August 25, 2021 - Pittsburgh City Paper

Page 1

PITTSBURGH’S ALTERNATIVE FOR NEWS, ARTS + ENTERTAINMENT SINCE 1991

PGHCITYPAPER.COM PGHCITYPAPER PGHCITYPAPER PITTSBURGHCITYPAPER

AUG. 25-SEPT. 1, 2021

“HOW BECOMING A DAD HELPED SAVE MY LIFE” A first-person essay by local comedian and musician Terry Jones

> Terry Jones and his daughters


FIRSTSHOT

BY JARED WICKERHAM

A cyclist rides along Liberty Avenue in Bloomfield just before a storm arrives.

4 Smithfield Street, Suite 1210 Pittsburgh, PA 15222 412.685.9009 E-MAIL info@pghcitypaper.com

pghcitypaper.com PGHCITYPAPER PITTSBURGHCITYPAPER

AUG. 25-SEPT. 1, 2021 VOLUME 30 + ISSUE 34 Editor-In-Chief LISA CUNNINGHAM Director of Advertising JASMINE HUGHES Director of Operations KEVIN SHEPHERD Managing Editor RYAN DETO A&E Editor AMANDA WALTZ Staff Writers DANI JANAE, KIMBERLY ROONEY 냖㵸蔻 Photographer/Videographer JARED WICKERHAM Editorial Designer LUCY CHEN Graphic Designer JEFF SCHRECKENGOST Digital Marketing Coordinator DARYA KHARABI Sales Representatives ZACK DURKIN, OWEN GABBEY, HANNAH MORAN-FUNWELA Circulation Manager JEFF ENGBARTH Featured Contributors REGE BEHE, MIKE CANTON, LYNN CULLEN, TERENEH IDIA Interns LAURYN NANIA, KAYCEE ORWIG National Advertising Representative VMG ADVERTISING 1.888.278.9866 OR 1.212.475.2529 Publisher EAGLE MEDIA CORP.

GENERAL POLICIES: Contents copyrighted 2021 by Eagle Media Corp. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced without written permission of the publisher. The opinions expressed in Pittsburgh City Paper are those of the author and not necessarily of Eagle Media Corp. LETTER POLICY: Letters, or e-mails must be signed and include town and daytime phone number for confirmation. We may edit for length and clarity. DISTRIBUTION: Pittsburgh City Paper is published weekly by Eagle Media Corp. and is available free of charge at select distribution locations. One copy per reader; copies of past issues may be purchased for $3.00 each, payable in advance to Pittsburgh City Paper. FIRST CLASS MAIL SUBSCRIPTIONS: Available for $250 per year (52 issues), $150 per half year (26 issues), or $32 per six weeks. For more information, visit pghcitypaper.com and click on the Subscribe tab.

COVER PHOTO: JARED WICKERHAM READ THE STORY ON PAGE 4

2

PGHCITYPAPER.COM


Live by your own rules. :LWK ;ϙ QLW\ 0RELOH \RX PDNH WKH UXOHV (QMR\ WKH EHVW FRYHUDJH PRUH ϗ H[LEOH GDWD DQG DZHVRPH VDYLQJV $OO RQ WKH PRVW UHOLDEOH QHWZRUN DQG VDYH KXQGUHGV RQ \RXU ZLUHOHVV ELOO 3OXV ;ϙ QLW\ [)L JLYHV \RX WKH VSHHG FRYHUDJH VHFXULW\ DQG FRQWURO \RX QHHG IRU WKH XOWLPDWH LQ KRPH :L)L 1RZ WKDWǺV simple, easy, awesome.

&DOO [ϙ QLW\ JR WR [ϙ QLW\ FRP RU YLVLW \RXU ORFDO ;ϙ QLW\ 6WRUH WRGD\ Restrictions apply. Not available in all areas. Mobile: Ŝ +&16 , &)" /".2&/"0 /"0&!"+1& ) -,01W- 6 Ŝ +&16 +1"/+"1C &+" )&*&1 1&,+0 3 /6C ,/ Ŝ +&16 , &)" /, ! +! &0 ),02/"0D 3&0&1 5Ŝ +&16C ,*c*, &)"c-,)& &"0c /, ! +!W!&0 ),02/"0C Ŝ +&16 , &)" 21&)&7"0 1%" %&$%"01 / +("! +"14,/( #/,* ,,1 "1/& 0k ; ;9;9 /"-,/1C & & +"14,/(0 +,1 1"01"!C "02)10 * 6 3 /6C 4 /! &0 +,1 "+!,/0"*"+1C Internet: 12 ) 0-""!0 3 /6 +! /" +,1 $2 / +1""!C ,/ # 1,/0 Ş " 1&+$ 0-""! 3&0&1 5Ŝ +&16C ,*c +"14,/(* + $"*"+1C Ŝ +&16 5 & &0 3 &) )" 1, Ŝ +&16 +1"/+"1 0"/3& " 201,*"/0 4&1% ,*- 1& )" Ŝ +&16 1"4 6C )) #,/ /"01/& 1&,+0 +! ,*-)"1" !"1 &)0C g ;9;: ,* 01C )) /&$%10 /"0"/3"!C +!&3&!2 ) -/,$/ *0 +! * /(0 /" -/,-"/16 ,# 1%"&/ /"0-" 1&3" ,4+"/0C ;<<<?9W999> < 4+ 2)"0 /&+1 A

140793_NPA233360-0005 Own Rules ad 9.25x9.75 V8.indd 1

7/2/21 PITTSBURGH CITY PAPER AUGUST 25 - SEPTEMBER 1, 2021

3

5:13 PM


FIRST PERSON ESSAY BY TERRY JONES

SUPERDAD How becoming a father helped save my life after years of struggling with my mental health

Editor’s note: This story contains references to suicide and trauma. If you or a loved one are in need of immediate support, help is available 24/7 at the National Suicide Prevention Hotline: 800-273-8255

E

VERY MORNING, I wake up to an alarm. The alarm is not always the same; sometimes it’s my Samuel L. Jackson Alexa app and sometimes it’s someone saying, “Daddy, wake up.” Wait, did someone really call me “Dad?” Since I was young, I’ve known that I wanted to grow up to become a comedian, an actor, or a musician. But I had no clue the kid who wore cowboy boots in the hood, the one who was called “not Black enough,” would ever be called “Dad.” The guy with depression, anxiety, body dysmorphia, and PTSD is a dad? Crazy to think when I never wanted kids.

God, however, knew I needed them to save my life. I am forever thankful the universe trusted me with this task. I’m from Pittsburgh like Michael Keaton, and I thought I would grow up and be a Michael Keaton character. I thought I would be a rich playboy like Bruce Wayne, full-on Batman mode until my 50s. But I have become Mr. Mom to my daughters Aeris and Channing, aka “Baby Thanos, the destroyer,” and even my Maltese (also a girl). I’m not complaining; every moment with them is a reminder of survival. I try my best to shield my children from experiencing the same things I have. I grew up around love and a lot of family. I had

both parents growing up. But my parents worked nights a lot, and my sister was 11 years older and already living elsewhere. I had to learn how to survive. I learned toxic behavior and took on a“deal with it” mentality. I was bullied a lot for being chubby, jumped and spit on for being fat. I was either not Black enough or too Black. I lost my first friend at age 9 to gun violence and never realized the effect it had on me until firecrackers and gun ranges made me freeze. I didn’t realize the abuse I received from an adult female family member until I would flinch when a woman would reach for a hug or just pick lint off my shirt. CONTINUES ON PG. 6

4

PGHCITYPAPER.COM


CP PHOTO: JARED WICKERHAM

Terry Jones and his daughters Aeris, 6, and Channing, 4, walk through Monroeville Community Park West on Wed., Aug. 18.

PITTSBURGH CITY PAPER AUGUST 25 - SEPTEMBER 1, 2021

5


SUPERDAD, CONTINUED FROM PG. 5

Sociallydistancing herself but still broadcasting LIVE every Monday thru Thursday at 10 a.m. at lynncullenshow@gmail.com

CP PHOTO: JARED WICKERHAM

Terry Jones and his daughters Aeris, 6, and Channing, 4, walk through Monroeville Community Park West on Wed., Aug. 18.

It took a lot of courage to look for support. The Black community and past generations were not big on seeking professional help. The message always seemed to be to pray your mental illness away and blame the devil for everything. Growing up, I watched so many struggle with mental health, and I often wonder what the outcome could have been if they had support. I first started therapy in 2013. I had no clue how many years I had depression at first, but looking back, I realized it was in my teens when I first realized something wasn’t right — 10th grade to be exact. I would sit in a dark room and think about how unhappy I was. I found that a lot of adults would look down on issues facing children and teenagers mainly because they have already been through it all themselves. That’s not a helpful mindset to a struggling kid. By the time college started, my depression was really bad from so much trauma. I didn’t have many people to talk to about anything. I would put a sheet over the window and sleep during the day. During this time, I was working security

PublicSource and Pittsburgh City Paper partnered to co-publish this first-person essay. in dangerous clubs. I was 18 and 19 years old, telling my boss I was 23 so I could keep the job and make money. I was surrounded by so many people dying or getting locked up. Therapy felt like a wave of painful truth I needed to heal. I had to learn about the root cause of my issues. I even realized I built humor as a form of self-defense. I would roast people so bad as a kid. People hated to have rip sessions with me. My humor was a way of making people like me. Sadly, I would make this a career choice without realizing the damage it was taking on me. When I was dealing with the depression I had no clue I had as a teen, I would listen to Richard Pryor albums from my dad’s new box set on repeat until I became 18 and would try to emulate his

I AM A SUPERHERO IN THEIR EYES AND HAVE THE CHANCE TO MAKE ALL MY WRONGS RIGHT AGAIN. I HAVE A CHANCE TO HELP THEM AVOID ALL OF MY SUFFERING. 6

PGHCITYPAPER.COM

comedy at the Pittsburgh Improv open mic. I was looking for love to cope with feeling hated for so long. The worst feeling was feeling empty: the feeling you get coming down from a high. As I gained success in my comedy, I’d make 400 or more people laugh at sold-out shows. I was left feeling empty and alone. I developed a drinking problem in my early 20s. Now that I am 12 years sober, I can look back at the reasons. The pressures that haunted me as a kid bled into my career. My therapist helped me learn tools to help myself. Taking a risk and seeking the support I needed was paying off. I had trusted someone to help the broken kid. I just had no idea that he also needed healing. Sadly, the therapist who was helping me took his own life. I was thankful he helped me to at least get in a better head space, but I was hurt and wondered if any of the many sessions like my own triggered him. Battling suicidal thoughts and attempts, I credit fellow comedian Matt Light for coming to the Roberto Clemente Bridge and preventing me from acting on an attempt. I had to keep swinging. My first daughter, Aeris, was born the same year, in 2015. I was scared to become a father and was not ready. Who knew there is no such thing as being ready to be a parent? As soon as I laid eyes on her, I knew she would make me spend all my money at Five Below. Even while struggling with self-hate, I knew I now had this person with my DNA staring at me and expecting me to help them stay alive. The love I felt from my daughter felt like sorcery. CONTINUES ON PG. 8


Explore cannabis as a support for what ails you. Become a medical cannabis patient. We provide low-cost certifications and expert assistance, over the phone. $125 - New Cannabis Card Certification $75 - Card Recertification $75 - New Certification for Veterans/SSI/Disability

www.herbalcarerx.com • 215-554-4044 • HELP@HERBALCARERX.COM

Kensington Court Antiques

18 years in business 2x Winner of Best Antique Store

“A sort of Andy Warhol meets the Queen of England” • 10,000 sq. ft of space • 25 dealers OPEN 7 DAYS A WEEK 3464 Babcock Blvd., Pittsburgh, PA 15237 PITTSBURGH CITY PAPER AUGUST 25 - SEPTEMBER 1, 2021

7


SUPERDAD, CONTINUED FROM PG. 6

SEPTEMBER 10-12, 2021

CP PHOTO: JARED WICKERHAM

Terry Jones poses for a portrait at Monroeville Community Park West on Wed., Aug. 18

“GOD SENT ME TWO ANGELS TO HELP ME FIGHT BACK AGAINST THE DEMONS THAT PLAGUED ME.”

PITTSBURGH

FESTIVAL PGHIRISHFEST.ORG

THE LOTS AT SANDCASTLE #PGHIRISHFEST

Gaelic Storm • David Nihill • Corned Beef & Curry Brother Angus • The Bow Tides • Rory Makem Eileen Ivers • Dennis Doyle • Donnie Irish Bastard Bearded Irishmen • The Wild Geese Enda Reilly • Sean Finnerty

I had never loved this much; I had a reason to keep fighting. My second child, Channing, was born in 2017. By this time, I felt ready to be a dad. I grew up with two parents, so after their mother and I split, it was really hard to get used to. I wasn’t raised this way. But I made a promise that no matter what, I would be the best father the universe could give them. Thank God, Mom and my grandmothers taught me how to cook and clean. I always thought comedy was the answer to filling the void of love in my life. I thought relationships were the answer to the path of self-love. Expecting partners to lift me and help me figure myself out was a bad mentality. The path to self-love and awareness was out of caring for these little people I had basically just met. How could I love this much and be loved equally? No pressure. Just pure love and laughs. I had the responsibility of caring for my children. I guess this is how Eddie Murphy felt in “The Golden Child.” I am a superhero in their eyes and have the chance to make all my wrongs right again. I have a chance to help them avoid all of my suffering. I know there are things I can’t protect them from. I know there are things that will be traumatic for them. But

no matter what the issues are, I make sure I am there. I cancel shows, events, and dates to be with them. I can’t explain it, but these kids are saving my life. By not focusing on the dread of things that happen to me, I focus on fixing them to protect my children. I started finding more healthy entertainment outlets like music. The ego and self-loathing of comedy has limited appeal to my soul anymore. My depression, anxiety, PTSD, and body dysmorphia still exist. But now, I have a stronger hold of it. If I hadn’t of worked on myself (and I continue to do that work), I wouldn’t be here today to enjoy all these great moments of fatherhood. Before my grandmother passed away in 2018, she told me about how she also suffered from depression, which pieced a lot of things for me together. There is something else she told me: She said you are not alone in your fight. Every day that I smile, chase my kids, and enjoy their hugs and WWE-styled daddy chants when I pick them up from daycare, I think, “God sent me two angels to help me fight back against the demons that plagued me.” I realize Grammy was right, I am not alone in this fight.

Terry Jones is a comedian and musician who lives in Pittsburgh with his two daughters. Follow his work at linktr.ee/TeamTerryPro. THIS ESSAY WAS MADE POSSIBLE WITH FINANCIAL SUPPORT THROUGH THE PITTSBURGH MEDIA PARTNERSHIP

8

PGHCITYPAPER.COM


4053 Butler Street Pittsburgh, PA 15201 (412) 682-0177 thunderbirdmusichall.com

8/26 - Brent Cobb & Nikki Lane 8/27 - John Mayall 8/29 - Henhouse Prowlers and Jakob’s Ferry Stragglers 9/3 - Gimmie Gimmie Disco 9/4 - Terrapin Flyer (Grateful Dead tribute) 9/9 - American Aquarium 9/14 - Mdou Moctar 9/16 - Carbon Leaf 9/17 - Watkins Family Hour 9/18 - Kat Wright 9/23 - RDGLDGRN 9/24 - David Cook 9/25 - Al Schnier & Rob Derhak of Moe. 9/29 - Hellogoodbye 9/30 - Deep Sea Diver and Dianne Coffee 10/1 - Parker Milsap 10/2 - Mo Lowda

Cafe open 5pm to close Tuesday - Saturday 10/6 - Delvon Lamarr Organ Trio 10/7 - Liz Cooper 10/8 - Fruition 10/9 - GA-20 and JD Simo 10/10 - Caveman 10/15 - Eric Gales 10/16 - Monophonics 10/19 - Perpetual Groove 10/20 - Chris Cain 10/21 - So Down 10/22 - Miyaivi 10/24 - The Blue Stones 10/26 - The Happy Fits 10/31 - Yonder Mountain String band 11/4 - The Hillbenders play The Who 11/6 - Sue Foley UPCOMING 2022 SHOWS: 1/27/2022 - Lucky Chops PITTSBURGH CITY PAPER AUGUST 25 - SEPTEMBER 1, 2021

9


FRESH CONTENT Every Day. pghcitypaper.com

CP PHOTO: JARED WICKERHAM

People walk through Downtown Pittsburgh on Thu., Aug. 18.

.NEWS NEWS.

POPULOUS PITTSBURGH BY RYAN DETO // RYANDETO@PGHCITYPAPER.COM

Community Living Specialists Full Time & Variable Hour Mainstay Life Services $15.50 - 16.50/hr Mainstay Life Services is a nonprofit organization providing an array of supports to people with developmental disabilities, and their families. We are committed to assisting the people we support reach their fullest potentials within communities. The Community Living Specialist will be responsible for providing 1:1 support to individuals with developmental disabilities throughout Allegheny County and surrounding areas. This position will assist with community activities, daily living skills, and increase/maintain individuals ability to live independently. • Generous Benefits Package for FT employee • High school or equivalent (Required) • Valid driver’s license (Required) • Must be 18 yrs old Visit our career page at www.mainstaylifeservices.org to complete an application or call/text 412.303.0420 or 412.298.9037 EOE

10

PGHCITYPAPER.COM

W

HEN THE DECENNIAL CENSUS

was released on Aug. 12, the figures showed Allegheny County grew in population for the first time since 1960. The growth wasn’t that substantial, just a 2.2% increase, but it still was a milestone. Allegheny County added 27,230 residents compared to ten years ago, and the population of Pennsylvania’s second largest county now stands at 1,250,578. The county’s census count outperformed its estimates by 3%, one of the largest overperformances in America. In addition to that growth, Allegheny County and the Pittsburgh region also added more non-white residents. The county saw significant jumps in its Latino and Asian populations, adding more than 15,000 Latino residents and more than 24,000 Asian residents. The county is still overwhelmingly white, but 2020 is likely the least white the county has been in modern history. In 2010, Allegheny County was 81% white, but in 2020, it was 75% white.

... PITTSBURGH IS GROWING, JUST NOT EVERYWHERE, AND NOT FOR EVERYONE. But the census wasn’t all positive in terms of growth in Pittsburgh. The Black population in the city of Pittsburgh dropped more than any other race, percentage wise. The city lost 10,660 Black people, dropping more than 13 percentage points compared to 2010. Overall, the county’s Black population remained relatively flat, with just a 1.1% increase and about 1,800 additional Black residents. This suggests that suburban Allegheny County saw a large increase in Black population, even as the city’s population fell.

While the census highlights many aspects of the Pittsburgh region people have been discussing for several years, it also contains some surprises. Even so, it solidifies the notion that Pittsburgh is growing, just not everywhere, and not for everyone.

SUBURBAN SURGE Compared to the 2010 census, Pittsburgh shed 2,733 residents. However, this decline was much smaller than expected, and much smaller compared to other recent census counts. Between 2000 and 2010, the city shrunk by 8.5%. But between 2010 to 2020, the city only shrunk by less than 1%. But outside the city of Pittsburgh, Allegheny County saw some relatively large increases and grew 3.3% from 2010 to 2020. Suburban Allegheny County added nearly 30,000 additional residents compared to a decade ago. These gains all came from nonwhite residents. In suburban Allegheny County, both the Asian and Latino population increased by nearly 88%. Most


municipalities in Allegheny County decreased their number of white residents, with Munhall leading the way, decreasing its white population by more than 13%. But growth wasn’t even across all suburban municipalities. There were plenty of suburban municipalities within Allegheny County that lost population, particularly in the Mon Valley. North Braddock declined by 537 people, a more than 11% population drop. A lot of the growth was concentrated in Pittsburgh’s North Hills. Pine Township added nearly 3,200 new residents and grew by nearly 28%. Just over the border in Butler County, both Cranberry and Adams Township grew significantly, too. (Cranberry added nearly 5,000 residents, the highest volume gain of any municipality in the Pittsburgh region.) Southern Allegheny County, and just over the border in Washington County, also saw big population gains with South Fayette Township adding nearly 4,000 residents, and Cecil Township adding 3,338 people.

BLACK DISPLACEMENT The census confirmed what many have already been discussing: the city of Pittsburgh shed a large number of Black residents. The Black decline in Pittsburgh was more than twice as fast as the city’s white decline, one of just a handful of Allegheny County municipalities where Black decline outpaced white decline. However, Black people are not fleeing the region as a whole, as many have

suggested. Allegheny County’s Black population grew slightly, and grew significantly (15%) if you only count municipalities outside the city. The suburbs added 12,477 Black residents, even as they lost more than 39,000 white residents. But it’s unclear exactly what drove Black people to Allegheny County’s suburbs. Some well-off suburbs — like Oakmont and Kennedy Township — more than doubled their Black populations, and North Hills suburbs Pine and Marshall also saw jumps in Black population. However, many boroughs that are struggling economically — like Glassport, Pitcairn, and East McKeesport — also saw huge increases in their Black populations with each small borough adding hundreds of Black residents over the last decade, suggesting they were forced out of previously affordable city neighborhoods into cheap housing that is more widely available in these struggling boroughs. Another factor also may be complicating how Black displacement is viewed is Pittsburgh. The 2020 Census saw a huge increase in people identifying themselves as multiracial, as opposed to one race. Americans identifying as multiracial increased 276% in 2020 compared to 2010. And Pittsburgh likely saw some of that, too. The multiracial population in the city of Pittsburgh added more than 10,000 people. Though more than 10,000 people identifying as Black alone shrunk in city limits, Pittsburgh added 2,646 people who identified as Black in combination with one other race.

STATS FROM THE CENSUS The suburbs gained 12,477 Black residents and lost more than 29,000 white residents.

Americans identifying as multiracial increased 276%.

In the suburbs, Asian and Latino population increased nearly 88%. 38,705

+12,477

22,705

20,625

Saturday, September 4, 2021 GATES OPEN AT 1:00 PM

MONROEVILLE COMMUNITY PARK WEST TALL TREES AMPHITHEATER Free Admission • Free Parking • Suggested Donation: $5.00 PROCEEDS WILL BENEFIT THE Monroeville Animal Shelter & Community Food Pantries

Afro-American Music Institute Youth Jazz Ensemble 2:00 pm

Tubby Daniels with vocalist Anita Levels 3:30 pm

John Shannon Trio with Thomas Wendt and Tony DePaolis 5:00 pm

Pgh All Stars Jazz Extravaganza 6:30 pm

Featuring Food Trucks • Greenhouse Winery and Craft Brewery • Vendor and Craft MarketPlace Bring your blankets, chairs and friends and spend the day with us! For More Info: www.MonroevilleJazz.org Hosted By:

12,106

Presenting Sponsors:

High Note Sponsors:

– 39,156 *not shown in porportion

9 Million

33.8 Million

Latino

Follow managing editor Ryan Deto on Twitter @RyanDeto

Asian

This event will follow and enforce all current CDC and local COVID guidelines to ensure the safety of our audience and community. PITTSBURGH CITY PAPER AUGUST 25 - SEPTEMBER 1, 2021

11


CP PHOTO: LAKE LEWIS

Xandria Phillips

.BLACK-LED COMMUNITY SPOTLIGHT.

FINDING THEIR VOICE BY DANI JANAE // DANIJANAE@PGHCITYPAPER.COM

X

ANDRIA PHILLIPS arrived in

Pittsburgh this month, but it isn’t their first time in the city. They used to visit a relative here when they were a child, and returned in 2019 after being named a finalist for a local poetry fellowship at the University of Pittsburgh.

12

PGHCITYPAPER.COM

“I’m actually from about an hour and a half away from where I live right now,” says Phillips. “Like, a very rural northeastern Ohio town. So the landscape, you know, that kind of verging on Appalachia, but still kind of Rust Belt feels very, very familiar given my background, but it’s the closest

I’ve been to home since college, so that feels kind of nice.” The University of Pittsburgh’s Center for African American Poetry and Poetics has since announced Phillips as its new fellow for 2021-2023. A Whiting Awardwinning poet, Phillips is the author of the

poetry collection Hull, and the chapbook Reasons For Smoking. Their work has appeared in many prestigious literary journals, as well as in poetry anthologies like Best Experimental Writing (Weslyan Press 2020) and We Want It All (Nightboat Books 2020).


DENTAL

“... I WAS WRITING THESE KIND OF TERRIBLE LITTLE COLLEGE POEMS BEFORE I STARTED TAKING AFRICANA STUDIES CLASSES AND WAS, LIKE, ‘OH, THERE’S SOMETHING TO WRITE ABOUT.’” They are also a previous fellow for Cave Canem, a nonprofit founded by poets Cornelius Eady and Pittsburgh’s Toi Derricotte to increase Black representation in poetry. The CAAPP Fellowship is a two-year fellowship awarded to poets who have completed a Master of Fine Arts or Ph.D. and have no more than one full-length published work. The fellowship’s primary goal is to give writers space and time to work on creative projects, but they are also given the opportunity to lead community workshops, be a guest presenter in the course Studio in African American Poetry and Poetics, and facilitate one session of the Writer’s Cafe. Phillips went to Oberlin College to earn their undergraduate degree. They later attended Virginia Tech to earn a master’s degree in poetry, where they began to form what would become their first book. “I’ve considered Ph.D.s, but I can’t fathom letting someone else tell me what to read again,” they laughed. When Phillips wrote their first book, they say they were fueled by a feeling of displacement. “I think I felt like when I went to Oberlin, it was like someone gave me all this ammo knowledge wise,” they say. “I was learning and I was writing these kind of terrible little college poems before I started taking Africana Studies classes and was, like, ‘Oh, there’s something to write about. And there’s a lineage of people writing about it.’ And I think that’s when my ‘research’ started taking off. So I had all this Black history of the world, so to speak, which I had been denied to me through my upbringing.” Phillips’ collection Hull explores both the history of slavery and the oppression of Black people in the U.S., and, on an equal level, the politics of a being a queer, gender nonconforming person. Their works are vivid and visceral, and find a way to puncture one’s world in a manner that opens readers up to each poem. Outside of the book, they have

Insurance

Get the dental care you deserve. Medicare does not cover dental care1. That means if you need dental work done, it can cost you hundreds or even thousands of dollars out of your own pocket.

also written poems that explore society’s fascination with pop culture. “How do I trick people into caring about these things that feel ridiculous or frivolous, but actually have a hold on me in such a way that I cannot stop considering them?” they say. In addition to poetry, Phillips is also a painter. They find that to create, they often have to be in a state of movement, whether that’s taking the train to a secondary location or just going about the motions of everyday life. They describe being outside and on the go as integral to their practice. They say that their education as a writer took precedence during their graduate and undergraduate years, but the call toward painting revived itself in 2018. After being introduced to artists like Adrian Piper and Otobong Nkanga, their passion for art was renewed. “A lot of the forms in my book were trying to be paintings before I knew how to paint, but that’s just a theory I have,” they added.

Get Dental Insurance from Physicians Mutual Insurance Company. It helps cover over 350 procedures — from cleanings and fillings to crowns and dentures. Call today to get help paying big dental bills. • See any dentist you want, but save more with one in our network • No deductible, no annual maximum • Immediate coverage for preventive care

Call to get your FREE Information Kit

1-855-385-3879 dental50plus.com/citypaper

THE CENTER FOR AFRICAN AMERICAN POETRY AND POETICS caapp.pitt.edu

XANDRIA PHILLIPS Xandriaphillips.com

Since they will be in Pittsburgh for the next two years, Phillips is looking forward to all modes of creation. When they were in the city in 2019, they stayed at a studio in Radiant Hall at Nova Place on the North Side for two weeks as a part of being the finalist for the CAAPP fellowship, which solidified an appreciation for the city. “I got to wake up, I got to read, I got to paint, and I just had a new place to do it,” they say. “And so that was kind of a great primer for getting me excited to be here permanently.”

1

“Medicare & You,” Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, 2020 Includes the Participating (in GA: Designated) Providers and Preventive Benefits Rider. Product not available in all states. Acceptance guaranteed for one insurance policy/ certificate of this type. Contact us for complete details about this insurance solicitation. This specific offer is not available in CO, LA, NY; call 1-800-969-4781 or respond for similar offer. Certificate C250A (ID: C250E; PA: C250Q); Insurance Policy P150 (GA: P150GA; NY: P150NY; OK: P150OK; TN: P150TN); Rider kinds B438/B439 (GA: B439B).

6255

Follow staff writer Dani Janae on Twitter @figwidow PITTSBURGH CITY PAPER AUGUST 25 - SEPTEMBER 1, 2021

13


.FOOD.

LEVANTINE LUNCH BY RYAN DETO // RYANDETO@PGHCITYPAPER.COM

E

ARLIER THIS YEAR, the Qdoba on

Liberty Avenue in Downtown Pittsburgh was replaced with Rosewater Middle Eastern Grill. Not to tarnish the fast-casual Mexican-food chain too much, but this change is a serious upgrade for Downtown’s food scene. Rosewater is everything a Downtown diner needs. It’s relatively quick, affordable, and the menu has a wide variety. As the name suggests, the menu is Middle Eastern and it covers most of the region. The menu showcases this regional diversity with staples like tabouli, stuffed grape leaves, and kibbeh meat pies, but it also serves dishes that are more specific to Iran or styles more popular in the Levant region. While the specific regional dishes are a delight, the main reason to eat at Rosewater is for the restaurant’s signature bowls.

ROSEWATER MIDDLE EASTERN GRILL 808 Liberty Ave., Downtown. rosewaterpgh.com

When I think of Middle Eastern fast food, I think gyros, doner kebab, and other handhelds stuffed with meat, salad, and dressing. While those are delicious, they can be a bit hefty. But like many fast-casual restaurants these days, Rosewater has created bowls that have all the Middle Eastern flavors people love, but without the heaviness. I tried the chicken shawarma bowl and the falafel bowl. Each comes with the protein served over rice and salad, and sauce on top.

The chicken shawarma — which is sliced from a big cone of meat spinning on a rotating grill — is thinly sliced, but still juicy with a wonderful char that adds some bitterness. I sampled the meat on its own, and it would make a good meal by itself. It tastes like it is marinated, maybe in a citrus blend with subtle spice. The bowl works just as you would expect. The chicken shawarma’s flavor and richness up top, followed by crunch and freshness underneath from a salad mix of lettuce and tomatoes, and a thick bed of rice to hold it all together. The perfectly cooked basmati rice has a slight nutty flavor, but is still light. Everything is covered artistically in a creamy garlic sauce, and the bowl is surprisingly refreshing. The falafel bowl is much the same, except there are four freshly fried falafel arranged on top and everything is covered in a Tzatziki sauce, instead of garlic. The falafels look fairly dense, but they are light and crumbly in the middle. This bowl also has all the enjoyable contrasts of the chicken shawarma dish, but without the char. If you are looking for that, but still want to keep it vegetarian, throw in some grilled veggies. Rosewater’s grilled veggies — zucchini, onion, and bell pepper — are sublime. I ordered a side of them, and they were the best grilled veggies I have ever had. A bowl is more than enough to fill you up, but don’t skimp on trying some of Rosewater’s excellent appetizers and desserts. The grilled beef kibbeh is filled with well-spiced and juicy ground beef, just loaded with flavor. Ground beef is mixed with spices, pine nuts, onion, and possibly

CP PHOTO: JARED WICKERHAM

A mix grill dish from Rosewater Middle Eastern Grill

some raisins, and surrounded by an earthy wheat mixture. All of it is heated up on the grill, and it has distinctive black char marks. Meaty, filling, with a touch of sweetness. I finished the meal off with Kunafa, a dessert made from shredded filo dough and a mild white cheese underneath, covered in a sweet syrup.

The Kunafa comes in two styles, one mild and the other, a bit herby. Both are just a tad sweet, and chewy. I have never had anything like them, and they are both worth a sample, just like everything at Rosewater. Add this place to your Downtown lunch (and dinner) rotation, they are open until 8:30 p.m. every night except Sunday.

WORKING FROM HOME?

GET CITY PAPER DELIVER TO YOUR MAILBOX

6 weeks for $32 VISIT WWW.PGHCITYPAPERSTORE.COM

14

PGHCITYPAPER.COM


PITTSBURGH CITY PAPER AUGUST 25 - SEPTEMBER 1, 2021

15


PHOTO: COURTESY OF MILLER ICA

“Black Luncheon,” part of Spirits Roaming on the Earth at Miller ICA

.ART.

STRONG SPIRITS BY AMANDA WALTZ // AWALTZ@PGHCITYPAPER.COM

I

T’S YET ANOTHER gray, stormy summer

afternoon in Pittsburgh when I visit the Miller Institute for Contemporary Art at Carnegie Mellon University. But inside, it’s a whole other scene, as I’m greeted with neon lighting, projections of vibrant computer-generated animation, and an ambient EDM soundtrack. This is the world of Spirits Roaming on the Earth, described in a press release as the “first major monographic survey” of artist Jacolby Satterwhite’s “wide-ranging practice.” And, “wide-ranging” is putting it lightly, as Satterwhite, who is based in Brooklyn, implements 3D animated films, sculpture, prints, virtual reality, and more to create a fantastic audiovisual soundscape, with imagery that draws from art history, video gaming, queer club scenes, and Black culture. The show, now open through Dec. 5, fits nicely with CMU’s

16

PGHCITYPAPER.COM

culture of highlighting new media in art, as younger generations have increasingly turned to technology, both old and emerging, as a way to bring their visions to life. For Satterwhite, the emphasis on new media heightens his life story and how it extends beyond its subjectivity by relating to the wider Black LGBTQ experience. The works on display deftly integrate cultural references from the now 35-year-old artist’s childhood (don’t be surprised to see Super Mario Bros. characters in a print) with scenes that nod to his present love of fashion, club music, and voguing. A less keen eye may find the show messy and lacking in substance, a dizzying mashup of manipulated analog video, searing red neon, and ephemera. Ascending through the exhibit, spread out over the gallery’s three floors, clear themes emerge to string the works together, creating a

stream-of-consciousness examination of what brought the artist to where he is now. Most prominent among these are the tributes to his late mother and muse, Patricia Satterwhite, a woman whose own ambitions were hindered by a number of factors, including mental illness.

SPIRITS ROAMING ON THE EARTH Continues through Dec. 5. Miller Institute for Contemporary Art. 5000 Forbes Ave., Oakland. Free. miller-ica.cmu.edu

The first floor hints at the delights to come with Country Ball, a film featuring an ever-moving parade of figures, both animated and human, dancing against a CG background. The projection serves as a companion to Matriarch’s Rhapsody,

another projection that, like Country Ball, is populated with rotoscoped images of the many inventions Patricia sketched throughout her life, all accompanied with scrawled, often inexplicable descriptions of their purpose. Satterwhite is quoted as saying, “In her schizophrenic condition, she would talk to herself 12 hours a day while drawing,” hinting at the complicated relationship he shared with his mother, who died in 2016. Between the two projections sits a small retail space selling items printed with the artist’s work, as well as a vinyl record display outfitted with listening stations. The latter further cements the inextricable creative bond between mother and son, as it boasts Satterwhite’s concept album, Love Will Find A Way Home, made with musician Nick Weiss, which samples 14 a cappella tracks by Patricia, who, in addition to her


CP PHOTO: AMANDA WALTZ

“Room for Cleansing,” part of Spirits Roaming on the Earth at Miller ICA

concept sketches, left behind numerous cassette recordings. The first floor both serves to comment on the role capitalism plays on an artist’s process (Patricia, as it’s explained, sketched products she meant to sell on QVC), and announce Satterwhite’s origins. The second floor proves no less bold, as viewers are treated to multiple video installations, sometimes presented in unorthodox ways. This is the case of “Room For Doubt,” a life-sized sculpture based on 17th-century Italian artist Carravaggio’s Biblical tableau painting The Incredulity of Saint Thomas. In this case, four Black figures are perplexed by tiny screens embedded in their mid sections, all screening footage of a provocative 2009 performance by Satterwhite titled “The Robin vs The Worm.” There’s also a video hovering on the ceiling above another sculpture of four figures who boast both male genitalia and sharply pointed breasts. The work points to a theme running through many of the pieces, where Satterwhite derives power from queerness, performing as a “multigendered nymph-like warrior,” weaponizing his dance moves and whipping braids against incoming objects, or shooting CG bubbles from a pair of breasts. The music being pumped in floated up to the third floor, following me as I explored yet another phase of the exhibit. Here, the works are more sparse, with the animated neon light sculpture “Black Luncheon” serving as a centerpiece. On this floor, viewers will find the show’s pièce de résistance, a set of VR headsets tucked in a far corner of the space under a neon “Throne” sign.

At the risk of sounding like a complete Luddite, I must admit my experience with VR is limited at best, so Satterwhite’s visions served as my introduction to the technology. And what visions they are, as I was immersed into worlds populated by figures dancing and strong men flexing alongside Ent-like giants and skeletons. Satterwhite’s fascination with bygone pop culture is on full display, as I was treated to 360-degree dreamscapes recalling dystopian cyberpunk, old video games, and throwback CG animation reminiscent of cartoon series like Reboot. Here, children of the ’90s are treated to snippets of familiar imagery, including clips of The Jerry Springer Show, a young Jim Carrey performing on the sketch comedy show In Living Color, and the music video for “Firestarter” by the influential British EDM band Prodigy. Even as the videos lull you into a retro fantasy, however, there are moments when you’re jarred back to reality, primarily when one video zooms out to reveal a digital flower display made in tribute to Breonna Taylor, a Black Kentucky women whose death at the hands of police added to calls for reform nationwide. There’s so much more to see and hear at Spirits Roaming on the Earth, which also comes with a companion book How lovly is me being as I am, co-edited by the exhibition’s curator Elizabeth Chodos. While the multisensory elements may initially draw you in, behind all the flash, erotic imagery, and pop culture references exists a tender, non-judgmental tribute to a mother who never saw her dreams realized, and a son who posthumously made them come true.

Follow a&e editor Amanda Waltz on Twitter @AWaltzCP PITTSBURGH CITY PAPER AUGUST 25 - SEPTEMBER 1, 2021

17


.FASHION.

CLOTHES MAKE MAYA HAPTAS BY TERENEH IDIA CPCONTRIBUTORS@PGHCITYPAPER.COM

Clothes Make featured guests get to select where they are photographed, what made you pick The Highline? I wrote about the plans for The Highline for NEXTpittsburgh years ago. It’s cool to see it come to fruition. I like that the space isn’t over-designed, and you feel like you are sitting next to Downtown when you are hanging out here. There’s also coffee [de Fer Coffee & Tea.] Sometimes I take my kids here for picnics, and they have me look up the heights of all the skyscrapers. I should have them memorized by now.

Maya Haptas Titles

(SHE/HER)

Founder, Shred Your Fears (shredyourfears.com), events providing womxn “a safe and comfortable space to learn to skateboard” Assistant editor, Bigfoot Skateboarding Magazine (bigfootskatemag.com)

Interest/ Skateboarding, public space hobbies design, cooking, reading Website instagram.com/mayahaptashello

How would you describe your style? Who are your style icons? I love vintage anything, mostly ‘60s and ‘70s. I’m generally a jeans and T-shirt person, but it’s fun to dress up sometimes. Style icons are Florence Given, Tierra Whack, and Serena Williams. Tell me about this wonderful jumpsuit you’re wearing. The jumpsuit is Nooworks, purchased a few years ago from WorkshopPgh in Garfield. The rings are Horsethief Silver, local jeweller Elizabeth Sánchez. Sunglasses are from Pack Vintage. You can find them on Instagram [@packvintage], run by Shred Your Fears instructor Sarah Pack and her husband Egemen. CP PHOTO: TERENEH IDIA

And the skateboard? Those cool kicks? The skateboard deck is Enjoi and designed by my friend Lori D., who I went to an arts program with back in 1995. It’s pretty new and I got it set up at Switch & Signal Skatepark. The Milhouse Mussolini Van Houten grip tape is from Free Society. The kicks are pro skater Samarria Brevard’s shoe for New Balance, with colors inspired by dragonflies. Do you dress differently for your various roles? Shred Your Fears events include yoga, so I generally wear something pretty comfortable. My everyday go-to is jeans and a black tank top or T-shirt and a hoodie if it’s getting cold.

Maya Haptas

Do you have a gift that you gave to yourself that you’re wearing now or often wear? I would say my tattoos are gifts that I gave to myself. I have a star tattoo on my left wrist that matches one my brother had. He died in 2004, so it sort of feels like a gift from him I get to wear every day. The band on my right arm my friend Matt created from a design for an architectural frieze. I chose it because it includes strong masculine and feminine imagery. Your hair is amazing, any tips? I brush it sometimes! My hair got really wavy after I had kids, so this is just what

happens after I wash it. But my fantastic bangs are entirely due to Katie Soulen, owner of Halcyon Salon in Garfield. Back to skateboarding. I love it and want to learn. I have taken one Shred Your Fears workshop, and I need to come back and get back in the saddle. What do you love about skateboarding and when did you start? I have to be really focused when I skate so it quiets my mind. I learned to skate at 39 with my son. Starting at that age means I’m pretty much in it for the pure enjoyment of it. I also love the larger nontraditional skate community it has connected me to,

Follow featured contributor Tereneh Idia on Twitter @Tereneh152XX

18

PGHCITYPAPER.COM

and the community we have built through Shred Your Fears. What are you excited about that is upcoming for the fall? This year? Shred Your Fears was recently accepted into Skate Like a Girl’s Skateboarding Inclusivity Cooperative, so that is incredibly exciting. It’s virtual, so it feels dependable right now. Our next Shred Your Fears’ workshop is Sun., Sept. 26 from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. at Switch & Signal Skatepark with yoga from All Bodies Welcome Yoga. Everything else feels so uncertain again, it’s hard to look too far forward into the future.


MAKE A DIFFERENCE BE THE DIFFERENCE We want our workforce to reflect our customer base. That’s why we’ve launched a multi-year plan to increase diversity hiring in a dynamic environment that celebrates difference.

Visit our Careers page to learn more. Apply today at peoples-gas.com/careers

Peoples is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer. Equal opportunity is provided to all employees and applicants for employment. We are committed to providing reasonable accommodations to enable applicants with disabilities to have equal opportunity to apply for job openings.

YOUR TIME IS COMING TO AN END

LAST WEEK TO VOTE! Help your favorites win the whole game. Voting closes August 31 PGHCITYPAPER.COM/BESTOFPGH2021 PITTSBURGH CITY PAPER AUGUST 25 - SEPTEMBER 1, 2021

19


SEVEN DAYS IN PITTSBURGH

IRL = IN REAL LIFE EVENT VIRTUAL = STREAMING OR ONLINE-ONLY EVENT

HYBRID = MIX OF IN REAL LIFE AND ONLINE EVENT

PHOTO: COURTESY OF HOWARD ALAN EVENTS

^ Art Festival on Walnut Street

THU., AUG. 26 OPERA • IRL Whether you have years of experience playing piano or are just getting started, the Pittsburgh Opera piano sale is an opportunity to buy a high-quality piano at prices not typically available at retail stores. The sale will include grands, uprights, digitals, hybrids, and Disklavier player pianos, and will offer brands such as Yamaha, Bösendorfer, Clavinova, Estonia, and Baldwin at discount prices. Pittsburgh Opera is also selling used Yamaha pianos from its loan program, all of which are expertly maintained and less than a year old. By appointment only. Continues through Sun., Aug. 29. 2425 Liberty Ave., Strip District. pittsburghoperapiano.com

FRI., AUG. 27 ART • IRL The late Jean-Michel Basquiat has fascinated and inspired generations of artists. His graffiti-style work has permeated pop culture, and he’s widely considered one of the most influential

20

PGHCITYPAPER.COM

artists of the 20th century. BOOM Concepts will honor this visionary during its BOOM x Basquiat event. Presented as part of The Andy Warhol Museum’s Warhol and Basquiat In Focus exhibition, this night will be an “immersive evening of film, music, and visual art” in celebration of Basquiat’s work. Enjoy experimental music, free art making, and a guided tour. A scheduled screening of the film Downtown ’81 is full, but you can enjoy other activities. 4-9:30 p.m. 117 Sandusky St., North Side. $20. warhol.org

SAT., AUG. 28 MARKET • IRL One of the best ways to end a Pittsburgh summer is strolling along Walnut Street during the Annual Art Festival. The popular Shadyside street is covered in a river of tents filled with local and national artists showcasing their work. View and buy a wide selection of items, including paintings, sculptures, handmade jewelry, pottery, and much more. If you’re feeling hungry or parched as you wander through the festival, Walnut Street is also lined with numerous restaurants and bars to stop at

like Shady Grove and Cappy’s Cafe. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Continues through Sun., Aug. 29. Walnut Street, Shadyside. Free. artfestival.com/festivals

STAGE • IRL If you love theater, and especially Shakespeare, don’t miss this production. Steel City Shakespeare Center, in partnership with the West View Hub, presents Shakespeare’s Pericles at the Barry G. Schell Field in West View. Pericles, one of Shakespeare’s last plays, was written between 1608-1609 and chronicles the titular character’s journey seeking love through distant lands, as well as his many setbacks and hardships. 2 p.m. Continues through Sun., Aug. 29. Center Avenue at Bronx Avenue, West View. Free. steelcityshakespeare.org

ART • IRL Since 2013, Alloy Pittsburgh has supported artists as they explore and make art in response to the Carrie Blast Furnaces in Rankin. Now, for the fourth iteration of its program, Alloy Pittsburgh is hosting an opening reception for visitors to meet and mingle with the six resident artists who will spend their residencies at the furnaces

and five neighborhood partners across the city. Each resident will connect with community members before their sitespecific art is displayed at the furnaces. Space is limited, and registration is required. 1-5 p.m. 801 Carrie Furnace Blvd., Rankin. Free with registration. riversofsteel.com

SUN., AUG. 29 TOUR • IRL Presented by Walk the Burgh Tours, the Whiskey Walking Tour invites participants to learn how the hard liquor powered political, labor, and social movements throughout the region’s history. As you travel from Downtown to the Strip District, tour guides will dive into topics such as the Whiskey Rebellion and former speakeasies located around the city. The tour ends with tastings of three different whiskey varieties at the family-owned distillery Wigle Whiskey. 4-6 p.m. 1049 Penn Ave., Downtown. $25. walktheburgh.com

ART • IRL After the success of its first performance, Body Sound returns to the Afro-American


^

PHOTO: COURTESY OF PITTSBUGRH OPERA

Pittsburgh Opera Piano Sale

^

PHOTO: COURTESY OF THE ANDY WARHOL MUSEUM/ THE ANDY WARHOL FOUNDATION FOR THE VISUAL ARTS, INC.

Andy Warhol, Jean-Michel Basquiat, ca. 1982

Music Institute in Homewood. Artist Kara Bialecki, aka l’instant will present a live paint session, and will be joined by music guest Carolyn Perteete, as well as James Johnson III, Jeff Grubbs, Jerome Kirkland, and Cliff Barnes. The multimedia event will also introduce a spoken word component, and local artists will exhibit their work in a pop-up display before and during the program. Food vendors will also be on site. 6 p.m. Doors open at 5 p.m. 7131 Hamilton Ave., Homewood. $10. Search “Body Sound” on Facebook

MON., AUG. 30 OUTDOOR • IRL Looking for a big, beautiful, furry unit to join your family? The Great Pyrenees Club of Western Pa Rescue has a number of dogs ready for adoption, but in the meantime, the nonprofit group is hosting a Charity Golf Tournament at Edgewood Country Club to help cover the cost of saving and fostering these animals. The outing includes 18 holes of golf and meals, as well as raffles and giveaways for big prizes throughout the day. Golfers and spectators can also meet a few of the Great Pyrenees rescues ready for their forever homes. 9 a.m. 100 Churchill Road, Penn Hills. $195 per golfer, $65 dinner only. Registration required. swpapyr.org/events

TUE., AUG. 31

327999_4.75_x_4.75.indd 1

8/17/21 2:00

EVENT • IRL The Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy is launching their own podcast in early September called For the Love of Parks as part of its 25th anniversary. Experience it first-hand when the Conservancy hosts Pizza and Podcast at Schenley Plaza. Guests will get an exclusive preview of an episode before the series officially launches while The Porch serves up free pizza. The event will also include lawn games, free carousel rides, and a live performance by local music group Moonshine Jasmine. 6-9:30 p.m. 4100 Forbes Ave., Oakland. Free. pittsburghparks.org/event

WED., SEPT. 1 EVENT • IRL East Shore Pgh and For Good Pgh have teamed up for the Pet Food Pantry and Summer Free Market, a resource for families and pet owners alike. The Hollander Project, a Braddock co-working space and business incubator for female entrepreneurs, will host the event. On top of pet food basics, East Shore will offer clothing from Old Navy, Banana Republic, Kate Spade, JoFit, and more. 10 a.m.-1 p.m. 910 Braddock Ave., Braddock. Free. eastshorepgh.com

PITTSBURGH CITY PAPER AUGUST 25 - SEPTEMBER 1, 2021

21


Free confidential testing HIV • stD • hep c

Dr. Stacy Lane, D.O. • 412-515-0000

HELP HEal all WITH NO JUDGEMENT

MARKETPLACE

FOR INFORMATION ON HOW TO PLACE A CLASSIFIEDS ADVERTISEMENT, CALL 412-685-9009 ext. 106

your body & soul

• ALL INSURANCES ACCEPTED • WALK INS WELCOME • tRANSPORATION PROGRAM • NO INSURANCE? WE CAN HELP North Shore - 127 Anderson Street - Suite 101 Timber Court Building, PIttsburgh, PA 15212 Phone: (412) 322-4151 washington, pa - 95 Leonard Avenue Suite 203, Washington PA 15301 Phone: (724) 249-2517 beaver county - 2360 hospital drive Suite 1, aliquippa, pa 15001 Phone: (724)707-1155 Erie - 3104 State Street, Erie, PA 16508 PHONE: (814) 619-4009

REHEARSAL

SERVICES

FINANCIAL

FINANCIAL

MISCELLANEOUS

Rehearsal Space

DISH Network. $59.99 for 190 Channels! Blazing Fast Internet, $19.99/mo. (where available.) Switch & Get a FREE $100 Visa Gift Card. FREE Voice Remote. FREE HD DVR. FREE Streaming on ALL Devices. Call today! 1-877-857-5995

SAVE YOUR HOME! Are you behind paying your MORTGAGE? Denied a Loan Modification? Is the bank threatening foreclosure? CALL Homeowners Relief Line NOW for Help 1-855-4395853 Mon-Fri : 8:00 am to 8:00 pm Sat: 8:00 am to 1:00 pm(all times Pacific) (AAN CAN)

SAVE BIG on HOME INSURANCE!

Guaranteed Life Insurance! (Ages 50 to 80). No medical exam. Affordable premiums never increase. Benefits never decrease. Policy will only be cancelled for non-payment. HOURS: M-F 9a-10p & Sat 11a-2p EST 1-888-386-0113 (Void NY) (AAN CAN)

starting @ $150/mo. Many sizes available, no sec deposit, play @ the original and largest practice facility, 24/7 access.

412-403-6069

Compare 20 A-rated insurances companies. Get a quote within minutes. Average savings of $444/ year! Call 844-712-6153! (M-F 8am-8pm Central) (AAN CAN)

NAME CHANGE

NAME CHANGE

NAME CHANGE

LEGAL NOTICE

NAME CHANGE

IN The Court of Common Pleas of Allegheny County, Pennsylvania: No. GD-21-8422, In re petition of Jessica McCully parent and legal guardian of Harrison Blaine Hackney for change of name to Harrison Wayne McCully. To all persons interested: Notice is hereby given that an order of said Court authorized the filing of said petition and fixed the 13th day of September 2021, at 9:30 a.m., as the time and the Motions Room, City-County Building, Pittsburgh, PA, as the place for a hearing, when and where all persons may show cause, if any they have, why said name should not be changed as prayed for.

IN The Court of Common Pleas of Allegheny County, Pennsylvania: No. GD-21-4308. In re petition of Ronald F. Goldie II for change of name to Ronald Francis Schultz. To all persons interested: Notice is hereby given that an order of said Court authorized the filing of said petition and fixed the 23rd day of September, 2021, at 9:30 a.m., as the time and the Motions Room, City-County Building, Pittsburgh, PA, as the place for a hearing, when and where all persons may show cause, if any they have, why said name should not be changed as prayed for

IN The Court of Common Pleas of Allegheny County, Pennsylvania: No. GD-21-9258, In re petition of Travin Brown, Marquasha Brown parents and legal guardian of Traymar Calvin Ray Carpenter for change of name to Traymar Calvin Ray Brown. To all persons interested: Notice is hereby given that an order of said Court authorized the filing of said petition and fixed the 20th day of September 2021, at 9:30 a.m., as the time and the Motions Room, City-County Building, Pittsburgh, PA, as the place for a hearing, when and where all persons may show cause, if any they have, why said name should not be changed as prayed for.

NOTICE is hereby given that Articles of Incorporation were filed with the Department of State of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania on the 11th day of May 2021 with respect to a proposed nonprofit corporation, The Purple String Project which has been incorporated under the Nonprofit Corporation Law 1988. A brief Summary of the purpose or purposes for which said corporation is organized is: To empower people to achieve financial independence. The financial independence can be the tool to lift individuals out of poverty by teaching them proper banking and financial skills.

IN The Court of Common Pleas of Allegheny County, Pennsylvania: No. GD-21-7610, In re petition of Lyle Ray Roberts parents and legal guardian of Cassandra Lynn Boyle for change of name to Quill Lynn Boyle. To all persons interested: Notice is hereby given that an order of said Court authorized the filing of said petition and fixed the 14th day of September 2021, at 9:30 a.m., as the time and the Motions Room, City-County Building, Pittsburgh, PA, as the place for a hearing, when and where all persons may show cause, if any they have, why said name should not be changed as prayed for.

22

PGHCITYPAPER.COM

are welcome

SERVICES Nanny for hire. Call 412-736-9288

MASSAGE M2M Massage by Lee 24/7 • 412-628-1269

DENTAL INSURANCE

CREDIT REPAIR

DENTAL INSURANCE from Physicians Mutual Insurance Company. Coverage for 350 plus procedures. Real dental insurance - NOT just a discount plan. Do not wait! Call now! Get your FREE Dental Information Kit with all the details! 1-855-385-3879 www.dental50plus.com/ citypaper #6258

Denied Credit?? Work to Repair Your Credit Report With The Trusted Leader in Credit Repair. Call Lexington Law for a FREE credit report summary & credit repair consultation. 855-620-9426. John C. Heath, Attorney at Law, PLLC, dba Lexington Law Firm. (AAN CAN)

HELP WANTED WANTED! 36 PEOPLE

HELP WANTED SR. CLINICAL SPECIALIST, EP

to Lose Weight. 30-day money back guarantee. Herbal Program. Also opportunity to earn up to $1,000 monthly. 1-800-492-4437 www.myherbalife.com

HELP WANTED ON-SITE OVERNIGHT RADIOLOGIST Allegheny Clinic seeks an On-Site Overnight Radiologist to work in and around Pittsburgh, PA to provide general emergency Radiology interpretation services for the Allegheny Health Network. Must have a MD, DO, or foreign equivalent degree and have completed Residency training in Diagnostic Radiology. Must also have (or be eligible for) PA medical license and be able to obtain hospital privileges. Must be able to work on-site; no telecommuting. If interested, send CV/cover letter with salary requirements to: Cardell.Velez@ahn.org with “On-Site Overnight Radiologist opportunity” in re line.

St. Jude Medical S.C., an Abbott Labs Co., located in Warrendale, PA seeks qualified Sr. Clinical Specialist, EP. Provide advanced eng, sales, edu & tech support in response to complex fld inquiries from physicians, healthcare pros, patients & fld sales staff involving Cardiac Electrophysiology (EP) products. Masters or foreign equiv in Biomed Eng or in closely rltd fld (Will accept Bachelors + 5 yrs of progressive pro exp in lieu of Masters) each alt req w/ at least 1 yr of prof exp in: (i) providing clinical support for cardiac EP procedures & rltd products, incl arrhythmia consultation & support; (ii) providing med pros w/ internal training & product edu, incl staff training, product merits & usage & in-service & tech troubleshooting; (iii) working effectively w/ eng, tech specialists, vendors & customer, to achieve assigned goals, & (iv) Cardiac Rhythm Device Certification. Up to 50% domestic travel req. Emp will accept any suitable combo of edu, training, or exp. An EOE. 40 hrs/wk. Respond by mail: Abbott Laboratories, Kathleen Ellwanger, St. Jude Resumes, Senior Paralegal, 100 Abbott Park Road, Bldg AP6A, Dept 32RC, Abbott Park, IL 60064-3500. Refer to ad code: SJM-0086-KE.

PERSONALS Female Companion wanted 30-40 y.o. Waist length hair and/or cornrows a PLUS PLUS! Permanent Position 724-223-0939 Wash. Co

ADULTS ONLY Hiring female swingers, Text 412-513-9796

ESTATE NOTICE DORAZIO, DOROTHY, A, DECEASED OF PITTSBURGH, PA Dorazio, Dorothy, A, deceased of Pittsburgh, PA No. 022105080 of 2021 Cynthia L. Antolik, Co-Executor, 2121 Elk Creek Road, Waterford PA 16441, and Susan R. Ketchum, Co-Executor, 120 Elatan Drive, Pittsburgh PA, 15243 or to the Law Office Grant M. Yochim, Esq., 24 Main St. E., P.O. Box 87, Girard, PA 16417

HELP WANTED Assistant Manager of Facilities Systems Port Authority is seeking an Assistant Manager of Facilities Systems to be responsible for coordinating Facilities Systems activities for the Facilities Systems Department and directly supervise the Facilities Systems first level supervisors. Oversees the Facilities Systems Department in the absence of the Facilities Systems Manager. Essential Functions: Directs Facilities Systems supervisors in the performance of their work. Assists in all other Facilities Systems department supervisory responsibilities and coordinates functions with other Facilities and Port Authority personnel. Coordinates the training and qualification of supervisors and hourly employees on the use of related equipment, and proper maintenance and repair procedures as required. Communicates with individuals throughout the system to assess the support needed from the Facilities Systems department. Job requirements include: High School Diploma or G.E.D. Associate Degree in a technical discipline from an accredited school. Directly related experience may be substituted for the education on a year-for-year basis. Minimum of five (5) years directly related experience in any one of the Facilities Building Systems areas (carpentry, plumbing, equipment repair, electrical or HVAC). Minimum of three (3) years supervisory experience. Demonstrated ability in the use of Windows, Microsoft Excel and Word. Willingness and ability to work any shift and pass days. Responds to work related problems on a 24 hour a day basis. Preferred attributes: Demonstrated ability in the use of Microsoft Access and PeopleSoft. We offer a comprehensive compensation and benefits package. Interested candidates should forward a cover letter (with salary requirements) and resume to: Robyn Taylor - Employment Department 345 Sixth Avenue, 3rd Floor, Pittsburgh, PA 15222-2527 RTaylor@portauthority.org

EOE


BACK-TO-SCHOOL SHOPPING LIST FAILURES

NOW HIRING:

BY BRENDAN EMMETT QUIGLEY // BRENDANEMMETTQUIGLEY.COM

•HEAD START CLASSROOM AIDES (various locations throughout Westmoreland County) - $10.30 to $10.82/hour •NEW KENSINGTON TEACHER - $14.42 to $15.45/hour

We offer full-time seasonal employees health benefits on the 1st of the month following 60 days of employment, paid time off, 403(b) retirement plan, and paid holidays. VISIT WESTMORELANDCA.ORG FOR MORE INFORMATION!

HIRING EVENT AUGUST 30 Take Your Career Live! WorkAtLive.com GAMBLING PROBLEM? CALL 1-800-GAMBLER

HELP WANTED

HELP WANTED

Project Engineer

Senior Project Engineer

Port Authority is seeking a Project Engineer to be responsible for managing engineering and construction activities related to Authority structures, facilities, buildings, bridges, tunnels, subways, roadways, bus-ways, light rail transit system, and related infrastructure. Ensures projects adhere to the scope, budget, and schedule as well as interfaces with consultants, contractors, operating, community and external stakeholder representatives Essential Functions: Performs all project management functions necessary to implement the design, construction and closeout of funded capital projects in adherence to established scope, schedule, budget and quality metrics. Provides support for state of good repair programs related to structures, facilities, buildings, bridges, tunnels, subways, roadways, bus-ways 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. Provides necessary review/ comments to ensure project scope and Authority standards are met. Provides project and construction management oversight for: field inspections, review of field design changes, resolving technical problems and methods regarding codes, permits, and municipal construction requirements as applied to maintenance, facility modification, and repair or reconstruction projects. Assists in obtaining permits, as needed. Job requirements include: BS Degree, in Civil Engineering, Mechanical Engineering or related technical major from an accredited school. A two-year degree in a related technical field and directly related experience may substitute for education on a year-for-year basis. Minimum of three (3) years of experience in progressive responsibility for projects in design and/or construction work. Professional and effective communications skills. Valid PA driver’s license. Demonstrated ability in the use of Windows. Preferred attributes: Experience/education in construction, maintenance and/or construction management. Registered Engineer in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania or the ability to obtain such registration through reciprocity within one year of appointment.

Port Authority is seeking a Senior Project Engineer to be responsible for managing engineering and construction activities related to Authority structures, facilities, buildings, bridges, tunnels, subways, roadways, bus-ways, light rail transit system, and related infrastructure. Ensures projects adhere to the scope, budget, and schedule as well as interfaces with consultants, contractors, community and internal and external stakeholder representatives. Ensure all phases of the project are performed in accordance with Quality Control and Quality Assurance procedures and achieve the needs of Port Authority’s operation and maintenance functions. Essential Functions: Responsible to direct project activities necessary to implement the design, construction, and turnover of assigned capital projects within budget, scope and schedule in a quality manner. Directs project activities to ensure work is performed to acceptable levels in areas, such as: Ensuring Contract Documents meet intended needs of Port Authority and outside agency requirements and standards. Constructability and cost-effectiveness. Coordination of activities, including railroad, utility, real estate, environmental, community, municipal, governmental agencies, Port Authority operation and maintenance, training, and turnover. Minimizing impacts to Port Authority operations and maintenance functions and maintain the safety of the public and Port Authority employees. Timely completion of the work within budget and complying with contract requirements. Compliance with applicable codes. Site staging, mobilization, accessibility, and sequence of construction and safety. Job requirements include: BS Degree, Major in Civil Engineering or related engineering field from an accredited school. Minimum of seven (7) years of progressive experience in managing projects, including design and construction of job-related work. Professional and effective communication skills. Valid PA driver’s license. Demonstrated ability in the use of Windows. Preferred attributes: Registered Engineer in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania or the ability to obtain such registration through reciprocity within one year of appointment or Certification as a Project Management Professional (PMP) from nationally recognized registration entity.

We offer a comprehensive compensation and benefits package. Interested candidates should forward a cover letter (with salary requirements) and resume to:

We offer a comprehensive compensation and benefits package. Interested candidates should forward a cover letter (with salary requirements) and resume to:

Robyn Taylor - Employment Department 345 Sixth Avenue, 3rd Floor, Pittsburgh, PA 15222-2527 RTaylor@portauthority.org

Robyn Taylor - Employment Department 345 Sixth Avenue, 3rd Floor, Pittsburgh, PA 15222-2527 RTaylor@portauthority.org

EOE

EOE

ACROSS 1. Some medicinal plants 6. Noodles with the band 10. Hit one to the bleachers 14. Animals in your neighborhood 15. On vacation 16. Pueblo Revolt of 1680 tribe 17. “Thanks for getting my school supplies, but how do I write with these?” 19. Sultan’s country 20. “What are you trying to ___?” 21. No longer worrying (about) 23. Song that Dolly Parton wrote on the same day as I Will Always Love You 25. Arch 26. Bit of tea 27. Uruguayan pronoun 28. “I seriously doubt this will highlight anything” 31. “You think this will glue things together?” 33. Rude boy’s music 34. Setting for the final chess matches in The Queen’s Gambit 35. Bit of work 37. Baking meas. 41. Baking measurements: Abbr. 44. “Seriously?

You think this will hold anything?” 47. “How am I going to measure anything with this empty suit you installed?” 51. Wish one hadn’t 52. Obie-winning playwright Will 53. Only Connect channel, with “the” 54. Santander rival 56. Knock off balance 58. Get smart? 59. Legal proceedings 60. “And this will remove mistakes? I’m not old enough to even drink!” 64. Kings of ___ 65. First subheading 66. Sporting tats 67. Bay Area force letters 68. Some Sunday supplements, in short 69. Dark crime films

13. Feature of someone who always loses keys? 18. Wisconsin governor Tony 22. Saturation point, in a business cycle 23. “___, Joy of Man’s Desiring” 24. Chapultepec Zoo animals 25. Punch in, as a guitar solo or backing vocals 29. Threw back some sliders 30. Hair metal band named for a rodent 32. Yorick, in Hamlet, e.g. 36. Strengthener of locks 38. Christine of The Good Fight 39. Did a DJ set

40. Take an unwanted look 42. Indian ox 43. Dad’s second wife 45. 39.37 inches, in England 46. Get Door Dash, say 47. Parts of a piano 48. Humanitarian org. focused on kids 49. Recovery room, briefly 50. ___ display (Mac screen feature) 55. Gambling game 57. Senator Paul who was an ophthalmologist 58. Droids and the like: Abbr. 61. “-”: Abbr. 62. Suffix for rocket or musket 63. Fork settings?: Abbr. LAST WEEK’S ANSWERS

DOWN 1. Side in the Super Bowl 2. Mike Trout’s team, on scoreboards 3. Beats on the field 4. ___ nous 5. Broadway star Lea 6. Tease 7. Stun 8. Run things 9. Bettor’s guides 10. Type of deal for superstar athletes 11. Across 110th Street singer Bobby 12. Military helicopter

PITTSBURGH CITY PAPER AUGUST 25 - SEPTEMBER 1, 2021

23


VOTE

FIRST PLACE

BEST JUICE/ SMOOTHIE BAR

11199 Perry Hwy Wexford, PA 15090 724-933-6111 1025 Washington Pike Bridgeville, PA 15017 412-221-4148


Issuu converts static files into: digital portfolios, online yearbooks, online catalogs, digital photo albums and more. Sign up and create your flipbook.