

On the first floor, there were more vendors such as Natiq Jalil of The Art of Natiq, nonprofit organizations such as The Citizen Science Lab, and plenty of performances from the likes of the Gospel Music Workshop of America,

to open the doors widely to the community and other communities here, so we’re very pleased.”

August Wilson, we do that through a variety of genres, so there’s something here for everyone.”

MALEYAH AND MAIYAH CARTER, from Duquesne, at the holiday event.

Homewood YMCA youth music programs to get $100,000 grant YMCA FROM A1

family said the purpose is to expand on Mac Miller’s vision of giving access and opportunities to young people to explore the arts and to have a positive impact on communities across the country. “He cared very much about working to make the world a kinder place and we will continue to do just that,” family members stated.

The YMCA Lighthouse Project is a teen center where young people are encouraged to explore their interests in music, film, photography and visual arts. Led by experienced teaching artists for the past 13 years, the program offers project-based learning and creative expression to transform youth into confident leaders while building community and curiosity. Students can choose from an array of programs including singing/songwriting, beat-making, podcasting, graphic design, photography and video, hip-hop dance and deejaying.

“These programs give young people a voice and empower them, through technical and transferable skills, for life after high school,” said James Brown,

director of Creative Youth Development at the Homewood-Brushton YMCA, in a statement. “There is a lot of emphasis (in the music business) on who is standing on the stage, but to build an industry, you also need people behind the scenes. We’re helping to grow the music industry in Pittsburgh by making sure young people of color from neighborhoods like Homewood are involved.”

All YMCA Lighthouse Project students have access to industry standard technology and software, studio time in a world-class recording facility, a daily snack and dinner, transportation home within a threemile radius, presentation and performance opportunities across the city, and artist mentorship.

The Tuff Sound Apprenticeship Program is a yearlong educational initiative based at the YMCA Lighthouse Project that teaches Pittsburgh’s young people ages 16 to 24 the art of audio engineering, mixing and production.

Participants receive hands-on instruction from Herman Pearl, head engineer and owner of Tuff Sound Recording, and Amos Levy, music coor-

dinator at The Lighthouse Project, on how to work in an industry-quality studio.

The program begins with a 10-week intensive, where participants develop expertise in audio engineering and create their own portfolio of work. In the year that follows, Tuff Sound apprentices collaborate with local musicians, media makers and performers to hone their audio engineering technical skills.

Thanks to the grant, the program, which has been on hiatus since May 2017, now has funding for three years of apprenticeships and will serve about 30 young people between early next year and 2023. Recruitment began on Dec. 17 for the next class, which begins this spring.

The Lighthouse Project also has a partnership with the Community College of Allegheny County, which offers college-credit music technology courses to high school students. “Teens already hang out and learn here at the Y,” Brown said in a statement, and “by offering teens college-credit courses, we’re helping to tear down barriers facing young people by showing first-generation students that college is for them.”

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OLIVER FROM A1

Jenee Oliver aims to connect local Black businesses with airport contracts

that these business owners face,” she said.

“I realize that if someone had not removed obstacles for my grandfather more than 60 years ago and took a chance on a small minority-owned business, I probably would not be here today.

With this position, I am able to articulate those obstacles to my colleagues at the airport and create solutions to removing them.”

Oliver’s skills are particularly relevant as the authority prepares to advertise for bid packages this spring and summer for construction of the new billion-dollar terminal and multi-use complex. For all contracts, the authority has a 14 percent participation goal for owners of Disadvantaged Business Enterprises, known as DBEs. As the airport ramped up

to expand the initiative, longtime administrative assistant Virginia Culbreath joined Oliver as the new TMP DBE coordinator.

“She listened to me and gave me a voice,” she said.

Oliver, Culbreath and other members of their team recently hosted a six-week course for disadvantaged, minority and small business owners to learn how to do business with the ACAA and other government entities.

Kristian Robinson, owner of KI Heavy Construction, said he is interested in making history by helping to build the new airport.

“There’s a huge opportunity there, and as a new company, we know how to build, but we don’t know all of the business aspects and bidding processes,” he said. “It can be challenging,

but Jenee and her team are doing everything they can to help us work with the general contractors on this project, and we appreciate that.”

A family calling Oliver was the only girl in the family and “not that into truck driving,” she said, so her parents encouraged her to focus on her education. She now has three college degrees, including a law degree from Duquesne University. This fall, she’ll start work on a fourth degree, an MBA from Penn State’s Smeal College of Business.

True to her family’s entrepreneurial background, after passing the bar exam, Oliver started her own law practice that focused on business and contract law and assisting small business owners. She also did some pro bono criminal de-

JENEE OLIVER is business diversity and outreach manager for the Allegheny County Airport Authority. fense work for a mid-size Downtown law firm.

But she never strayed far from the calling she first heard in her family’s garage.

As 20 new graduates of the DBE Bonding Series received their certificates of completion last month, it was evident Oliver is expanding the family business in an important way.

“Not only can these business owners bid on airport projects, but now they can bid on any project in the city, so we’re building their

capacity,” she said. “We’re getting the message out that we care about DBEs and are offering them support services.”

Brandon Leslie, owner of B and R Plumbing, said he attended the course to take his 21/2-year-old-business to the next level by getting bonded, which means that a company will guarantee completion of contracted work.

“To be able to come in and network and learn about the requirements for the airport project has been very helpful for me and

other small business owners who would like to participate,” Leslie said.

The work is rewarding, Oliver said. And while the environment is fast-paced, the airport atmosphere is collaborative, with everyone’s voice valued.

“We get to see the results of everyone’s hard work every time a new flight or project is announced,” she said. “I truly appreciate being part of the airport team.”

(Blue Sky News is the in-house news service of the Pittsburgh International Airport.)

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Artists Curtis Cureton, Diarra Imani featured at art show ARTISTS FROM A1

she painted with youngster Kai Bailey at the art show. “I just allow them to be themselves, no ridicule, no punishment, just allow them to express.”

Imani, who’s also the Yoga instructor at the Natural Healing and Wellness Center, graduated from Urban Pathways Charter School in 2014, then graduated with a bachelor’s in her own major—Women’s Entrepreneurship in Institutional Culture—from Chatham University.

As for Cureton, he’s a Schenley High School

alum, and attended the University of Pittsburgh and the Pittsburgh Center for the Arts. He’s been involved in countless art shows over the years, and admits he’s taken some breaks here and there to focus on family, health, and, well, life. But he knows his patented process of producing his creations (wood burning, engraving, etc.) is one-of-a-kind. It takes a while for each of his productions to make it onto wood for good.

“It’s a process. You have to wait until one part of it is dry before you can create

CURTIS CURETON, with one of his art pieces.

DIARRA IMANI AND KAI BAILEY, painting at the art show at the Natural Healing and Wellness Center on E. Carson St., Nov. 24. (Photos

by Courier photographer Marlon Martin) the second layer of it,” Cureton told the Courier. “It’s a seven-step process, but it’s a fun process, it’s something I enjoy doing.”

Some artists are extro-

verts; others seldom utter a word. Some focus on the African American genre; others are more mainstream.

They all, however, see things that the non-artist

doesn’t notice, and are able to turn it into a creation that oftentimes is cherished forever.

“It’s what your mind’s eye sees,” Cureton explained of

how he comes up with what his next creation would be.

“You’re just duplicating what your mind’s eye sees.

I don’t know if it’s that simple, but for me, it is.”

AN ENGRAVED PIECE BY CURTIS CURETON, featuring former Pittsburgh Pirate Andrew McCutchen.

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CELEBRATE THE SEASON!

AKIRAH HIXSON, MONIQUE SUDDUTH, CAROL HENDRIX, at the City of Pittsburgh’s Celebrate The Seasons Holiday Parade, Nov. 30.

TUVTUVTUVTU Pittsburgh’s Holiday Parade November 30, 2019 Photos by Courier photographer J.L. Martello

TUVTUVTUVTU THE PITTSBURGH SAMBA GROUP

FARRAH GRANT and 8-year-old son Aiden Grant from the Hill District…with Iceburgh!

THE WATKINS FAMILY, with Steely McBeam!

TIERA BRYANT, SHAINA BALLARIEL, DONNA BALLARIEL AND ALEXIS GODFREY with you know who…The Pirate Parrot!

11111111112

5-YEAR-OLDS RAYNA AND CHRISTIAN from Sharpsburg enjoying the parade…

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PITTSBURGH’S 2019 CELEBRATE THE SEASONS HOLIDAY PARADE

SHANELL MCCOY, BRICE ROBINSON, ALVEYNIA TURNER from the North Side, enjoying the Celebrate The Seasons Holiday Parade, Nov. 30, in Downtown Pittsburgh. (Photos by Courier photographer J.L. Martello)

LADIES FROM THE MCKEESPORT HIGH SCHOOL MARCHING BAND

o

THE SINGING GROUP “1NE”—Diondre johnson, Mike Rue, Chris Rue, David Bowens, Mark Bynum

CHERISE DANIELS, the crossing guard, with Shaqua Clay and family enjoying the parade…

FROM MANCHESTER, it’s the Johnson family!

THE MCKEESPORT BLACK BERETS

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DECEMBER 18-24, 2019

NEW PITTSBURGH COURIER

Young’s House Evangelistic Academy

Christmas Toy Giveaway THE SOUTH SIDE DANCING QUEENS DANCE GROUP, at Young’s House Evangelistic Academy’s First Annual Christmas Toy Giveaway, Dec. 8, at the Warrington Recreation Center. (Photos by Courier photographer J.L. Martello)

MALIKA MARKET, top left, also known as “Mz. Nik,” founder and CEO of Young’s House Evangelistic Academy on the South Side, along with Robert Walker from Exurbia Home Health Care, with his daughter.

SANTA CLAUS was busy giving out gifts…!

NATHANIEL GILBERT, 2, with Santa.

Since our next breath comes from not mother or father, but a unseen source we all need truth and a narrative that isn’t false-we also need real humility and balance. Consider the following as books and Google are concerned.

‘The Price for their Pound of Flesh’–A book that deals with the value of the enslaved, from the womb to grave, in the building of a nation. A beacon book by author Ms. Diana Ramey Berry.

Also, ‘What the Eyes Don’t See’– By Dr. Mona Hannah Attisha, that deals with environmental damage to minorities.

Also, before 1492, people of color ruled the world since the Garden of Eden-see ‘The Story of Moors in Spain’, by Stanley Lane Poole.

Google-East African diaspora in the Indian Ocean and then ask where else in the world people of color ruled with longevity and dignity.

It must be said what we once did, we will no doubt do again on behalf of all humanity.

One Creation—One Human Family—According to all Holy Books correct.

A prodical son, Kenneth Owens-El AKA Ismail El Amin Pittsburgh, PA

JENNIFER CLARK helped with wrapping the gifts.

We lead the way.

Others follow us.

Subscribe to the Courier by calling 412-481-8302, ext. 134!

LIFESTYLES New Pittsburgh Courier

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DECEMBER 18-24, 2019

www.newpittsburghcourier.com

Debbie Norrell

Lifestyles Report When the invite says This is that time of year when invitations are plentiful. There are galas, Christmas parties, holiday dinners, cookie exchanges, ugly sweater parties and New Year’s parties.

There has to be some type of communication to you from the host or group to get butts in seats. In most cases you are given a date, time, location and any particulars that will help all to enjoy the event.

Here is an example.

You are having a big celebration and at a certain time in the evening you will do a balloon release and you want everyone to be there by that time.

A good host will add that to the invite, not necessarily the fact that there is going to be a balloon release but that something special is going to happen and you want your guests there for the special event.

You know, like a surprise party. It’s no fun if no one is there to yell surprise when the guest of honor arrives.

I attend a lot of events and even though I am “working” I get in the spirit of the event and don the attire stated in the invite or flyer. If it is a white party I’m not showing up in red.

Three events come to mind where a theme was well-executed.

Number one: the recent “Black Owt” given by Omega Psi Phi Fraternity at the August Wilson Center. This was a winner. I’m not sure whose idea it was but they realized that ladies love to wear black and most women and guys have a lot of black already in their closets so this was easy, just shop in your closet and enjoy the party. Number two: Diner en Blanc aka the big white party. I’m not sure why but people love a white party, I don’t blame them I do as well. DEB is growing in numbers and people are really going over the top with their white ensembles. I’ve seen some add white wigs, hats and more. Number three is the Annual Pittsburgh Conservancy Hat Luncheon held on the first Saturday in May which also is Kentucky Derby Day. The key to having a good time at this event or to any themed party is to get with the program. If it is a hat event wear a hat, go on the internet and see what ladies wear to a tea party. When the invite says dinner is going to be served at 6 p.m. don’t show up at 8 looking for a hot meal. If it is a white party please don’t show up in green thinking it is cute because it’s not. A masquerade ball means wear a mask. A gala normally indicates formal attire.

A lot of time and money goes into having a nice event and in most cases these are fundraisers.

Give people something for their money. Don’t settle for the standard centerpiece that the banquet hall supplies, get creative with the centerpiece, use your organization’s colors and make something that will draw attention to the center of the table.

Have fun with it.

CORPORATE CHAIR—Dr. William Simmons

KEYNOTE SPEAKER—Pedro Rivera

Allegheny East NAACP holds Human Rights Dinner

by Debbie Norrell Lifestyles Editor

On Nov. 1, at the Edgewood Country Club, Allegheny East NAACP held their Annual Human Rights Dinner. Kenneth L. Huston, Pennsylvania State NAACP President and President of the Allegheny East NAACP, said one of the most intriguing words is “we.” With an upsurge in racism, hate crimes, criminalization of young Black males, insensitivity to the poor, educational genocide and the moral economic cost of war, “we” must stand

together now like never before. Our heroes remind us that ordinary people can accomplish extraordinary things.

On this evening with Briauna Brownfield as mistress of ceremonies, guests enjoyed a delightful dinner and keynote speaker Pedro Rivera, Secretary of Education for the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Rivera said we must advance the agenda of equity and focus on the K-12 system; students should be invested in early and often.

The Allegheny East NAACP also presented their

2019 AWARD RECIPIENTS—Fred Redmond, Sharon L. McDaniel, Robert Hill and Kenneth Huston (Photos by Debbie Norrell) 2019 Awards to: Dr. Sharon McDaniel–2019 Progressive Business Award (McDaniel is the President and CEO of A Second Chance Inc.,); Robert Hill-2019 Spirit Award (Hill is the former Vice Chancellor of Public Affairs University of Pittsburgh); and Fred Redmond-2019 Corporate Community Partner Award (Redmond HUMAN RIGHTS DINNER COMMITTEE—Cheryl R. McAbee, Brenda is USW international vice J. Andress, Rosalie Smiley and Charlene R. McAbee president).

SUPPORTERS—Ralph Watson, Gayle Durham and Herb Durham

PRESIDENT KENNETH HUSTON and wife Terri Huston

Pierians Inc., present ‘A Musical Afternoon’

by Debbie Norrell Lifestyles Editor

On Dec. 13, 1958, Annette C. Johnson in Baltimore, Maryland, founded The Pierians.

The organization known as The Pierians, a name taken from the word Pieria, which was a region of Ancient Macedonia, one of the earliest seats

of the Muses. The organization is devoted to the purpose of promoting and encouraging the study and enjoyment of the fine arts.

On Nov. 9, at the Afro American Music Institute (AAMI) The Pierians Inc. Pittsburgh Chapter presented “A Musical Afternoon” with performances from students of the Afro Amer-

THE PIERIANS PITTSBURGH PRESIDENT—Karen Price

ican Music Institute. The full house enjoyed performances by Tru Dabney and Grace Borneo.

Each student received three months of tuition to AAMI from The Pierians.

Karen Price, president, Allison Lee Mann, vice president and Pamela Johnson, AAMI co-founder, hosted the afternoon.

AWARDEE—Grace Borneo (Photos by Debbie Norrell)

AWARDEE—Tru Dabney

RELIGION

A10 DECEMBER 18-24, 2019

Praise & Worship ST. BENEDICT THE MOOR CATHOLIC CHURCH Crawford & Centre Ave. Pgh., PA 15219 412-281-3141

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Pittsburgh Higher Ground Ministry’s 2019 Trailblazers Awards

Sunday Mass 10:30 A.M. www.stbtmchurch.org

East Liberty Presbyterian Church Rev. Dr. Randy Bush, Senior Pastor 412-441-3800 116 S. Highland Ave., Pittsburgh, PA 15206

www.cathedralofhope.com

Worship on Sunday: Journey Worship...........8:45 a.m.

Sanctuary Worship...........11 a.m.

Taize -Wednesdays.........7 p.m.

Curious about Quakerism?

You Are Welcome at our Meetings for Worship Sundays at 10:30 a.m.

Pittsburgh Friends Meeting 4836 Ellsworth Avenue www.quaker.org/pghpamm/

Join our growing Praise and Worship Church Community!

HONOREES—Sitting from left: Evangelist Helen Pugh, Minister Sharon Ann McIntosh, Bishop Dr. Lola Thorpe. Standing from left: Deacon Carla Arnold, Rev. Delphina Adams, Veronica Edwards. (Photos by Courier photographer J.L. Martello)

For rate information, call 412481-8302, ext.

128.

MICHELLE JOHNSON, mistress of ceremonies

ELDER MCBEAM delivered the opening prayer.

TELL US ABOUT YOUR NEXT CHURCH EVENT! We want to place your event in our Church Circuit weekly calendar!

Send info to: New Pittsburgh Courier 315 E. Carson St. Pittsburgh PA 15219 Or Email us! religion@ newpittsburgh courier.com

The Courier is THE VOICE of Black Pittsburgh.

REV. MURRAY from Second Baptist Church blessed the food…

Attention local churches!

Tell us about your next event!

Email information to: religion@newpittsburghcourier.com or...

New Pittsburgh Courier Church Circuit, 315 East Carson St. Pittsburgh PA 15219 MAMIE H. WADKINS CLEMONS

Age 102 of Pittsburgh, PA passed away peacefully on December 10, 2019. Retired Educator of the Pittsburgh Public Schools, Ordained Elder of the Hillcrest Seventh Day Adventist Church and Prayer Warrior. Wife of the late James Robertson Wadkins and the late John Davis Clemons. Visitation was held on Tuesday, December 17, 2019 from 4pm - 8pm in the Hillcrest SDA Church 2340 Wylie Avenue Pgh., PA 15219. Home Going Celebration was held on Wednesday, December 18, 2019 at 11am in Wesley Center A.M.E.Zion Church 2701 Centre Avenue Pgh, PA 15219. Interment Union Dale Cemetery.

REV. DELPHINE ADAMS singing a selection…

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DECEMBER 18-24, 2019

Courier Readers...it’s the PERFECT Christmas Gift!

We invite you to purchase a 6 month ($25) or 1 year ($45) subscription of the New Pittsburgh Courier as a gift for...a relative, a friend, or a co-worker!

Then, as our Christmas gift to you, we’ll give you the same subscription (6 months or 1 year) ABSOLUTELY FREE! That’s right! Buy a subscription for someone else as a gift, and you get your subscription absolutely free!

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The Steelers are not yet dead, but…

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Classifieds

Find what you need from jobs to cars to housing B4-B5

B

PERSONAL Slaughter elected to FLHBank Pittsburgh board FINANCE 7 tips for using credit cards safely (StatePoint)—Credit cards are a useful tool for managing personal finances and building credit, but they also expose you to a number of risks—including identity theft and credit card fraud.

Thankfully, experts say there are many simple, proactive steps you can take to help protect yourself when using a credit card. Here are seven tips for guarding your credit.

1. Monitor your credit reports. To identify any suspicious activity, periodically request and review your credit reports and your children’s from the three major credit bureaus: Equifax, Experian and TransUnion. These companies will provide you with a free credit re-

port once per year. Consider requesting a different agency’s report every four months at no charge for more frequent monitoring. If you see any signs of identity theft, credit card fraud or other scams, contact the credit bureaus right away.

2. Activate fraud alerts. Experian Equifax and TransUnion also offer free credit fraud alerts. When a potential creditor sees a fraud alert on your credit file, they will take additional steps to verify your identity before authorizing new credit. Fraud alerts last for 90 days but can easily be renewed. You only need to contact one credit bureau to set up alerts—that company will notify the other two.

3. Freeze your credit. Placing a freeze on your credit reports will prevent anyone from opening new accounts in your name. You will need to contact all three credit bureaus to freeze your reports. Note that it may take several days to lift a freeze if you need to apply for credit. Also, credit freezes do not prevent fraudulent transactions on your existing credit accounts.

4. Review credit card statements carefully. Check your statements as soon as you receive them to make sure there are no fraudulent charges. Contact your card issuer if you see anything suspicious.

5. Enroll in bank notification programs. Most banks offer a credit card notification program which will alert you to account charges over a preset amount.

6. Protect your passwords. Change SEE TIPS B2

HOWARD SLAUGHTER JR.

The New Pittsburgh Courier has learned that Dr. Howard B. Slaughter Jr., president and chief executive officer of Habitat for Humanity of Greater Pittsburgh (Habitat Pittsburgh) has been elected by the Board of Directors of the Federal Home Loan Bank of Pittsburgh (FHLBank Pittsburgh) to a public interest independent director position effective Jan. 1, 2020, in accordance with the rules of the Federal Housing Finance Agency. Dr. Slaughter will fill the un-

expired term of former director Cheryl Johnson.

As president and chief executive officer, Dr. Slaughter leads the efforts of Habitat Pittsburgh in providing decent affordable housing to local families with limited incomes. Prior to joining Habitat Pittsburgh, he was President and Chief Executive Officer of Christian Management Enterprises, LLC, a business management and real estate consulting firm; President and Chief Executive Officer of

Landmarks Community Capital Corporation; Regional Director of Fannie Mae’s Pittsburgh Business Center; Vice President of Community Development at Dollar Bank; and Assistant Vice President of Community Development at Equibank.

Dr. Slaughter serves on the boards of the Pennsylvania Economic Development Financing Authority, the Housing Alliance of Pennsylvania, the SEE SLAUGHTER B2

THE CHANNEL IS THE ENDEAVOR of the network’s visionaries and co-founders, Chairman J.C. Watts Jr., left, and CEO Bob Brillante.

Black News Channel in ‘The Red Zone,’ ready for launch

by Stacy M. Brown NNPA Newswire Senior Correspondent

(NNPA)—As the historic launch on Jan. 6, 2020, of the Black News Channel (BNC) approaches, officials can count members of Congress among those eagerly anticipating the new platform.

Congresswoman Karen Bass (D-Calif.), the chair of the Congressional Black Caucus and Congresswoman Yvette Clarke, the chair of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, joined a gathering of BNC officials, anchors, and other guests at a reception on December 3 in Washington, D.C., to toast the launch of the network.

“This has been long in the making,” said BNC’s Vice President of Commu-

nity Affairs and former Tallahassee, Florida Mayor John Marks.

“When you see what we’ve done and what we’re going to do, it will knock your socks off,” Marks stated.

Bass called the fledgling channel a necessity for African Americans and others who seek a different perspective than what’s available through other news outlets.

“Right now, we have a lot of opinion in the news,” Bass stated.

“There are 54 members of the Congressional Black Caucus who want to be a part of this because you don’t see us, and you don’t hear about us [through mainstream news],” she said.

With a partnership with the National Newspaper Publishers Association’s Black-owned newspapers and

media companies, the BNC expects to fast become the top destination for all who want to consume African American news in print, on television and mobile devices.

An independent network that’s minority-owned and operated, BNC will be the nation’s only provider of 24/7 cable news programming dedicated to covering the unique perspective of African American communities.

The channel is the endeavor of the network’s visionaries and co-founders, Chairman J.C. Watts Jr. and CEO Bob Brillante.

“I remember going to West Africa with a bipartisan delegation that included Democrat William Jefferson,” said Watts, the former Republican SEE CHANNEL B2

EIGHT SIMPLE WAYS to avoid feeling burnt out

by AJ Williams

The Michigan Chronicle

In today’s life, we never really get a chance to switch off and recharge ourselves with all the distractions around us. But if we don’t relax every now and the, we run the risk of feeling increasingly more tire, stressed, and irritated. But don’t worry— there are plenty of simple ways to reduce the risk of becoming burnt out that can fit into anyone’s lifestyle, regardless of how busy they may be. As a Life Coach Carole Ann Rice knows how quickly everyday life can cause grief. Today, she’s sharing her 8 simple ways you can avoid feeling burnt out.

1. Screen free hours—Put your phone down and get back in touch with reality.

Human interaction isn’t that bad (surprise!)-- and it will give your eyes a rest.

2. Eat a good breakfast—It sounds cliché, but it’s the most important meal of the day and will help you to stay focused and fresh, as well as ensuring you get all the minerals and vitamins you need.

3. Mono-task—Doing a thousand things at once can really leave your brain feeling frazzled. The best way to overcome this is to focus on one job or task and do it amazingly well! It will give you joy from knowing you are doing the best you can do.

4. Read a book—Whether it’s in the garden or on the tube, reading a book will help you escape from everyday life. As well as improving your concentration and vocabulary, you’ll also be reducing stress!

5. Take a proper lunch break—Don’t eat lunch at your desk! You’re at work most of the day, so take at least 30 minutes to enjoy your lunch somewhere else or get some fresh air to help break up the day! You’d be surprised how stepping away from the office can distance you away from stresses—both literally and mentally.

6. Download Headspace—This free app provides quick 10-minute meditations. This is something you can do on your lunch break or during a stressful, busy day. You’ll be able to work much better afterwards!

7. Walk in nature—Use walks as a chance to get some fresh air, clear you head, and reflect, but also to let go. If you want to make it even more enjoyable, add some slow, relaxing music.

8. Be unavailable— Being at the beckon call 24/7 is horrible for your anxiety levels. Try to be unavailable now and then from phone calls, emails, texts and even the doorbell—everything. Give yourself a chance to recharge without being disturbed and to not feel the pressures of the world.

B2

DECEMBER 18-24, 2019

BUSINESS

NEW PITTSBURGH COURIER

Jerry MacCleary keynotes Chamber’s Annual Business Luncheon

DORIS CARSON WILLIAMS, African American Chamber President and CEO.

KEYNOTE SPEAKER—Jerry MacCleary, Chairman and CEO Covestro, LLC, addressed Chamber members.

SAMUEL STEPHENSON, JERRY MACCLEARY AND DORIS CARSON WILLIAMS. (Photos by J.L. Martello)

Black News Channel ready to launch CHANNEL FROM B1

congressman out of Oklahoma.

“We saw the little huts and where they kept African people at the door of no return to never see Africa again. But we also saw clinics, doctors, the building of hospitals, lawyers, and others.

“And [Jefferson] went home and told his 90-yearold granddad that we saw doctors and lawyers and the building of hospitals.

And, his 90-year-old granddad said, ‘I knew there was more.’

“That is the mission of the Black News Channel.

There’s more to the African American community than what we see,” Watts stated.

During the December 3 reception, Watts participated in a fireside chat with Clarke and Waldo McMillan, the vice president of Legislative Affairs at Charter Communications.

“We don’t have as many opportunities to view ourselves and to have our narratives authentically portrayed through those who have similar experiences,” Clarke stated during the engaging chat before nearly 200 guests.

“What’s significant about the BNC is that it will be a reflection of people of African descent. In my district, I have people from around the world, the [African] continent, the Caribbean, South and Central America.

“They’re all seeking knowledge and a viewpoint and lens that speak from their experience. So, I’m

excited about this,” Clarke stated.

Watts noted that the BNC would be culturally specific.

“Rarely do you hear anyone on any network today talking about Sickle Cell Disease, which is a disease that primarily impacts African Americans,” Watts stated.

“And, when we talk about being culturally specific, we just had Thanksgiving.

By and large, when we’re talking about Thanksgiving dinner, African Americans are talking about cornbread dressing and sweet potato pie.

“By and large, white people talk about stuffing and pumpkin pie. That doesn’t mean we can’t interchange those dishes, but culturally specific to us would be sweet potato pie and cornbread dressing. We have different cultures, different meals.

“But, it’s a lot of things like that we never hear or see in mainstream media when it comes to African American culture.”

Watts also said it was important to acknowledge Charter Communications’ role in the launch of the BNC. “If someone thinks you can do this without distribution, it’s a pipedream.

Charter came along and bought into our vision and understood where we were going,” Watts stated.

“They could have seen it as risky, and I suspect that someone sitting at the table said, ‘I’m not so sure,’ but they did it, and it made us real. Things have fallen

into place. We have over 60 people employed in Tallahassee, and we have bureaus in New York, Atlanta, Washington, and other areas.”

Watts, who was a star quarterback in college and the Canadian Football League, then used a football analogy to describe where things currently stand with the BNC. “We’re in the Red Zone,” he stated. “We’re about to raise our hands [signaling a touchdown] on January 6, and I would not be sitting here with Congresswoman Clarke, had it not been for Charter Communications saying, ‘We believe in the RECEPTION—From left: Waldo McMillian from Charter Communications, Congresswoman Yvette Black News Channel viClarke, D-N.Y., BNC Chairman JC Watts (Photo: Cheryl Brownlee) sion.’”

How to prepare young adults for financial independence (StatePoint)—As you prepare your young adult for college and beyond, it’s important to talk about the road to financial independence, which includes building healthy credit. This is vital for big life moments like getting a car, apartment, house or job, and your child’s credit report will be the financial resume necessary to help him or her achieve these goals.

Use these tips to talk to your student about how to build a financial resume to be proud of, so he or she can confidently take steps toward financial freedom and flexibility.

•Help build credit history early: It can be challenging to get started on your own without previous credit history. As a parent, you can help start building your child’s financial resume early by adding him or her as an authorized user on your credit card. Just be sure you always pay on time, because your child will inherit that part of your credit story. Set clear guidelines about card usage before adding anyone as an authorized use. The, monitor your young adult’s card use and always pay on time, because all reported account activity, including negative information, will impact both your credit.

•Explain the importance of on-time payments: It’s essential to consistently pay all bills on time to build credit health and a story of trustworthiness on your child’s financial resume. If your young adult is renting, the landlord may report rental payments to the credit reporting agencies, so ensure he or she always pays on time. Talk about putting your student’s name on phone or utility accounts, and then maintaining good standing with on-time payments.

Timely student loan payments can also help build credit health. Explain

that if accounts go into collections or delinquency, that information will hurt credit health.

•Monitor credit reports regularly: Those building credit for the first time should understand what financial story they’re telling creditors.

Yung adults who move often should confirm that their current address is on their report, along with accurate, up-to-date information for everything else on file. Inaccuracies can negatively impact credit health and ability to get credit. Everyone is eligible for one free credit report from each of the nationwide credit reporting agencies each year. Have your child take advantage of this opportunity at annualccreditreport. com.

•Carefully consider a credit card: When your young adult is ready for it, discuss opening one credit card in his or her name, to start building

Tips for using credit cards safely TIPS FROM B1

mum of 14 characters for logins and passwords monthly, use password creating a secure password. generators and sign up for two-factor authen7. Shop online carefultication. Security experts recommend a mini- ly. Avoid making payments or accessing financial information on unsecured wireless networks, such as those at coffee shops, hotels and restaurants. You phone should be treated like your Board of the Consumer Fi- mation systems and com- computer: password protect nancial Protection Bureau munications from Rob- it, too. and FHLBank Pittsburgh’s ert Morris University, a A Certified Financial Affordable Housing Advi- master’s degree in public Planner professional can sory Council. Dr. Slaugh- management from Carn- help you protect your aster is a veteran of the U.S. egie Mellon University’s sets from this type of risk Navy and was selected to H. John Heinz Ill School and pick up the financial work in the Department of of Public Management, an pieces if your information Defense and in the Defense MBA degree from Point falls into the wrong hands.

Intelligence Agency at the Park University, a Bachelor To find a CFP professional Pentagon. He also served of Arts degree from Carlow near you, visit www.letsin the 479th Field Artillery University and an Asso- makeaplan.org.

Brigade in the U.S. Army ciate in Science degree in With a few simple tools Reserves.

Financial Services from the and a bit of diligence, you Dr. Slaughter earned his Community College of Al- can safely use and continue doctorate degree in infor- legheny County. to build your credit.

Slaughter elected to board SLAUGHTER FROM B1

Howard Hanna Free Care Fund Foundation and the Mount Ararat Community Activity Center. He is also a member of the Operational Committee of the Pennsylvania Community Development Bank. He previously served on the boards of the Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency, Pittsburgh Foundation and Urban League of Greater Pittsburgh, as well as on the Consumer Advisory

credit length—another important credit score factor. A student credit card may be a good choice because they generally have lower limits.

But be sure your young adult does some research to find the best fit for his or her situation. Opening a card, keeping the balance low and making on-time payments can help young adults build their financial resume’s story of responsibility, which could lead to more creditworthiness in the future.

For more tips on how to build credit health, follow @TransUnion on Instagram and download the TransUnion parent toolkit at Transunion.com/ pathtocredit.

The college years can be a critical time for young adults in many ways.

Parents should encourage students to use these years to get started building the credit health they’ll need to achieve their financial goals.

OPINION

NEW PITTSBURGH COURIER

DECEMBER 18-24, 2019

B3

President Trump’s war on the poor

Guest Editorial

With youth suicide rates leaping 56 percent, it’s past time to sound the alarm Just a generation ago, children and teens were consumed with thoughts of their first kiss, acquiring their driver’s license, prom dates and choosing between joining the armed forces or attending college.

But with visions of and experiences with drive-by murders or Columbine and other mass shootings of school-age children having escalated to the point that they’ve become the rule rather than the exception, the years of innocence that youth should be allowed to enjoy are both limited and fraught with terror.

Add the pressures of social media, cellphones and inadequate amounts of sleep to the mix and what we’re seeing are suicide rates among youth that are only second among the leading causes of death for those 10 to 24 years old—with accidents like car crashes topping the list.

The death of a child is without question most parents’ worst nightmare—one even more difficult to face when it’s self-inflicted. But no one seems to be asking why and what we can do to prevent it, despite recent reports from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention indicating that after a period of stability, suicide rates between 2007 and 2017 rose by an astonishing 56 percent. Along with suicides, since 2011, America has witnessed a nearly 400 percent increase in suicide attempts by self-poisoning among young people.

This is an issue that we can no longer ignore.

Medical experts propose that more time and money must immediately be spent “on identifying kids who are most vulnerable, helping them respond effectively to stress and teaching them what they can do in a crisis, adding that the process needs to begin early, in the elementary grades.”

But we suggest something that may be even easier to accomplish and will not cost one cent—our willingness to and insistence upon spending more quality time with our youth.

Of course, that means taking away smartphones and access to social media or other forms of online communication— taking away the “babysitter” and the “pacifier” upon which adults have also grown far too dependent.

Child psychologists estimate that 85 percent of teens look at social media, spend very little face-to-face time with friends and instead of going on a date on a Saturday night, are routinely perched on their beds or couches glued to their Instagram accounts. All the while, they’re ingesting untold amounts of negativity, competition and jockeying for status and unfiltered access to sites that tell them how to harm themselves or others.

Technology itself is not the problem—it’s how we use it, or perhaps and more correctly, how we misuse it. So, set time limits for youth children’s access that are non-negotiable.

Start talking with your children, having dinner together and encouraging them to use their little-used people skills with adults and their peers.

Kids may not want to disconnect from their smartphones but adults know better, don’t we?

(Reprinted from the Washington Informer)

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All letters will be edited for clarity and length. Address all letters to: Letters to the Editor New Pittsburgh Courier 315 East Carson Street Pittsburgh, Pa. 15219 You may fax your letter to 412-481-1360, or via e-mail to letters@newpittsburghcourier.com

Founded 1910

Rod Doss Editor & Publisher Stephan A. Broadus Assistant to the Publisher Allison Palm

Rob Taylor Jr.

Jeff Marion

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Managing Editor

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John. H. Sengstacke

Editor & Publisher Emeritus (1912-1997)

(TriceEdneyWire.com)—Donald Trump is famed for his head-snapping reversals. One day he’s taking troops out of the Middle East; the next he’s sending more in. One day he’s on the verge of an agreement with China on trade; the next he’s tweeting about holding off until after the election.

On one thing, however, Trump and his administration have been clear, consistent, coordinated and relentless: waging a war on the poor. Not a war on poverty but a war on the most vulnerable themselves. Despite low unemployment, millions of Americans—the Brookings Institution estimates an astounding 44 percent of all workers in the prime working ages of 18-64—struggle to get by on median wages of little over $10 an hour or $18,000 a year.

The working poor face soaring costs of housing, health care, transportation, utilities and, of course, debt—all rising faster than their wages. The official “poverty rate” is far lower than any accounting of the true needs of a family. The National Center for Children in Poverty estimates that the average family needs about twice as much income as the poverty level to meet basic needs. Cruelly, the Trump response to this is to make it worse.

The administration and Republicans in Congress oppose raising the minimum wage and won’t even allow a vote on it in the Senate. Now the administration proposes lowering the poverty line over time by pegging the inflation adjustments lower than the

Jesse Jackson Sr.

Commentary actual increase in costs. All programs that help low-wage workers would be affected. The Center on Budget and Policy Priorities projects that 250,000 seniors would get less help in purchasing prescription drugs, 300,000 children would lose health care under the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP).

This rule combined with others that the administration has imposed will cost literally millions of low-wage workers to face cutbacks in food assistance. Student loan debt is now $1.5 trillion, primarily loans taken out by the children of middle- or low-income families trying to better themselves through education. Bernie Sanders, running for president, has pledged to eliminate all student debt, paying for it with taxes on the wealthy, and to make all public colleges tuition free.

Elizabeth Warren has joined in a plan to eliminate the debt for most students and make colleges tuition free. Trump is reportedly worried that these plans are very popular. His administration is scrambling to respond.

One proposal, as the Washington Post reported, is to cap the loans a

student could get in relation to their projected income. That’s right, the Trump plan may call for reducing student debt by cutting the availability of loans to students—effectively closing the doors to college to the children of middle- and low-income families. Add to this Trump’s most recent plan to take $2 billion out of the Pell Grant program—which supports college grants to children from families with less than $50,000 in income—to pay for sending NASA back to the moon. The maximum Pell Grant once covered nearly 80 percent of the cost of tuition, fees, room and board at public four-year college; now it covers less than 30 percent.

This is a program that needs more funding, not less. Trump, of course, brags on his economy and the low unemployment. He argues—without evidence—that his tax cut is trickling down to workers. What he doesn’t realize is that this economy continues to generate jobs that won’t support a family. That’s why so-called poverty programs—from CHIP to food stamps to public housing to low income heating assistance to Medicaid—are so necessary. They give vital support to low-wage workers who do some of the hardest, most taxing jobs in our country. Cuts in student aid, cuts in Pell grants, cuts in food stamps, cuts in the poverty leve— Trump is putting low wage workers and their families in a box with no way out except down. Our country is paying a very high price for this meanness.

No one is above the law?

(TriceEdneyWire.com)—It makes me sad to watch impeachment hearings against Donald Trump. I think about how much some people have done to make this country great.

For many Americans, the country has never come close to being great, so to have Trump and his supporters run around with caps that say, “Make America Great Again” is such an insult to those of us who’ve been cheated, who’ve had their land stolen, whose relatives have been lynched, who’ve never had a fair chance in life to enjoy even the basics of life.

I have watched hour after hour of testimony that tells us shameful things about those who’re elected or appointed to serve our country. The more I watch, the worse I feel about the future of our country. I wonder what it is that causes people like Senators Lindsay Graham and Ted Cruz, as well as Representatives Doug Collins, Jim Jordan, Matt Gaetz, Louie Gohmert and a few others to show such disdain for the truth. The loyalty to the Republican Party instead of to our country is shameful. The name calling by the so-called leader of the free world is outrageous. When their children and grandchildren look at their performance years from now, what will they think? Will they disavow their fathers, grandfathers and a few mothers and grandmothers like Debbie Lesko and Martha Roby?

Dr. E. Faye Williams, Esq.

Commentary

ton’s e-mails.

Trump is again trying to cheat his way back into office after embarrassing us around the world with his lewd behavior. He’s compromised our security so many times. He has seriously diminished our standing in the world, and yet, Members of Congress can argue to allow him to continue his abuse of power. His childish and autocratic behavior deserve impeachment and removal from office. Yet, Senator Graham tells us he’s not even going to look at the evidence! When Senator John McCain was alive, he kept Graham within the realm of respectability, but now, most of us are seeing a very different person.

So much evidence has piled up to give the American people reasons for getting this man and a lot of his supporters out of office. There can be no plausible reason for Republicans to behave as they are behaving when everyday they witness such egregious behavior. It’s okay to label me a “Never Trumper.” I didn’t vote for him and cannot understand those who did. The reason the Republicans don’t want to listen to witnesses and have a real trial is that they have no defense. If this president’s behavior since his entry into the race, is not impeachable, we might as well stop claiming to be a democracy.

I look at hard working people who do their jobs, who tell the truth, who try to make this a better world for their families and for all, and they have to listen to Republican garbage hour after hour making a spectacle of themselves with their clownish behavior.

Our elections are sacred—especially for those who for so long have been denied those fair rights. Just a few days ago only one Republican voted to restore the Voting Rights Act. We have a president who questions every institution that we have worked hard to make America live up to her promises to all, a president who so easily threatens our national security, who obstructs Congress from doing its job and who takes joy in abusing his power. He violates his own oath of office while choosing to support Russia. He even rubs it in our faces by twice bringing Russian officials to the people’s White House! He’s referred to the FBI as scum! He called on the (Dr. E. Faye Williams is national president Russians to find Sen. Hillary Clin- of the National Congress of Black Women.)

Marvin Miller gets to the Baseball Hall of Fame…but no Curt Flood (NNPA)—When it was announced on Dec. 8 that the late Marvin Miller, the first executive director of the Major League Baseball Players Association (MLBPA), had finally been inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame I let out a yell of glee! Finally, an individual who did so much for baseball and knocked down so many walls has been recognized. Transforming an organization—the MLBPA—that was barely functioning into one of the most important labor unions in the USA was no small feat. And opening the door to free agency, which he and his leadership team mastered through brilliant strategy, fundamentally changed baseball.

What was missing in all the excitement was the recognition of the first ‘soldier’ out of the foxhole who, in an act of great courage and sacrifice, laid the foundation for the victory that Miller was able to bring about. Of course, I am referencing the late Curt Flood.

Curt Flood, an African American outfielder for the St. Louis Cardinals, was faced with a forced trade to the Philadelphia Phillies.

This was in the late 1960s when baseball players were de facto owned by their teams (due to the “reserve clause”). Flood refused the trade and went to Marvin Miller seeking support.

Miller and other leaders of the MLBPA asked Flood some tough questions, including whether he was truly ready for the risks associated with taking such a stand. Flood convinced

Bill Fletcher Jr.

Commentary Miller, as well as player leaders such as Roberto Clemente (Pittsburgh Pirates), that he was ready. And he then received their full support.

Flood fought a multi-year court battle, ultimately ending in the Supreme Court, trying to end the reserve clause and institute free agency

CURT FLOOD

(the ability of a player, after a specific period of time, to offer his services to the highest bidder). He was ultimately defeated in one of the strangest US Supreme Court decisions ever recorded. Flood was exiled from baseball; went into a tailspin; but, with the help of his second wife, actress Judy Pace and other key friends, was able to reestablish his life. He passed away in 1997.

Flood’s case, though going down in defeat, shook up the baseball world and discredited the reserve clause system. It laid the foundation for the strategy employed by Miller a few years later to crack the system and introduce free agency. It is as a result of the courage of Flood and the strategy of Miller that Major League players were able to gain the incredible salary improvements seen over the last four decades.

I have, for quite a long time, felt that both Miller and Flood should have been admitted to the Baseball Hall of Fame. Both of them, in different and related ways, changed baseball as an industry. Miller’s induction was a great victory, hands down. Flood, however, was the first soldier out of the foxhole; a Rosa Parkslike figure in baseball who knew that though the odds were stacked against him, he was prepared to stand firm.

How could that not merit being admitted into the Hall of Fame?

(Bill Fletcher Jr. is the executive editor of globalafricanworker.com and the former president of TransAfrica Forum.)

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DECEMBER 18-24, 2019

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JOB OPPORTUNITIES

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Help Wanted

Help Wanted

INTEGRATION DEVELOPERS

HEAVY EQUIPMENT OPERATOR/CDL DRIVER

New Rue 21 LLC (Pittsburgh, PA) Integration Developers (Multiple Openings) to be resp. for building & coding intgrtn cmpnts on MuleSoft platform. Specific job duties include: building & mntng integrtns for on-premises &/or cloud sys, incl. undrstng bus. rqrmnts, work. w/end users & dvlpng & dplng the integrtns; managing end-user interactions, incl. rqrmnts gathering, testing, training, & post-implmntn support; utilizing cloud-based DevOps technlgs, Java apps, & Scrum/Agile SDLC envrnmnt.

Bachelor’s degree in MIS, Comp.

Science or directly related field, plus 5 years of progrs. resp. exprnc in the position offered or related. Must know (through academic knowledge of work exp.) MuleSoft versions 3.3 & above for services, micro-services, Orchestration & Integration, Anypoint Studio, defining bus. process & data models, REST/ SOAP web services, API Design & Dvlpmnt, Data Trnsfrmon using Weave & Mapper, XML, JSON, SOA design principles & best practices, database concepts, Cloud Hub & API mngmnt. If interested, please contact Laura Gutmann, Corporate Recruiter at lgutmann@ rue21.com.

SYSTEMS ENGINEER

Port Authority is seeking a Systems Engineer to be responsible for all systems related aspects of the Authority: facilities, buildings, tunnels, subways and light rail transit system. Ensures projects adhere to the scope, budget, and schedule as well as interfaces with consultants, contractors, and external stakeholder representatives. Provides engineering and technical support in the maintenance and operation of various systems including: two-way radio communications, telecommunications, railway signal systems, audio/visual messaging, computer-controlled signaling, SCADA and other electronic control systems.

Essential Functions: •Performs all project management functions necessary to implement the design, construction and closeout of projects within established scope, schedule, budget and quality metrics. Provides guidance and assistance to Port Authority personnel on systems issues and activities pertaining to all projects. Provides support for state of good repair programs related to systems associated with facilities, buildings, tunnels, busways and light rail transit system.

•Responsible to review drawings, specifications and contract provisions for compliance with Authority and outside agency requirements and standards in the preparation of construction and procurement contract documents. Reviews and coordinates drawings and specifications of electrical and electronic systems to include rail-signaling systems, communication and transmission equipment, and SCADA ladder logic diagrams. Prepares technical specifications for procurement of electronic systems, equipment, services and instruments.

•Provide review and oversight of systems placed in the Authority’s operations to determine the adequacy and effectiveness of systems engineering designs. Develops or oversees the development of preventative maintenance procedures for systems equipment and infrastructure.

Investigates and reports on problems that have to do with systems and subsystems, their related user needs and requirements. Provides technical support related to the installation of new electrical and electronic equipment and the procurement of services and parts needed for maintenance/repair activity.

Job requirements include: •BS Degree, Major in Systems Engineering, Electrical Engineering or related engineering field from an accredited school.

•Minimum of seven (7) years of progressive experience in managing projects with an emphasis in systems related equipment and infrastructure, including design and construction of job-related work.

•Valid driver’s license in any state or commonwealth with ability to obtain PA driver’s license within sixty (60) days of employment.

•Professional and effective communication skills.

•Demonstrated ability in the use of Windows.

Preferred attributes: •Registered Professional Engineer in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania or the ability to obtain such registration through reciprocity within one year of appointment.

•SCADA and data acquisition experience.

•Demonstrated ability in the use of Microsoft Word, Excel, and Power Point.

We offer a comprehensive compensation and benefits package. Interested candidates should forward a cover letter (with salary requirements) and resume to: Amy Giammanco Employment Department 345 Sixth Avenue, 3rd Floor Pittsburgh, PA 15222-2527 AGiammanco@portauthority.org EOE

SONNY BOY

Wilkinsburg Borough Dept.of Public Works is accepting applications for the position of a Heavy Equipment Operator/CDL Driver. Applications and Job Description are available at Borough Offices located at 605 Ross Avenue, Wilkinsburg, PA 15221 during business hours or the Borough web site wilkinsburgpa. gov. Applicants must be residents of Wilkinsburg Borough. Application period closes on December 27, 2019 at 4:30pm.

Wilkinsburg Borough is an equal opportunity employer.

SOFTWARE ENGINEER (Multiple Openings)

Duolingo, Inc. has multiple openings for Software Engineers in Pittsburgh, PA to perform software engineering tasks on Duolingo’s language education software. Duties: (i) under supervision, research, design, and develop software in conjunction with language education product design; (ii) collaborate on full-stack software projects; (iii) analyze and plan implementation of specifications from design team to change/add features of mobile application; (iv) work within a team to determine deadlines and time frames; (v) apply principles and techniques of computer science, engineering, and mathematical analysis to analyze software application requirements to determine feasibility of design within time and cost constraints; (vi) design test plans, scenarios, scripts, and/or procedures and run A/B testing on new/changed features of the application, and use statistical analysis/ techniques to analyze test data; (vii) identify, analyze, and document software application defects, changes, and implementations; (viii) write and present summaries of statistical analysis of features to team; (ix) submit code to be reviewed by superiors, and review coding of peers and contractors; and (x) submit finished projects to quality assurance team. Requirements: Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science or related field.

Must have knowledge of (i) Java or Python; (ii) full-stack engineering; and (iii) statistical modeling. Email resume to jobs@duolingo.com with Job No. 20199 and Job Title Software Engineer in subject line.

TECHNOLOGY ENGINEER

The PNC Financial Services Group, Inc. seeks a Technology Engineer in Pittsburgh, PA, to participate in all aspects of PNC’s C&IB’s Systems Engineering Group activities.

Duties include: (i) lead the technical design and development of cross-functional, multi-platform application systems using IBM stack of technologies such as IBM Integration Bus and Datapower; (ii) execute complex projects/initiatives including Technology Architecture, Design, Development, Testing and Release Management; (iii) analyze technical feasibility through proof of concepts; (iv) coordinate coding, testing, implementation and documentation of application solutions; (v) mentor the development team and perform design and code reviews; (vi) perform complex application programming activities including coding, testing, debugging, documenting, maintaining and modifying complex application programs; and (vii) translate business requirements into technical requirements and solutions by planning, developing and refining ‘to-be’ architectures.

Bachelor’s degree in Computer Applications, Computer Information Systems, MIS or Computer Science/Engineering plus 3 years of experience in software development position(s) requiring the use of Service Oriented Architecture (SOA) is required. Must have experience with: (i) design and development of software applications using SOA; (ii) planning, design, development, testing and release management of Enterprise Service Business (ESB) based applications; (iii) design and development of Enterprise level SOA-based applications and IBM Integration Bus (IIB), Websphere Message Broker (WMB), IBM MQ and databases including Oracle, SQL Server and DB2; (iv) design and development of Enterprise-wide REST and SOAP based service; (v) design and development of scalable, resilient and agile application integrations; (vi) software/application design and development, database concepts and testing; and (vii) distributed computing technologies including SOA-Service Oriented Architecture, Datapower, IBM Integration Bus, and API Connect.

40 hours/week, 8:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m. Interested individuals apply online at www.pnc.com using keyword R017571. PNC provides equal employment opportunity to qualified persons regardless of race, color, sex, religion, national origin, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, veteran status, or other categories protected by law.

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ANNOUNCEMENTS

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Meetings

Public Notice

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COUNTY OF ALLEGHENY PITTSBURGH, PA

MEETING

The Housing Authority of the City of Pittsburgh’s Board of Commissioners will hold its monthly meeting for December on Thursday, December 19, 2019. The board meeting will be held at 10:30 a.m. @ 200 Ross Street, 9th Floor Board Room, Pittsburgh, PA 15219

ALLEGHENY COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES MENTAL HEALTH/ INTELLECTUAL DISABILITY ADVISORY BOARD 2020 MEETING SCHEDULE

The Mental Health/Intellectual Disability (MH/ID) Advisory Board Meetings for calendar year 2019 will be held on the second Tuesday of every other month, from 4:30 to 6 p.m., at the Human Services Building, One Smithfield Street, Homestead Grays Conference Room, Lower Level, unless otherwise noted. Check the DHS website for changes and updates The MH/ID Advisory Board Meetings for 2020 are scheduled as follows: January 14 (Scheduled for Pirates Conference Room, first floor) March 10 May 12 (Joint meeting with Drug and Alcohol Planning Council) July 14 September 9 (Second Wednesday, joint meeting with Drug and Alcohol Planning Council) November 10 Marc Cherna Director Allegheny County Department of Human Services

Pursuant to 55 PA Code 5100.12 and 5100.81, Allegheny County Department of Human Services Administrator of Mental Health Services hereby provides public notice of the approved and designated facilities that are available to provide involuntary emergency examinations, involuntary treatment or voluntary treatment funded in whole or in part by MH/OID funds. The following are the facilities in Allegheny County to which a person may be taken pursuant to Section 302 of the Mental Health Procedures Act: Allegheny Valley/ Alle-Kiski Hospital Forbes Regional Hospital Heritage Valley-Sewickley Hospital Jefferson Hospital Ohio Valley Hospital St. Clair Memorial Hospital UPMC McKeesport UPMC Montefiore UPMC Presbyterian UPMC Shadyside UPMC Western Psychiatric Hospital VA Pittsburgh Health System-University Drive Campus (Veterans only) Limited Designated Facilities (authorized and designated for involuntary examination and treatment) LifeCare Hospital Southwood Psychiatric Hospital Marc Cherna Director Allegheny County Department of Human Services LEGAL ADVERTISING Legal Notices

ALLEGHENY COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES DRUG & ALCOHOL PLANNING COUNCIL 2020 MEETING SCHEDULE

The Drug & Alcohol Planning Council Meetings for calendar year 2020 will be held on the second Wednesday of every other month (with the exceptions of May and November), from 4:30 to 6 p.m., at the Human Services Building, One Smithfield Street, Homestead Grays Conference Room, Lower Level, unless otherwise noted.

Check the DHS website for changes and updates.

The D&A Planning Council Meetings for 2020 are scheduled as follows: January 8 March 11 May 12 (Second Tuesday, joint meeting with MH/ID Advisory Board) July 8 September 9 (joint meeting with MH/ID Advisory Board) November 18 Marc Cherna Director Allegheny County Department of Human Services

ALLEGHENY COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES CHILDREN, YOUTH AND FAMILIES ADVISORY BOARD 2020 MEETING SCHEDULE

The Children, Youth and Families (CYF) Advisory Board Meetings for calendar year 2020 will be held the first Tuesday of every quarter, from 4:00 p.m. – 5:30 p.m., at the Human Services Building, One Smithfield Street, Rachel Carson Conference Room, Lower Level, unless otherwise noted. Check the DHS website for changes and updates.

The CYF Advisory Board 2020 meeting schedule is: January 15 March 3 (Pirates Conference Room, 1st Floor) June 2 September 1 December 1 Marc Cherna Director Allegheny County Department of Human Services

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MR. CHARLES URAM, Deceased, of 319 Thomas Street, Carnegie, PA 15106. Estate No. 02-18-5082 Ms. Kathleen Kelly, 110 Crestview Drive, Moon Township, PA 15108, Administratrix, c/o Max Feldman, Esquire and the Law Offices of Max C. Feldman, 1322 Fifth Avenue, Coraopolis, PA 15108.

MR. CHESTER BARRON, Deceased, of 1320 Greentree Road, Pittsburgh, PA 15220.

Estate No. 02-19-07259 Ms. Anna Massucci, Executrix, c/o Max C. Feldman, Esquire and the Law Office of Max C. Feldman, 1322 Fifth Avenue, Coraopolis, PA 15108.

MARGARET GONGAWARE of 1983 Clay Pike, North Huntingdon, PA 15642 No. 6519-2356. ADMINISTRATOR JOSHUA J. GONGAWARE 1533 Alabama Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15216 or to American Wills & Estates, Lloyd A. Welling, Esquire, 2100 Wharton Street, Suite 302, Birmingham Towers, Pittsburgh, PA 15203.

Estate of JOHN P. STETOR, deceased of Pittsburgh No. 021004082 of 2010. John M. Stetor, Adm., or to c/o Jacqueline H. Brangard, Esquire, Scolieri Law Group, P.C. 1207 Fifth Avenue, Suite 200, Pittsburgh, PA 15219.

PATRICIA L. MARHEFKY, deceased, of 407 Vista Lane, Murrysville, PA 15668 No. 65-191161 Executor Lloyd A.Welling, 2100 Wharton Street, Suite 302, Pittsburgh, PA 15203 or to American Wills & Estates, Lloyd A. Welling, Esquire, 2100 Wharton Street, Suite 302, Birmingham Towers, Pittsburgh, PA 15203.

Estate of BOYLES, GERTRUDE ANNA, aka BOYLES, GERTRUDE A. of Monroeville, No 06643 of 2019. Elaine R. Junio, Exec., 706 Cherry Tree Way, Cranberry Twp, PA 16066 or to Michael J. Saldamarco, Esq., Ste. 100, 908 Perry Hwy., Pittsburgh, PA 15229.

Estate of ALEX S. SIMON, a/k/a ALEX STANLEY SIMON, deceased, of Pittsburgh No. 029700087 of 1997. Alex S. Simon IV, Adm. Or to c/o Jacqueline H. Brangard, Esquire, Scolieri Law Group, P.C., 1207 Fifth Avenue, Suite 200, Pittsburgh, PA 15219 Estate of ALEX S. SIMON, a/k/a ALEX S. SIMON III, deceased, of Pittsburgh No. 021804238 of 2018. Alex S. Simon IV, Adm. Or to c/o Jacqueline H. Brangard, Esquire, Scolieri Law Group, P.C., 1207 Fifth Avenue, Suite 200, Pittsburgh, PA 15219

America’s Best Weekly 315 East Carson Street Pittsburgh, PA 15219

Classifieds 412-481-8302 Ext. 140

E-mail:

ads@newpittsburghcourier.com Deadline/Closing/Cancellation Schedule for copy, corrections, and cancellations: Friday

noon preceding Wednesday publication

December 12, 2019 The Office of the Director of the Department of Public works for Allegheny County in Conjunction with the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation, is soliciting Statements of Interest through PennDOTs ECMS system for the following: ALLEGHENY COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS Design and Construction Support Services For Project Management Services for Federally Funded Roadway Projects County Project No. 7A20-PGMT Local Agreement Number: L00464 This is a federal-aid project with PennDOT oversight. Statements of Interest are due no later than January 10, 2020 and are to be submitted through PennDOTs ECMS System, http://www.dot14.state. pa.us/ECMS The advertisement can be found under agreement number L00464.

A copy of the published advertisement can also be found on the County Website: http://www. county.allegheny.pa.us/bids Any inquiries into this Advertisement are to be directed to Mr. Michael Burdelsky, P.E., Assistant Deputy Director at 412-350-5914 or mbur delsky@alleghenycounty.us The County will use the normal selection process and preselect or short-list at least three firms for consideration for this Project assignment on the following evaluation criteria: Experience, Ability to Review Submissions Provide Comments, Performance on Past Projects, Use and Experience of Subconsultants, and Ability to Prioritize and Meet Project Milestones. The County’s Minority and Women disadvantaged goals for these Projects will be 13% of the total price for MBE participation and 2% of the total price for WBE participation.

Stephen G. Shanley, PE, Director Department of Public Works of Allegheny County LAMONT BELL, CIVIL DIVISION Plaintiff, GD 19-832 v.

SCHRIEKA CLIFFORD Defendants.

IN THE COURT OF COMMON PLEAS OF ALLEGHENY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA To Schrieka Clifford: NOTICE A Complaint in Civil Action has been filed against you at Docket No. GD 19-832 in the Department of Court Records of the Court of Common Pleas for Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, concerning a motor vehicle accident you were involved in on Whitfield Street near Penn Avenue on January 21, 2017.

If you wish to defend, you must enter a written appearance personally or by attorney and file your defenses or objections in writing with the court. You are warned that if you fail to do so the case may proceed without you and a judgment may be entered against you without further notice for the relief requested by the plaintiff. You may lose money or property or other rights important to you.

YOU SHOULD TAKE THIS PAPER TO YOUR LAWYER AT ONCE, IF YOU DO NOT HAVE A LAWYER, GO TO OR TELEPHONE THE OFFICE SET FORTH BELOW. THIS OFFICE CAN PROVIDE YOU WITH INFORMATION ABOUT HIRING A LAWYER. IF YOU CANNOT AFFORD TO HIRE A LAWYER, THIS OFFICE MAY BE ABLE TO PROVIDE YOU WITH INFORMATION ABOUT AGENCIES THAT MAY OFFER LEGAL SERVICES TO ELIGIBLE PERSONS AT A REDUCED FEE OR NO FEE. LAWYER REFERRAL SERVICE ALLEGHENY COUNTY BAR ASSOCIATION 436 Seventh Avenue, Third Floor Pittsburgh, PA 15219 (412) 261-5555

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Bids/Proposals

NOTICE FOR PUBLICATION

In the Court of Common Pleas of Allegheny County, PA, Orphans’ Court Division, Estate of Essie Mae Carver, deceased, Case No. 7045 of 2019: Notice is hereby given that on November 18, 2019, a Petition was filed

by Lauran Webb, to terminate the interests of the heirs and devisees of Essie Mae Carver, deceased, in the real estate located at 913 Bryn Mawr Road, Pittsburgh, PA, 15219, and determine that fee simple title is in Lauran Webb. If no exceptions to the Petition are filed within 30 days, Lauran Webb will seek an Order adjudging that Decedent’s title is in herself.

NOTICE FOR PUBLICATION

In the Court of Common Pleas of Allegheny County, PA, Orphans’ Court Division, Estate of Yvonne Anne Utz, deceased, Case No. 7043 of 2019: Notice is hereby given that on November 18, 2019, a Petition was filed by Gregory Utz, to terminate the interests of the heirs and devisees of Yvonne Anne Utz, deceased, in the real estate located at 373 Main Street, Pittsburgh, PA, 15201, and determine that fee simple title is in Gregory Utz. If no exceptions to the Petition are filed within 30 days, Gregory Utz will seek an Order adjudging that Decedent’s title is in himself.

COUNTY OF ALLEGHENY PITTSBURGH, PA

December 12, 2019 The Office of the Director of the Department of Public works for Allegheny County in Conjunction with the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation, is soliciting Statements of Interest through PennDOTs ECMS system for the following: ALLEGHENY COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS Design and Construction Support Services For Project Management Services for Federally Funded Bridge Projects County Project No. AA00-2023 Local Agreement Number: L00463 This is a federal-aid project with PennDOT oversight. Statements of Interest are due no later than January 10, 2020 and are to be submitted through PennDOTs ECMS System, http://www.dot14.state. pa.us/ECMS The advertisement can be found under agreement number L00463.

A copy of the published advertisement can also be found on the County Website: http://www. county.allegheny.pa.us/bids Any inquiries into this Advertisement are to be directed to Mr. Michael Burdelsky, P.E., Assistant Deputy Director at 412-350-5914 or mburdelsky@alleghenycounty.us The County will use the normal selection process and preselect or short-list at least three firms for consideration for this Project assignment on the following evaluation criteria: Experience, Ability to Review Submissions Provide Comments, Performance on Past Projects, Use and Experience of Subconsultants, and Ability to Prioritize and Meet Project Milestones. The County’s Minority and Women disadvantaged goals for these Projects will be 13% of the total price for MBE participation and 2% of the total price for WBE participation.

Stephen G. Shanley, PE, Director Department of Public Works of Allegheny County LEGAL ADVERTISING Bids/Proposals

LEGAL ADVERTISEMENT Port Authority of Allegheny County REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS FOR BOND UNDERWRITING SERVICES

Port Authority of Allegheny County (Authority) is requesting proposals from qualified investment banking firms to provide bond underwriting services for the Authority.

Interested firms may obtain an electronic copy of the Request for Proposals (RFP) via e-mailing the following points of contact for the Authority’s designated Financial Consultant, PFM Financial Advisors, LLC: Geoffrey W. Stewart, Managing Director stewartg@pfm.com With a copy of the request to: Matthew Magarity, Senior Analyst magaritym@pfm.com A hard copy of the RFP may be requested via calling Mr. Stewart at (215)567-6100. The requesting firm may be invoiced for copying and mailing costs.

The deadline for submission of all questions related to this RFP shall be 5 p.m. Eastern time on December 13, 2019. The Authority plans to provide a written response to any questions received by no later than December 20, 2019. Questions should be e-mailed to Mr. Stewart, with a copy to Mr. Magarity, at the above-noted e-mail addresses.

Proposals will only be accepted in PDF file format via e-mail to Mr. Stewart, with a copy to Mr. Magarity, at the above-referenced e-mail addresses. The electronic delivery of proposals must be received by the Authority’s designated Financial Consultant by no later than 2:00 p.m. Eastern time on January 6, 2020. E-mail your proposal, with both delivery and read receipt confirmations requested, to Mr. Stewart, with a copy to Mr. Magarity, at the above-noted e-mail addresses.

The proposal process for this RFP and the performance of the requested bond underwriting services will be in accordance with all applicable federal, state, and local laws and regulations, including all civil rights laws and regulations.

The Authority reserves the right to reject any or all proposals, in its sole discretion.

DECEMBER 18-24, 2019

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SONNY BOY

PROPOSALS

The Borough of Homestead is seeking proposals for professional services including Solicitor, Engineer and Auditing Services. Proposals are due to the Borough of Homestead, 221 E. Seventh Avenue, Homestead, PA 15120 attention: Manager Zang no later than 4p.m. on Friday December 20, 2019.

OFFICIAL BID NOTICE TOWNSHIP OF UPPER ST. CLAIR

Sealed 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, January 21, 2020, and the Bids will be publicly opened and read thereafter in the Training Room in the Township Building at the same address for the following: TOWNSHIP OF UPPER ST. CLAIR 2020 OPERATIONS AND MAINTENANCE PROGRAM (Including, but not limited to: Reconstruction of Sanitary and Storm Sewers and Storm Endwalls, Point Repairs, Construction of Storm Sewers, Raise Buried Manholes) Please refer to www.twpusc.org/ Business/Procurement & Bid Information, for details regarding specifications and Bidding requirements. /s/ Matthew R. Serakowski Township Manager

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 January7, 2020 until 2:00 P.M. local prevailing time for: Pgh. Brashear H.S. Locker Room Renovations, Phase 1 General, Plumbing, Mechanical, Electrical and Asbestos Abatement Primes Pgh. Grandview PreK-5 Window/Exterior Door Replacement and Masonry Restoration General, Mechanical, Electrical and Asbestos Abatement Primes Pgh. Greenfield PreK-8 Restroom Renovations General, Plumbing, Mechanical, Electrical and Asbestos Abatement Primes Project Manual and Drawings will be available for purchase on December 9, 2019 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.

PORT AUTHORITY OF ALLEGHENY COUNTY

Electronic Proposals will be received online at the Port Authority of Allegheny County’s Ebusiness website (http://ebusiness.portauthority.org).

Proposals/bid submittals will be due 11:00 AM on January 22, 2020 and will be read at 11:15 AM., the same day, at Port Authority’s Heinz location (345 Sixth Avenue, Third Floor, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15222-2527), for the following: Electronic Proposal Ebusiness website (http://ebusiness.portauthority.org)

Bid Number Bid Name 1 B191198A Coach Radiator Assemblies 2 B1912103A On Call Plumbing Services 3 B1912104A Janitorial Supplies - Paper

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 10:00am January 8, 2020 at Port Authority’s Heinz location (345 Sixth Avenue, Third Floor, Pittsburgh, PA). Attendance at this meeting is not mandatory, but is strongly encouraged. Questions regarding any of the above bids will not be entertained by the Port Authority within five (5) business days of the scheduled bid opening.

These contracts may be subject to a financial assistance contract between Port Authority of Allegheny County and the United States Department of Transportation.

The Contractor will be required to comply with all applicable Equal Employment Opportunity laws and regulations.

Contractor is responsible for expenses related to acquiring a performance bond and insurance where applicable. All items are to be FOB delivered unless otherwise specified. Costs for delivery, bond, and insurance shall be included in bidder’s proposal pricing.

Port Authority of Allegheny County hereby notifies all bidders that it will affirmatively insure that in regard to any contract entered into pursuant to this advertisement, disadvantaged business enterprise will be afforded full opportunity to submit bids in response to this invitation and will not be discriminated against on the grounds of race, color, or national origin in consideration for an award.

The Board of Port Authority reserves the right to reject any or all bids.

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INVITATION TO BIDDERS THE PITTSBURGH WATER AND SEWER AUTHORITY ADVERTISEMENT

INVITATION TO BIDDERS THE PITTSBURGH WATER AND SEWER AUTHORITY ADVERTISEMENT

INVITATION TO BIDDERS THE PITTSBURGH WATER AND SEWER AUTHORITY ADVERTISEMENT

SEPARATE and SEALED BIDS for the following solicitation, will be received by the Office of Procurement, Pittsburgh Water and Sewer Authority, 1200 Penn Ave., Second Floor, Pittsburgh, PA 15222, until 2:00 PM Prevailing Time January 28, 2020.

INVITATIONS FOR BIDS (IFB) FOR THE 2020 Small Diameter Water Main Replacement Contract – Contract B PWSA PROJECT NO. 2019-325-102-2 Work under this contract includes the replacement and upsizing of the Pittsburgh Water and Sewer Authority (PWSA) public water system including water mains, valves, service connections, and hydrants as required or directed. In addition to the water main work, various existing catch basins located adjacent to the work areas will be replaced, buried sewer manholes will be raised to grade, and new sewer manholes will be installed.

All bids must be submitted in accordance with the solicitation that can be obtained by sending an e-mail to procurement@pgh2o.com. There will be no charge for the solicitation, as it will be sent via e-mail. All questions relating to the solicitation itself shall be to Susie Kemery, Sr. Contract Specialist, via e-mail: skemery@ pgh2o.com, no later than January 21, 2020.

A Mandatory Pre-Bid Meeting for this contract will be held on January 9, 2020, 10:00 a.m. prevailing Time in the Authority’s conference room located at 1200 Penn Ave., Pittsburgh, PA. The purpose of this meeting is to give an overview of the contract requirements and to allow Bidders to ask questions.

Bids must be accompanied by a Bid Bond in the amount of Ten Percent (10%) of the bid for the project under construction. Said Bond shall be duly and legally executed with a Surety or Trust Company which has complied with City Ordinances/Resolutions relating thereto. A Performance Bond and Labor and Material Bond in the amount of 100% of the contract value for each awarded project will be required after award.

The Contractor must assure that employees and applicants for employment are not discriminated against because of their race, color, religion, sexual preference, sex, or national origin.

The bidders will be required to submit the package of certifications included with the contract documents relating to Equal Employment Opportunity.

This project is being federally funded by EPA financial assistance dollars and therefore requires all contractors to demonstrate compliance with federal Executive Orders 11625, 12138, and 12432 and EPA Regulations at 40 CFR Part 30, et al., through the detailed documentation of solicitation of Disadvantage Business Enterprises (DBEs).

Contractors must demonstrate the Six Good Faith Efforts to identify and solicit DBE firms that are potential sources for any procurement action in the areas of project construction, equipment, services, and supplies by including state qualified small businesses, and minority and women owned business enterprises in the bidding process.

The Authority reserves the right to withhold the award of the Contract for a period of 60 days after the opening of the bids.

The Authority reserves the right to reject any or all proposals, and to waive any informality or minor irregularity in any bid or bids. The Authority also retains the right to investigate the qualifications of bidders prior to any award and to award contracts only to contractors who, in the sole judgment of the Pittsburgh Water and Sewer Authority, are qualified and equipped to properly execute the specified work.

ROBERT A. WEIMAR, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR THE PITTSBURGH WATER AND SEWER AUTHORITY

SEPARATE and SEALED BIDS for the following solicitation, will be received by the Office of Procurement, Pittsburgh Water and Sewer Authority, 1200 Penn Ave., Second Floor, Pittsburgh, PA 15222, until 2:00 PM Prevailing Time January 28, 2020.

INVITATIONS FOR BIDS (IFB) FOR THE 2020 Small Diameter Water Main Replacement Contract – Contract A PWSA PROJECT NO. 2019-325-102-1 Work under this contract includes the replacement and upsizing of the Pittsburgh Water and Sewer Authority (PWSA) public water system including water mains, valves, service connections, and hydrants as required or directed. In addition to the water main work, various existing catch basins located adjacent to the work areas will be replaced, buried sewer manholes will be raised to grade, and new sewer manholes will be installed.

All bids must be submitted in accordance with the solicitation that can be obtained by sending an e-mail to procurement@pgh2o.com. There will be no charge for the solicitation, as it will be sent via e-mail. All questions relating to the solicitation itself shall be to Susan Kemery, Sr. Contract Specialist, via e-mail: skemery@ pgh2o.com, no later than January 21, 2020.

A Mandatory Pre-Bid Meeting for this contract will be held on January 9, 2020, 10:00 a.m. prevailing Time in the Authority’s conference room located at 1200 Penn Ave., Pittsburgh, PA. The purpose of this meeting is to give an overview of the contract requirements and to allow Bidders to ask questions.

Bids must be accompanied by a Bid Bond in the amount of Ten Percent (10%) of the bid for the project under construction. Said Bond shall be duly and legally executed with a Surety or Trust Company which has complied with City Ordinances/Resolutions relating thereto. A Performance Bond and Labor and Material Bond in the amount of 100% of the contract value for each awarded project will be required after award.

The Contractor must assure that employees and applicants for employment are not discriminated against because of their race, color, religion, sexual preference, sex, or national origin.

The bidders will be required to submit the package of certifications included with the contract documents relating to Equal Employment Opportunity.

This project is being federally funded by EPA financial assistance dollars and therefore requires all contractors to demonstrate compliance with federal Executive Orders 11625, 12138, and 12432 and EPA Regulations at 40 CFR Part 30, et al., through the detailed documentation of solicitation of Disadvantage Business Enterprises (DBEs).

Contractors must demonstrate the Six Good Faith Efforts to identify and solicit DBE firms that are potential sources for any procurement action in the areas of project construction, equipment, services, and supplies by including state qualified small businesses, and minority and women owned business enterprises in the bidding process.

The Authority reserves the right to withhold the award of the Contract for a period of 60 days after the opening of the bids.

The Authority reserves the right to reject any or all proposals, and to waive any informality or minor irregularity in any bid or bids. The Authority also retains the right to investigate the qualifications of bidders prior to any award and to award contracts only to contractors who, in the sole judgment of the Pittsburgh Water and Sewer Authority, are qualified and equipped to properly execute the specified work.

ROBERT A. WEIMAR, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR THE PITTSBURGH WATER AND SEWER AUTHORITY

SEPARATE and SEALED BIDS for the following solicitation, will be received by the Office of Procurement, Pittsburgh Water and Sewer Authority, 1200 Penn Ave., Second Floor, Pittsburgh, PA 15222, until 2:00 PM Prevailing Time January 28, 2020.

INVITATIONS FOR BIDS (IFB) FOR THE 2019 Small Diameter Water Main Replacement Contract PWSA PROJECT NO. 2019-325-101-0 Work under this contract includes the replacement and upsizing of the Pittsburgh Water and Sewer Authority (PWSA) public water system including water mains, valves, service connections, and hydrants as required or directed. In addition to the water main work, various existing catch basins located adjacent to the work areas will be replaced, buried sewer manholes will be raised to grade, and new sewer manholes will be installed.

All bids must be submitted in accordance with the solicitation that can be obtained by sending an e-mail to procurement@pgh2o.com. There will be no charge for the solicitation, as it will be sent via e-mail. All questions relating to the solicitation itself shall be to Susan Kemery, Sr. Contract Specialist via e-mail: skemery@ pgh2o.com, no later than January 21, 2020.

A Mandatory Pre-Bid Meeting for this contract will be held on January 9, 2020, 10:00 a.m. prevailing Time in the Authority’s conference room located at 1200 Penn Ave., Pittsburgh, PA. The purpose of this meeting i to give an overview of the contract requirements and to allow Bidders to ask questions.

Bids must be accompanied by a Bid Bond in the amount of Ten Percent (10%) of the bid for the project under construction. Said Bond shall be duly and legally executed with a Surety or Trust Company which has complied with City Ordinances/Resolutions relating thereto. A Performance Bond and Labor and Material Bond in the amount of 100% of the contract value for each awarded project will be required after award.

The Contractor must assure that employees and applicants for employment are not discriminated against because of their race, color, religion, sexual preference, sex, or national origin.

The bidders will be required to submit the package of certifications included with the contract documents relating to Equal Employment Opportunity.

This project is being federally funded by EPA financial assistance dollars and therefore requires all contractors to demonstrate compliance with federal Executive Orders 11625, 12138, and 12432 and EPA Regulations at 40 CFR Part 30, et al., through the detailed documentation of solicitation of Disadvantage Business Enterprises (DBEs).

Contractors must demonstrate the Six Good Faith Efforts to identify and solicit DBE firms that are potential sources for any procurement action in the areas of project construction, equipment, services, and supplies by including state qualified small businesses, and minority and women owned business enterprises in the bidding process.

The Authority reserves the right to withhold the award of the Contract for a period of 60 days after the opening of the bids.

The Authority reserves the right to reject any or all proposals, and to waive any informality or minor irregularity in any bid or bids. The Authority also retains the right to investigate the qualifications of bidders prior to any award and to award contracts only to contractors who, in the sole judgment of the Pittsburgh Water and Sewer Authority, are qualified and equipped to properly execute the specified work.

ROBERT A. WEIMAR, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR THE PITTSBURGH WATER AND SEWER AUTHORITY

America’s Best Weekly 315 East Carson Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15219

Classifieds 412-481-8302 Ext. 140 E-mail: ads@newpittsburghcourier.com Deadline/Closing/Cancellation Schedule for copy, corrections, and cancellations: Friday noon preceding Wednesday publication

B6

FORUM

DECEMBER 18-24, 2019 NEW PITTSBURGH COURIER

Pots and Kettles— Republican hypocrisy and double-talk (NNPA)—When you elect a clown, expect a circus, and this month’s impeachment hearings have been precisely that. Yelling, shouting, and disrespectful accusing seem more the rule than the exception. The increased volume of Mr. Trump’s tweets echoes his fear and discomfort because he has been called out. Republican histrionics and obsession with “process” suggest that Mr. Trump’s party is not especially interested in facts. Even the falsehood that Democrats have been “out to get” this President since he was elected is outright wrong. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi came to the impeachment conclusion only reluctantly. And Democrats have been very measured in their accusations. While Mr. Trump has only been charged with two “high crimes and misdemeanors,” if Democrats wanted to throw the book at the Criminal-in-Chief, they could have detailed multiple “high crimes and misdemeanors.” Instead, they’ve kept it narrowly focused on Mr. Trump’s behavior regarding Ukraine. Democrats have shown admirable restraint, while Republican shouting and deflecting could be the basis of a comedy show if the matter weren’t so serious.

And every time some of these folks speak, they illustrate their hypocrisy. Thus, Florida Congressman Matt Goetz launched into a tirade about Hunter Biden’s very candid disclosure of his substance abuse challenges, some

Julianne Malveaux

Commentary of which are detailed in a New Yorker article this summer (https://www. newyorker.com/magazine/2019/07/08/ will-hunter-biden-jeopardize-his-fathers-campaign). But Georgia Congressman Hank Johnson had no time for Goetz, saying that Goetz’s attack on Biden was like “the pot calling the kettle black). Goetz was charged with a DUI some years ago. The charges were mysteriously dropped, but there is evidence that Goetz was impaired.

Meanwhile, Hunter Biden has never been arrested or charged with any of his substance abuse challenges. Goetz’s attack on Hunter Biden is not the only example of Republican hypocrisy and improper behavior. These impeachment hearings show how far Republicans will go to obfuscate Mr. Trump’s behavior and to throw mud at Democrats.

While Republicans are throwing mud at Hunter Biden, no one has asked for any investigation of the Trump family.

Ivanka has used her father’s influence to gain coveted trademarks in China.

Her brothers have used government resources and their father’s influence to feather their nest in establishing new Trump properties all over the world. While I’m not condoning Hunter Biden’s possible pecuniary use of his father’s status, none of us should be happy about the way our government has subsidized the Trump Empire.

In another example, Melania Trump got outraged and agitated because one of the Democratic legal witnesses, Stanford Law Professor Pamela Karlan, made an inappropriate joke about her son, Barron Trump. The professor said that while Trump could name his son Barron, he could not make him a baron, an attack on the autocratic power that Mr. Trump attempts to wield. One might have thought that the professor had attacked the child or ridiculed him.

She didn’t. She made a clumsy joke and was so roundly criticized for it. And she apologized. Melania “Be Best” Trump played mama bear for her teenaged son. Yet, she seemed to have no words for another teen, Greta Thunberg, who was Time Magazine’s Person of the Year. Thunberg, who describes herself as “on the autism spectrum” with Asperger’s syndrome, was lifted because of her advocacy for the planet. Time says the young lady won the award “for sounding the alarm about humanity’s predatory relationship with the only home we have, for bringing to a fragmented world a voice that transcends backgrounds and borders, for showing us all what it might look like when a new generation leads.” But Mr. Trump doesn’t believe in global warming or climate change, so he ridiculed the young woman in one of his many rude and bullying tweets. And Melania thinks that only her son should be protected from bullying. The pot and the kettle. If she wants to call bullies out, she might start with her husband.

There have been accusations, finger-pointing, anger, and deflection during these impeachment hearings.

Republicans have shown that they have taken an oath, not to protect the Constitution, but to protect Mr. Trump. As Republicans march lockstep behind a corrupt President, Congressman Hank Johnson has it right. The “pot really can’t call the kettle black.”

Write your own obituary.

Your life depends on it (NNPA)—My immeAt a very perdiate reaction to a re- James Washington sonal level, I becent sermon I heard gan to wonder how was to share it. Almuch I was doing though this was not simply out of the the topic of the meslove for God, rathsage, the pastor’s comer than the fear ment about life and of monumental death made me think consequence.

Do about my own obituI follow the Lord ary. out of faith in unIt seems that the inventor of dynamite conditional grace or because I’m afraid of got an unusual chance to read his own what will happen to me if I don’t? If you’re obituary and was very irritated about talking about God’s rules, that becomes a what it said about him. The question very interesting question. Is my obedience that this little-known fact made me think to God based on fear or is my obedience about was, “How will God respond to based on love? mine?” Better yet, “How would I respond You see whatever anyone says in my to my own obituary?” obituary, I’m pretty sure God will know I mean if you could design and write the truth of it all. We all want to be reyour own epitaph, wouldn’t you want it to membered fondly. The thing that made reflect in some way a life with God at the me think about this was the reality that center of it? new life, eternal life begins at death. The I once heard that one’s greatest en- quality of that life might just begin with lightenment is to know the will of God. what your spiritual obituary says. If you The greatest achievement is to do the know that then you also know you can will of God. If you could draft the truth start to rewrite your obit today, starting about your life today and make sure that right now. when people spoke at your funeral, they I just thought that it might be a benespoke of your service to the Lord, would ficial exercise to commit, from today foryou have to change course, or could you ward, to crafting a life that, when spoken stay the course? What would you need to of at its celebration, you would be proud to change or do differently? show it to God. In the case of Alfred Nobel (of the NoWe all know we’ll be held accountable for bel Prizes) he didn’t want to be eulo- our new life as we conclude our old one: gized as the guy who invented whole- the physical one. sale slaughter for a profit. Because he I’m reminded that I often refer to our supposedly read a premature obituary ability to influence that dash; that thing about himself, he established the No- between when we are physically born bel Prize (in his will) to leave a gift to and when we physically die. We have no mankind that the world celebrates ev- say about the beginning and a little at ery year. That dynamite thing almost the end. But how we handle the dash in never comes up. between will serve us well for eternity. It My point is if they wrote your obituary will be what makes up our obituaries. today, would it please you? Would it please Pay attention to your life. You cast a widGod? If not, do you know why not? er net than you could possibly know.

In this instance, the thought of my own May God Bless and Keep you Always.

(James A. Washington is a father, husband, death prompted me to think, “What had I done for God lately that others might see Christian, writer, entrepreneur and the owner/ publisher of the Dallas Weekly.) and maybe appreciate?”

Spiritually Speaking

Progress doesn’t leave people behind?

My cousin was in ities, like poor people town from D.C. We J. Pharoah Doss being displaced due had lunch. While to gentrification and waiting for our ortook a moral stance. ders he told me he His statement, proghad a topic I might ress doesn’t leave be interested in turnpeople behind, ading into a column. vanced the notion He called it: Progress that any activity doesn’t leave people that leaves people behind. As you can behind is inhumane see, I liked it as a title in the form of a and cannot be called progress. (Fredrick question, but it wasn’t a philosophical in- Douglass said without struggle, there’s quiry for my cousin, it was a declarative no progress, my cousin’s version would statement. be there’s no progress, if people are strugHe added, “Put your own spin on it, but gling.) you get the gist.”

I understand the sentiment, but I didn’t I’m better with big pictures than I am understand how he could make a moral with gists. My mind immediately did a judgment without a working definition historical analysis surmising that the of progress. Here are two definitions. 1). wheels of progress have crushed civili- A forward movement to an objective. 2). zations, kingdoms, empires, economies, Gradual betterment, especially the proinstitutions, and industries for centuries. gressive development of humankind. NeiThat’s the nature of the phenomenon. But ther definition implies that people will not my cousin’s analysis was contemporary. be left behind. I stated in the beginning, It stemmed from driving through neigh- it’s the nature of the phenomenon, but my borhoods in the process of gentrification cousin called progress a hard process. and his frustration with the inequities So, is progress a phenomenon or process? produced by capitalism.

Progress as a phenomenon is a situation Since I adhere to Voltaire’s dictum: If that exists whose cause is unexplainable, you wish to converse with me, define your and progress as a process is a series of acterms, I said, first, we need a working defi- tions taken in order to achieve a particunition of progress. lar end.

My cousin replied, “Progress is a hard The answer is both. The totality of the process to define.” political, social, and economic processes This brief conversation illustrates the creates a phenomenon that doesn’t subproblem with contemporary political dis- ject itself to simple explanations. There course. It’s rooted in terms not clearly de- are literally thousands of variables that fined or used haphazardly. In a talk called: contribute to “progress” and “people being The dying art of disagreement, New York left behind.”

Times Columnist Bret Stephens statThe real question is if progress should be ed the great debates throughout history redefined by moral outcomes. I’m agnostic were never based on a misunderstanding; on that metric, but my cousin took a leap they came to fruition through complete of faith, making his thought process on comprehension of the matter. the issue more advanced and progressive My understanding of progress came than mine. In other words, he has left me from the evidence compiled in the histor- behind.

(J. Pharoah Doss is a contributor to the New ical record, but my cousin examined the negative outcomes of contemporary activ- Pittsburgh Courier.)

Check It Out

Raynard Jackson

Commentary

From Christmas to Christmess As I write my last column for the year, I debated what I should write about and these are the thoughts that came to my mind. So, I hope you enjoy!

As I reflect on the past few decades in our country, there was once a time when the Christmas season was so noncontroversial that it seems the whole country was unified for a period right after Thanksgiving through the new year.

That now seems like a distant memory.

Everything now is so “politically correct.”

I refuse to spend any money with any organization or store that uses “Happy Holidays” instead of “Merry Christmas.” Yeah, I know; this is simply my one man protest of this silly season.

Kids can no longer do nativity scenes at their schools for fear of lawsuits by one atheist or one Muslim.

Now liberals are even trying to make Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer into a homosexual character. I am not joking.

So, it’s with much amusement that I find the liberal secularists are filled with much hypocrisy versus much joy for their refusal to celebrate the true meaning of Christmas.

They celebrate Christmas, but not Christ.

Please someone help me understand this.

Christmas is the celebration of Jesus Christ, thus the name Christmas.

You can’t have Christmas without Christ no more than you can have a hamburger without meat. They are both mutually exclusive. You can’t have one without the other.

Even Burger King admitted as much with the launching of their “meatless hamburger.” They called it the “Impossible Burger.” That is the actual name.

They admit that it is impossible to have a hamburger without meat, thus the “Impossible Burger” name. But yet, they and their customers are telling people they are going to get the new hamburger at Burger King. Huh? They have actually convinced the public that they can literally have a hamburger without meat even though that is an impossibility.

Mind you that these are the same people who are now saying that you can have a penis and yet be a woman; or you can have a vagina and yet be a man. Though both are scientifically, biologically, and medically impossible.

But, a lie that is repeated enough and goes unchallenged, becomes the truth.

This is like saying you love Michael Jackson, but you don’t like music; or like saying you like being on the highway, but you don’t like cars.

You gotta make up your mind.

So, this perverted logic that you celebrate Christmas, but don’t believe in Christ is likewise an impossibility.

We have allowed a few crazy liberals to poison and pervert an innocent celebration of Jesus Christ and the example he left for mankind to follow and turn it into something that is no longer recognizable.

If you choose not to celebrate Christmas, more power to you; but please stop trying to prevent those of us who do want to celebrate the true meaning of Christmas from doing so.

I keep telling yall what my boy Michael McDonald from the Doobie Brothers said, “What a fool believe he sees, no wiseman has the power to reason away; cause what seems to be is always better than nothing at all.”

Or what my boys the Temptations told me, “…Every night on my knees I pray, dear Lord, hear my plea, don’t ever let another take her love from me or I would surely die, her love is heavenly, when her arms enfold me, I hear a tender rhapsody, but in realty she doesn’t even know me; it was just my imagination once again runnin’ way with me.”

These are two of my all-time favorite songs. Both songs are about a man being in love with a woman who they don’t even know; but yet it seems so real that they actually believe they are in love.

In psychology, we have a word for people like this; it’s called psychosis. This is simply the inability to distinguish between fact and fiction.

So, by having a Merry Christmas, maybe we can help cure this Christmess liberals have created.

If your psychiatrist or psychologist can’t cure you of believing you can have a penis and yet be a woman, or have a vagina and yet be a man; or believing you are really eating a hamburger from Burger King that doesn’t come from a cow, etc.

Maybe, just maybe you spending a little time this Christmas season to understand the real meaning of Christmas; you just might be able to finally have your blinders removed from your eyes to see that Christmas is not about toys, trees, food, or parties.

It’s the realization that there is a higher power that’s bigger than all of us and the recognition of this higher power is the highest form of enlightenment. For without this enlightenment, “We are as the sounding brass or a tingling cymbal full of sound and fury, signifying nothing.”

And with that, a Merry Christmas to ALL! (Raynard Jackson is a Pulitzer Award nominated columnist and founder and chairman of Black Americans for a Better Future (BAFBF).

SPORTS New Pittsburgh Courier

B7

DECEMBER 18-24, 2019

www.newpittsburghcourier.com

The Steelers are not yet dead, but the nurse has her hand on the plug Steelers are 8-6 with two games remaining in regular season

On the night of Sunday, Dec. 15, the Pittsburgh Steelers were poised to write at least the first few chapters chronicling their 2019 march toward “destination” playoffs. However, the Buffalo Bills hijacked the script forcing Pittsburgh to do a quick rewrite.

Steelers QB Devlin Hodges talked just a little bit more pregame “smackaroo” than he should have; providing a bit more bulletin board material than was needed.

Benz wrote that Hodges said the following about the Buffalo defense; “They are just a solid group. They’ve

Inside Conditions

Aubrey Bruce The Bills won the game by the score of 17-10 even though the Steelers committed five turnovers; one fumble and four interceptions. Now that the Steelers have swallowed the dust against the Bills there are a few after-the-fact tidbits that are appearing on our plates at the coulda, wouda, shoulda buffet. According to Tim Benz via triblive.com,

got really good players all around. I don’t know if there is anything they do special. But they just are a solid, solid defense that comes each and every week. Ready to play.”

There will be no excuses offered here but the Steelers only lost the game by a mere 7 points! That doesn’t say a lot about the Bills’ offense, either. They

had five turnovers and could only muster up 17 points. I am sure the rest of the AFC top-tier teams are shaking in their boots.

The effort from the Steelers defense against the Bills bodes well for the team because the next opponent they will be traveling to face will be the NY Jets at the Meadowlands this Sunday, Dec. 22.

The week after, the Steelers will be making their way to M&T Bank Stadium to face the Ravens. The Ravens are on the verge of clinching the #1 seed in the AFC this weekend against the Cleveland Browns so the chances of Ravens’ all-universe QB Lamar Jackson playing any extended amount of time against the Black and Gold will be slim and none. That being said the Steelers might have a chance to be a bit more competitive against the Ravens’ second-string QB Robert Griffin III who will be subbing for “levitating” Lamar than having to chase down Mr. Jackson for 60 minutes. I can’t en-

THE BUFFALO BILLS’ JORDAN POYER intercepts a Devlin Hodges pass in the end zone to help seal the victory for Buffalo, and drop Pittsburgh to 8-6 with two regular season games left. (Photo by Courier photographer Brian Cook Sr. ) vision the Ravens packing it in against the Browns this week, blowing the #1 seed just to have to fight a desperate Steelers team whose playoff lives are dependent upon a win at Baltimore. There is also the possibility that the Ravens may be resting a few other starters as well.

The Steelers are not yet dead, but the nurse has her hand on the plug. This is

my advice to whomever may be standing under center for the Steelers. Keep your mouth shut and your eyes open. Mr. Hodges, as far as you are concerned, there is no such thing as a normal NFL defense when your alma mater is Samford University. If you are fortunate enough to redeem yourself against the Jets this weekend you had better play like you are

starving and a frankfurter will taste like medium, well-cooked filet mignon.

Don’t trip because if you cost the team a chance at the playoffs many of the “duck” mania fans will be burning duck uniforms under Kaufmann’s clock.

Remember you are only as good as your last win and if some fans have a parachute they will bail on you at 10,000 feet.

This championship-level defense can carry the Steelers to the playoffs It’s a late-season game at Heinz Field, the defense sits on the field in a close, must-win game when “Renegade” comes on the Jumbotron and the crowd goes wild.

As the song blasts over the loudspeakers, showing highlights of the Steelers defense making play after play in the 2019 season with sacks and turnovers created at an incredible

ceptions on the year. The addition of Minkah Fitzpatrick, who leads the team with five, has undoubtedly made a huge difference in the secondary. The signing of Steven Nelson has made teams have to throw toward Joe Haden this year and he’s been able to lock down four interceptions thus far.

Perhaps, the biggest factor in this defensive renaissance is the continued

Commentary

Mike Pelaia pace, it becomes increasingly apparent how great this unit is. This defense is a championship-level defense, one that can carry a team to, and possibly through, the playoffs, if the offense can just do enough.

This Steelers defense is incredible this year. They are first in the league with 35 turnovers created, 19 of those being interceptions.

They have already more than doubled last season’s total output of eight inter-

emergence of T.J. Watt, who is on a Defensive Player of the Year pace with 13 sacks and countless other game-changing plays to go along with the sudden development of Bud Dupree who has chipped in an additional 9.5 sacks, contributing to the team total of 49 on the year. The way these guys are getting to the quarterback, forcing 16 fumbles along the way, helping the secondary, it’s no wonder this unit is play-

ing at the top of the league.

But it’s not just turnovers.

They aren’t giving up yards or big plays very often.

They are fifth in the league in total yards allowed and sixth in points per game, allowing just 18.6 points per game to date.

Not only are guys like Watt, Dupree, Fitzpatrick, Nelson and Haden making plays but Cam Heyward and Javon Hargrave up front are stuffing the run and getting to the opposition and Vince Williams and Devin Bush fly all over the field, impacting the game.

This unit, led by Keith Butler, who nobody trusted the past several years, has emerged into the new Steel Curtain. The team may have lost to the Bills this past week but the defense only gave up 17 points. That number is typically enough to win an NFL game.

Yet this defense expects a lot from itself, specifically knowing the offense isn’t a powerhouse. “Surrender 3,” Heyward stated, meaning the defense shouldn’t be giving up late touchdowns, and they expect themselves to “get off the field.”

“We felt like we have the defense to not give up touchdowns, at least minimize them to field goals,” said Haden. This defense takes pride in the fact that they don’t give up points;

CAMERON HEYWARD tackles Buffalo’s Josh Allen in the Steelers’ 17-10 loss, Dec. 15. (Photo by Courier photographer Brian Cook Sr.) to them, allowing 17 felt like the Bills game was on them.

The reality is, that loss was on the offense and the pressure is on this defense each and every week to give up as few points as possible. Even more true, if this offense can drop 20 points, as they will need to coming into this week against the Jets, Dec. 22, they should be a good bet to win most games.

As the team looks forward to the last two games of the season, the defense will be ready to carry them.

Against the Jets, they’ll get after Sam Darnold and they’ll stuff Le’Veon Bell.

They’ll give up less than the 18.6 points they’ve been allowing on the year and they’ll come out with a win.

I used to worry about this defense. I don’t anymore.

This defense is a top de-

fense in the NFL for a reason. With playmakers all over the field, they change games. They win games.

They can carry this team far and they will carry this team to the playoffs. It’s on the offense to do their part because if they can, they’ll be able to ride a championship-caliber defense a long way starting this week with a 20-10 victory over the Jets on Dec. 22.

Then, it’s on to Baltimore.

If it walks like a duck and throws like a duck…it’s Devlin ‘Duck’ Hodges! :10—Yeah, I am on board, big time. And for you “Never Duckers,” allow me to remind you why it’s been said you can never measure the size of a man’s heart. Here are a few reminders. Spud Webb, Eddie LeBaron (the shortest QB of all-time—5’7” —168 lbs), Muggsy Bogues, Doug Flutie. Just a few of the legends that knew one thing and one thing only…How To Win! Quack…Quack!!!. :09—Never you mind that the 2019 Heisman Trophy winner looks like he’s 16 years old, Joe Burrow throws the football like a 30-year-old veteran. Throwing for 48 touchdowns with only six interceptions for a grand total of 4,715 yards.

His 2,608 points was the largest winning margin in the history of the Heisman voting. And was 1,846 more points that second-place finisher Jalen Hurts. The LSU star will now set his sights on NCAA Champi-

Overtime

Bill Neal onship Gold. :08—Mama let your boys grow up to be pitchers…

Major League pitchers that is...based on Gerrit Cole’s new contract with the Yankees for $324 million. And to think he used to be a Pittsburgh Pirate. C’mon Man! :07—If you need to add some spice to your life, go see “The Irishman” starring Robert De Niro, Al Pacino and Joe Pesci. The true-tolife story about the mob and who may have really done away with Jimmy Hoffa as

told by Frank Sheeran, the alleged hitman. Even if his story is half-true, it still shakes you to your core. 4 basketballs…almost 5. But it’s that good. “Yeah, I am talking to you!” :06—Oh, by the way, here’s two things you need to know. #1. Anytime Mr. Doss, editor and publisher of the New Pittsburgh Courier, calls me to lend a helping hand, I am coming. Mr. Doss has been very, very good to me. But when he calls me to help 50 fabulous, intelligent,

beautiful women to be recognized and honored, I am there faster than you can say “Party Over Here!” #2.

I don’t know if you heard, but the Pittsburgh City League High School Hall of Fame Awards had its sixth consecutive sellout of 500-plus. I know ya’ll are waiting to see the story.

In the immortal words of the great Sam and Dave – “Hold on…I’m coming!” :05—And let me squeeze this in cause Mr. Doss and R.T. done told me to back it up. If anybody has kids ages 5-12 that want toys, bring them to the East Liberty McDonald’s by Staples for our 45th consecutive Toys for Tots Christmas Party.

Kids must be present—no exceptions—Saturday, Dec. 21, noon to 4 p.m.. Hey… It’s Christmas! :04—You mark my words, and I am not really hating on the brother. But someone will figure out a way to stop Ravens quarterback

DEVLIN ‘DUCK’ HODGES (Photo by Courier photographer Brian Cook Sr.) Lamar Jackson. You can mark this, too…remember we held him down better than any other team. I am just sayin’. :03—Hey Brother Zik, yes, you my Akron LeBron James/anti-Laker man. My Lakers are back and with my favorite all-time player LeBron “King” James.

(That’s right, I said it. Now what?) :02—Hold up…wait a minute…turn the music

up, you mean to tell me the five top titles to be bestowed upon women in pageantry has gone to Black women!?!? MMMAAANNN that’s powerful. “Make ya want to holler and throw up your hands!” :01—And that’s as fine a way as possible to close by saying…You all know Trump Must Go! But it will never happen unless you vote. You-Must-Vote!!! :00—GAME OVER.

B8 DECEMBER 18-24, 2019

SPORTS

NEW PITTSBURGH COURIER

14 down.

2 to go.

Will the 2019 Steelers make the postseason?

JAMES CONNER, the Steelers’ feature running back, played in his first game in a month in the Steelers’ loss to the Buffalo Bills, 17-10, on Dec. 15.

Courier Steelers photos by Brian Cook Sr.

RYAN SWITZER AND JUJU SMITH-SCHUSTER were unable to play in the Steelers game against the Bills, Dec. 15, due to injuries.