Black Political Empowerment Project Chairman and CEO Tim Stevens, NAACP Pittsburgh Branch President Daylon A. Davis and other community leaders are holding the City of Pittsburgh's feet to the fire after a number of recent arrests of African Americans that they deemed excessive and possibly unlawful.
The first arrest came on Dec. 29, 2024, when a Black man, Devlon Pridgen, was arrested on the North Side by Pittsburgh Police. A bystander video shown on local television outlets captured multiple police officers trying to apprehend Pridgen, with a woman screaming off-camera that Pridgen
didn't have any weapons on him. Pridgen suffered cuts to his face and photos have since surfaced of Pridgen's face bloodied and bruised following the arrest.
The second arrest came on Dec. 31, 2024, when a Black woman, Morgan Daniels, was arrested by Pittsburgh Police by being "forcibly removed from her home," according to a joint statement by B-PEP, the NAACP Pittsburgh Branch and the Alliance for Police Accountability, Jan. 9. A video of the encounter, which has since been circulated on social media but not widely shown on local television, shows, in the opinion of B-PEP and the NAACP Pittsburgh Branch, "an officer" pushing and falling
by Amber Frantz
PublicSource
Velouise Bell, 69, was visiting her son in New York when she received a call that her house was on fire. Her husband, Darrell, was home alone at the time in the summer of 2023. To this day, Bell does not know exactly how the fire was started, but she remembers it as a clear sign that her husband of 48 years was starting to
experience memory loss. Around 20 percent of Allegheny County’s population is 65 and older, according to recent studies, placing among the highest concentrations of seniors of any large U.S. county. Of the adults 65 and over, 12 percent have an Alzheimer’s diagnosis, and even more seniors battle other forms of dementia. The county’s aging population brings a growing need for dementia care,
and that support often comes from within the home. Caring for a loved one with Alzheimer’s or dementia places heavy demands on the caregiver, which can significantly impact their mental health. Bell, now her husband’s primary caregiver, knew she needed additional support after a particularly difficult day when their dog was sick and also needed care, so she sought out a
group. While
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Liberty, among other places in Pittsburgh. In the photo at left, it’s POISE Foundation CEO Mark Lewis, getting the Legacy Award for POISE’s tireless work in the community, at the Allegheny County Bar Association’s 2025 Martin Luther King Jr.
(Washington, DC)—The Black Press is the trusted News and information source for millions of Americans, and it is bringing on news trailblazer, April Ryan. This is April Ryan’s 6th Presidency having covered five Presidents as a White House Correspondent and Bureau Chief.
“April Ryan has exemplified the best of outstanding journalism for decades at the White House for news companies across the nation and world. We are so proud to announce that April Ryan will now be the Washington Bureau Chief and Senior
White House Correspondent for Black Press USA (www.BlackPressUSA. com). As the National Newspaper Publishers Association (NNPA) celebrates 2025 the 198th Year of the Black Press of America, we acknowledge the transformative contemporary benefit to the amplification of the strategic importance of the Black Press that will be rendered by the courage and professional effectiveness of April Ryan. April is the longest serving, Black tenured White House Correspondent in the history of the United States,” emphasized Dr. Benjamin F,
Chavis Jr., President and CEO of the NNPA.
“I am going home to make history as the Washington Bureau Chief and Senior White House Correspondent for Black Press USA. This is the home of History Makers who were the first Black White House Correspondents, Harry McAlpin, Ethel Payne, and Alice Dunnigan,” said Ryan. “January 13, 2025, marked my 28th year as a White House Correspondent and I am thrilled to continue my journey at honoring the esteemed legacy of these iconic Black journalists.”
by
Stacy M. Brown NNPA Newswire Senior National Correspondent
In one of his final acts in office, President Joe Biden posthumously pardoned Marcus Mosiah Garvey Jr., a seminal figure in the civil rights movement, whose advocacy for Black nationalism and self-reliance left an indelible mark on leaders like Malcolm X and movements across the Black diaspora. Born on August 17, 1887, in Saint Ann’s Bay,
Jamaica, Garvey was the son of a stonemason and a domestic servant. His journey to becoming a leader began after traveling to Latin America and studying in London, where he was influenced by Pan-African nationalism.
Garvey founded the Universal Negro Improvement Association (UNIA) in 1914, advocating for Black nationalism through African history and cultural celebration. His ambitious efforts included the establishment of the Black Star Line, a Black-owned passenger line designed to facilitate the “back to Africa” movement, and various economic enterprises like restaurants and shopping centers to foster Black economic independence. Despite facing relentless criticism and legal challenges, including a controversial mail fraud conviction in 1923 that many believe was politically motivated, Garvey’s vision and tenacity spurred a global movement.
Biden’s broad act of clemency also included others like Don Scott, the current Speaker of the Virginia House of Delegates, who transformed a past drug conviction into a catalyst for advocacy in criminal justice reform. Ravi Ragbir, an immigrant rights activist; Kemba Smith Pradia, a former drug offense convict turned prison reform advocate; and Darryl Chambers, a Delawarean who now studies and writes about gun violence prevention, were also granted clemency.
Garvey’s legacy, though marred by controversies,
This Week In Black History A Courier Staple
• JANUARY 22
1822—“From slavery to wealth” is the phrase that best describes the story of Barney L. Ford, who was born into slavery on this day in 1822 in Stafford Court, Va.—the product of a Black woman and a plantation owner. He was raised on a plantation in South Carolina but with the aid of the “Underground Railroad” he escaped and headed west through Chicago (where he met his wife) to the gold fields of California where he was denied the right to stake a claim because he was Black. After being cheated by a shady lawyer, he headed to the Denver, Colo., area and in time built a barbershop, a restaurant and then a fine hotel. He also built a hotel in the Central American nation of Nicaragua. Despite obstacles and setbacks such as racists bombing his hotel, Ford kept bouncing back and over time became one of the wealthiest and most influential men in Denver. After 1860, he used his influence to fight for Black rights in Colorado.
1931—Sam Cooke is born in Clarksdale, Miss. He is considered by many as “The Father of Soul Music.” The son of a minister, Cooke began his career with a gospel group known as the Singing Children. He then became a member of the famous Soul Stirrers. When he switched to secular music, he combined gospel and the blues to produce soul. Among his best known hits were “You Send Me,” “Everybody Loves the Cha Cha Cha,” and “Twisting the Night Away.” He was shot and killed as a result of a misunderstanding involving a woman at a Los Angeles motel in 1964.
1948—Two-time heavyweight boxing champion George Foreman is born on this day in Marshall, Texas.
2006—Kobe Bryant of the Los Angeles Lakers scores 81 points in a 122 to 104 victory over the Toronto Raptors. The score was the second highest by a single player in the history of the National Basketball Association.
• JANUARY 23
1821—Minister Lott Cary leaves the United States with a group of freed slaves to establish a colony on the West African coast. In so doing, the group lays the foundation for the establishment of the nation of Liberia. Cary became acting governor of the settlement in August 1828, but died accidentally in November 1828. Nevertheless the colony survived even though it had to fight off attacks from native Africans and slave traders. Liberia became an independent republic in 1847. In 2006, it elected its first female president.
er Black history was sparked by a fifth grade teacher who told him “Black people have no history, no heroes, no great moments.”
1885—Martin R. Delaney (1812-1885) dies on this day in Xenia, Ohio. Delaney was perhaps the leading Black nationalist of the 1800s. After fighting in the Civil War to end slavery and becoming the first Black field officer in the U.S. Army, Delaney became disillusioned with America. He began to advocate Black separatism and/or a return to Africa. He was a journalist and a physician who wrote several books including one detailing how ancient Egypt and Ethiopia were the first great civilizations long before ancient Greece. Although relatively unknown today, Delaney was also brilliant. Abraham Lincoln once told his Edwin Stanton, secretary of war, about Delaney, saying, “Do not fail to meet this most extraordinary and intelligent Black man.”
1993—The first Black U.S. Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall died on this day. Unlike current justice Clarence Thomas, Marshall was a true progressive and fighter for Black rights, having spent years with the NAACP Legal Defense Fund waging ongoing battles with the legal establishment to protect and expand rights and opportunities for African Americans.
• JANUARY 26
1893—“Queen Bess,” Bessie Coleman, the nation’s first Black female aviator, was born in the small town of Atlanta, Texas. Coleman was also the first African American (male or female) to earn an international pilot’s license. Because of the racism and sexism in America, she had to travel to France to earn the license. She traveled the U.S. encouraging other Blacks to become pilots. Queen Bess died in plane accident in 1926.
1944—Political activist Angela Davis is born in Birmingham, Ala. She was a brilliant scholar and philosopher who made the FBI’s Ten Most Wanted list because of her suspected involvement in the violent Aug. 7, 1970 courthouse attempt to free jailed Black revolutionary inmate George Jackson. She was also associated with the Black Panther Party. However, shortly after the 1968 assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., she joined the Communist Party. She later became a tenured professor at the University of California Santa Cruz although then governor and later U.S. President Ronald Reagan had vowed to block her from teaching.
• JANUARY 27
including his interactions with White supremacists and criticism from Black leaders like W.E.B. Du Bois, has continued to inspire countless individuals within the Nation of Islam, the Black Power movement, and the Rastafari movement. Many, including most Congressional Black Caucus members, said Garvey’s posthumous pardon serves not only as a correction of historical injustices but also as a powerful affirmation of his enduring influence on Black empowerment and self-determination.
The White House proclaimed that Biden’s term has been distinguished by a robust commitment to civil rights. Officials said the commitment is evident in significant legislative achievements and proactive executive actions to foster racial equity. His administration pursued an ambitious equity agenda through legislation like the American Rescue Plan and executive orders to dismantle systemic barriers. Administration officials noted that, as Biden prepares to leave office, his record on equity and justice, marked by these recent pardons, is further proof of his unwavering dedication to building a more inclusive America. They said Garvey’s pardon not only rectifies a historical wrong but also powerfully reaffirms his enduring legacy—a legacy that continues to inspire a movement for dignity and self-determination among Black communities worldwide.
1891—Pioneering Black surgeon, Dr. Daniel Hale Williams, helped found Provident Hospital in Chicago, Ill. The hospital became one of the main teaching and training facilities for Black doctors and nurses who had frequently been denied entrance to White-owned medical facilities. It was also at Provident in 1893 that Williams achieved international fame by becoming the first American surgeon to perform open heart surgery.
1964—The 24th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution is ratified. It abolished the poll tax, which had been used in many Southern states to prevent Blacks from voting. Interestingly, the Republican-controlled legislature in Georgia in 2006 passed a voter identification law that many Blacks complained was no more than a poll tax in disguise.
1976—Paul Robeson, perhaps the greatest combination of actor, singer, athlete and political activist ever produced by Black America, died on this day in Philadelphia, Pa. During his life Robeson not only achieved a brilliant career on stage and in early movies but was also an ardent fighter for Black rights and socialist causes. As a result he was the target of a massive government campaign of disruption and character assassination.
1977—The highly acclaimed television mini-series “Roots” begins airing on ABC. “Roots” received 37 Emmy Award nominations and won nine. It received unprecedented Nielsen ratings for the finale, which still holds a record as the third-highest-rated U.S. television program. The series introduced LeVar Burton in the role of Kunta Kinte and was based on a novel by Alex Haley who also wrote the “Autobiography of Malcolm X.”
• JANUARY 24
1874—Arthur Schomburg is born Arturo Alfonso Schomburg in Puerto Rico. After moving to New York City in April 1891, he became known over time as the “Sherlock Holmes” of Black history because of his relentless digging for Black historical truths and accomplishments. Reportedly, his drive to discov-
1953—One of Black America’s most gifted novelists, Ralph Ellison, wins the prestigious National Book Award with his powerful novel “The Invisible Man.” The novel helped him achieve international fame. The main character constantly escapes one disaster after another. The disasters are brought on by a combination virulent racism and the character’s own naiveté. Ellison was born in Oklahoma City, Okla.
1961—Opera diva Leontyne Price makes her debut at the Metropolitan Opera House in New York City. 1972—Mahalia Jackson, generally considered the greatest gospel singer that ever lived, dies of heart failure on this day near Chicago, Ill. She was born in New Orleans, La. She settled in Chicago where she briefly studied beauty culture under the nation’s first Black millionaire, Madame C.J. Walker. Among her greatest and most frequently requested songs were “Did It Rain,” “Joshua Fought the Battle of Jericho, “ “He’s Got the Whole World in His Hands,” and “When the Saints Go Marching In.”
•
JANUARY
28
1938—Crystal Byrd Fauset becomes the first Black woman elected to a state legislature when she wins a seat in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives.
1944—Matthew Henson receives a medal from the U.S. Congress for being co-discoverer of the North Pole along with Robert Peary. The medal, however, came 35 years after the historic feat because Peary, a White man and Henson’s boss, received all the credit for decades. However, records show that Henson, leading a party of four Inuits (Eskimos) actually reached the North Pole 45 minutes before Peary. 1989—After 62 years and numerous protests, the Colgate-Palmolive Company ends the sale of “Darkie Toothpaste.” The toothpaste, which was only sold in Asia, was renamed “Darlie” and the Sambo-style character on the tube was dropped.
No respect for young, Black athletes Black
Last week my house was on fire. My wife told the kids, “be quiet, you’ll wake up daddy.” (Rodney Dangerfield)
There was a recent article posted online titled: "Fans Lose Respect for CJ Stroud as Calls Mount Against Texans QB’s Dig Against Chiefs Over Controversial Refereeing."
The article was hopelessly flawed from the beginning stating that: “The Texans were never good enough. Not to stop history in the making. They lost 7 games in the regular season. However, since they won the wild card game against the Chargers, some thought they might be able to stand up to the Chiefs. But CJ Stroud failed to produce the same magic at the Arrowhead and lost 23-14, Jan. 18. But his reaction to the game officials was unexpected. During the post-game conference, the Texans QB said, “I’m not gonna go back and forth on what I thought was a call when it wasn’t a call. It’s one of those things you kind of notice before you walk in that arena. I can’t argue with the ref, and at the same time, play football.”
The article continued: "No one could have expected that the young QB would place the blame on referees instead of owning up to his performance.” Gimme a break. Why should the players or the fan base of the NFL be forced to grant impunity
to the in-game officials who continually commit error after error during the games with little or superficial responses from the NFL? Some said that the Texans were never good enough to beat the Chiefs, anyway. Well, if they weren’t, why were they good enough to make the playoffs and why did the Chiefs need help from the officials to win the game?
How was CJ Stroud supposed to respond? Did they expect him to be in a great mood, gushing with humility and quoting
the company line saying:
“I am sad dat we lost de game boss, but I am just giddy cause yaw’ll gave us de chance to play in dis here game.” NFL teams that have athletes of color with superior skill sets that reflect urban and inner-city images will never be good enough to be treated equally on and off the field. They always have been and for the immediate future will continue to be generationally mistreated, be it economically or socially. With the dawning of a new fire-breathing dragon of misinformation,
waiting to scorch and devour any credible and honest source of information, it is not surprising that the images of many young Black athletes are purposely and perpetually destroyed because these young "studs" are not afraid to challenge blatant wrongs or even place "filet of Jim Crow" as one of the main entrées on the menus of bias.
As a person of color, have you ever walked into a restaurant or retailer and immediately discerned that you were not welcome or were being watched and scrutinized? Well, I have and that mirrors the experience that CJ Stroud had when he said: “I’m not gonna go back and forth on what I thought was a call when it wasn’t a call. It’s one of those things you kind of notice before you walk in that arena.” CJ Stroud knew there was a fire in the immediate vicinity simply because he smelled smoke. He didn’t have to receive first-degree burns to be convinced that flames of racial disparity were lurking just around the corner. Why haven’t the fans lost respect for the men who continue to incompetently “police” the games? Pardon me, but I wouldn’t want to be caught driving through their neighborhoods after 11 pm.
Over the years, I have personally overheard and purposely eavesdropped on conversations originating from "journalists"
at the center of the Eurocentric paradigm and they have expressed calloused and biased opinions about CJ Stroud’s father and others like him. In 2016, Coleridge Bernard Stroud III, was sentenced to a 38-years-to-life sentence after being convicted of kidnapping, carjacking and robbery. So based on those events, CJ Stroud and others like him should just be grateful just to be playing in the NFL.
An article expressing issues with the officiating of the Chiefs vs. Texans debacle was posted by Andrew McCarty on SI.com: “Calls Mount Against Roger Goodell Amid Controversial Chiefs-Texans Game."
An excerpt from the article said that: “The Tex-
ans were called for several roughing the passer penalties on Mahomes, who openly flopped at one point during the second half. While he didn't get the call on the flop, he received quite a few friendly whistles during the contest. Fans were so outraged during the game that they called on NFL commissioner Roger Goodell to do something about it.” If many fans have not recognized or criticized the officiating shortcomings of NFL game officials, CJ Stroud should not give a hoot about them losing respect for him because, to be real, they never had any respect for CJ Stroud or many other Black athletes in the first place. Yet, they build shrines for Be-
lichick, Brady and Romanowski; blatant cheaters and a player who I suspect may be a covert disciple of the Confederacy. While with the Broncos, Bill Romanowski spit in the face of 49ers wide receiver JJ Stokes during the game. Oh, please excuse me because I just plum forgot. We have just celebrated the birthday of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr and we are waiting for Black History Month to arrive. However, sundown is fast approaching and we are horrified watching the vampires of injustice exit the coffins of the past, seeking fresh victims. In the distance, I clearly hear the fading melody of we shall overcome… we shall overcome…..someday.
HOUSTON TEXANS QUARTERBACK C.J. STROUD
The New Pittsburgh Courier is seeking nominations for the FAB 4O Under 40 Awards 2025
Black families shoulder heavy dementia care burden
African Americans nearly twice as likely to suffer from Alzheimer's as Whites
taking this step, particularly within the Black community.
“A lot of families don’t want to admit, they are in denial that there is a problem,” said Bell.
the public about dementia is crucial, said Doreen Putnam, a certified dementia practitioner who has helped educate and train more than 11,700 people in dementia caregiving.
Source. “Pennsylvanians with ADRD have increased and complex care needs, and their caregivers—now numbering 465,000 in Pennsylvania—need support.”
The FAB 4O Under 40 Award celebrates local African American women and men who motivate and inspire others through their vision and leadership, exceptional achievements and participation in community service. The selected honorees will join an exclusive society of professional women and men who have previously received this distinction.
1. The nominee must be a man or woman (Under 4O years of age) who resides in the Greater Pittsburgh area.
2. The nominee must be active in his or her career or profession. Career or profession is defined as paid employment in his or her field. Nominees must agree to have their photograph and biographical information published in the New Pittsburgh Courier
All nominees selected as a FAB 4O Under 40 will be featured in a 2025 edition of the New Pittsburgh Courier
3. Evaluations will be based on the quality of a nominee’s achievements rather than the quantity of information submitted.
4. Selections will be made by the New Pittsburgh Courier FAB 4O Under 4O Selection Committee based on the following criteria:
• Local African American executive or business owner
• Proven success in career/profession
• Positive role model
• Demonstrative community service
Nomination deadline is Monday, February 10, 2025, by 4 p.m.
To submit nominations, visit: www.newpittsburghcourier.com/fab40nominations
Bell’s husband, who is being evaluated for Alzheimer’s, is not the first person she has known with signs of cognitive decline— her father-in-law also had Alzheimer’s. This prior experience prepared Bell to seek out help when it came to her husband. But, she added, many resources are not as “available to African American families, and maybe it’s because we don’t know about it.”
Research has shown that women, individuals from lower socioeconomic backgrounds and racial and ethnic minorities tend to carry greater burdens as caregivers, in part because of limited financial resources and systemic medical discrimination.
According to the Alzheimer’s Association, older Black Americans are twice as likely as older White Americans to have Alzheimer’s or other forms of dementia. While the reasons are not yet clear, barriers to health care and higher rates of cardiovascular disease among Black Americans are considered likely contributors.
“The lack of actually talking about [the diagnosis] outside of their family unit because they [Black Americans] don’t want to burden anyone else … is something we see nationwide,” said Sara Murphy, vice president of programs and services for the Alzheimer’s Association Greater Pennsylvania Chapter. Within the Black community, there is a need to “address it, talk about it and destigmatize it,” Murphy continued.
‘I put myself aside’ In 2020, Jacqueline Ruple retired from a career as a nurse practitioner to take care of her father who had Alzheimer’s. Because of her medical expertise, Ruple was able to get her father the care he needed, such as a chair lift for his home, and even enrolled him in a research program through UPMC.
“Because of that knowledge, a lot of the stumbling blocks that most people run into, I was blessed not to run into,” Ruple said. “That’s why I try to take that knowledge out into the community.”
Ruple serves on the Allegheny County Building Our Largest Dementia Infrastructure Coalition and is an advocate for the Alzheimer’s Association.
But her education and experience as a nurse did not shield her from the additional stress and burden that comes with caring for a loved one experiencing memory loss.
“I was so focused on my mom and my father that I did not [seek additional support],” Ruple said. “I put myself aside.”
According to the 2024 annual report from the Alzheimer’s Association, finding respite care is the top stressor for Black caregivers (39 percent), yet only about half of the caregivers surveyed reported talking to a health care professional about their struggles or asking for additional help.
“A lot of the organizations, the agencies that are available to assist the community need to have one central communication center so that information can be branched off instead of doing little pockets of care,” Ruple said. “I think that’s what causes people not to [reach out], especially in the African American community.”
For caregivers who are unfamiliar with dementia symptoms and stages, it can be difficult to know where to find help and treatment for their loved ones. That’s why educating
Not yet old, not quite poor
Nearly half of older adults in Allegheny County report having health care coverage through Medicare, according to a 2022 study. The federal insurance program, though, does not cover the cost of living in a memory care facility or long-term personal care, which can include assistance with the activities of daily living, like eating and bathing.
Bell’s husband attends Anathan, an adult day memory care service, once a week, but they have to pay out-of-pocket because this type of care is not covered by their Medicare and UnitedHealthcare plan.
Anathan’s program is ideal for Bell, who sometimes needs a break from caregiving but doesn’t like to leave her husband overnight. Yet a day rate increase from $75 to $90 at Anathan caused concern for Bell, who does not receive outside financial assistance.
“We’re not wealthy people,” Bell said.
For people who are too young to qualify for Medicare—which is restricted to patients 65 and older—and above the income limit for Medicaid, finding outside care for their loved one can be a challenge.
“The majority of people are caught in the middle,” said Ruple. “They don’t make enough [or] they make too much. Too much can be just a couple hundred dollars and the system is so strict that they really penalize them for making this couple of dollars too much.”
Allegheny County’s 2025 budget, approved in early December, restores almost all of the requested funding for Allegheny County Department of Human Services [ACDHS]—a crucial asset for caregivers who are in need of additional support. The budget was approved by the minimum 10 out of 15 council members required for passage, raising property taxes and securing funding for services that would have been jeopardized without the revenue hike.
County funding will target essential services for older adults and caregivers and will help the ACDHS Area Agency on Aging [AAA] to provide programs such as in-home care and meal delivery, said Shannah Gilliam, the agency’s director. Qualifying caregivers can receive reimbursement for caregiving expenses—such as supplies, services and assistive devices—through the ACDHS-AAA Caregiver Support Program.
“Although the majority of funding for the Area Agency on Aging comes through state funds through the Pennsylvania Department of Aging, there’s a significant shortfall, a gap, between what we receive … and the need that we are seeing in our county,” said Gilliam.
In October, Gov. Josh Shapiro established an Alzheimer’s, Dementia and Related Disorders [ADRD] Division at the state level to support both caregivers and older adults living with dementia. The accompanying bill also creates an ADRD Advisory Committee to allow statewide stakeholders to advocate for policy and harness additional resources to better address the needs of those living with dementia and the people that support them.
“We know that these groups and their caregivers often face social, cultural and financial barriers to accessing the services and supports they need,” said Karen Gray, Pennsylvania Department of Aging spokesperson, in a statement to Public-
The governor’s new legislation has garnered support from caregivers, advocates and researchers.
“Right now we expect caregivers to kind of just tough it out on their own,” said Steven Albert, professor and chair of community health and social justice at the University of Pittsburgh. “If you’re not blessed with good family support or resources, it’s really hard. This is a good opportunity for the government to use its infrastructure and leverage to help the most vulnerable caregivers.”
Gilliam said she is looking forward to seeing how this new legislation is “operationalized across the state and in the counties.”
“It’s wonderful to have a champion at the highest level of the state who is actually putting attention on these areas and these issues through the Aging Our Way, PA plan,” Gilliam added.
Creating communities of support
Enhanced support for caregivers can come from creating a dementia-friendly community where caregivers can share their experiences, find additional resources and receive emotional support. Nationwide, nearly half of adults age 65 and older attend a religious service at least once a week, making faith-based organizations a frequent first port of call for caregivers seeking help.
Yet many faith communities are not equipped to support their members with dementia and their caregivers.
“I think many faith communities wrestle with accommodating people who are cognitively impaired,” said Rev. John Welch, CEO and chair of Flourishing Communities and senior pastor of the Sixth Mount Zion Missionary Baptist Church in Larimer. Organizations, including the Alter program, work with faith communities to create a supportive and accommodating environment at no cost for Black families who are affected by dementia, said Welch.
Black caregivers often fail to seek help because they fail to first identify themselves as caregivers, according to Stefanie Small, director of clinical services for Jewish Family and Community Services and the leader of the caregiver support group that Bell attends.
“There’s a number of reasons why we don’t reach out,” Welch said. “One, because of distrust. Another reason is we’re kind of called to keep things in the family.”
Churches can act as a “safe place” for caregivers to ask for help and can even foster caregiver support groups, Ruple said. By encouraging caregivers from diverse backgrounds to share their experiences, a greater sense of trust can take root within the community, Murphy said. “It’s not just churches, it’s wherever people are going for support, making sure that they are armed with the information and support.”
Despite reaching out to her minister for emotional support, Bell still feels her outreach comes with limits. The challenges involved in finding the right doctors for her husband and support for herself has left her feeling “extremely frustrated” while her husband’s condition continues to worsen.
“What I would love to see is … a step by step process,” Bell said. “Maybe I went about it the wrong way, but I just didn’t know what to do at the time. Nothing really pans out the way I think it should.”
BLACK FAMILIES FROM A1
B-PEP, NAACP, APA demand investigation, transparency in recent arrests
on Daniels, "forcing her to fall down her front steps," before being "violently handcuffed."
B-PEP, the NAACP Pittsburgh Branch and the Alliance for Police Accountability then said that a "female police officer appears to be seen forcibly dragging another member of the household down the steps and pulling them over the cement edge of the wall of the steps. She then proceeded to punch that household member at least once while she was in handcuffs, before another male officer was seen dragging that same family member several feet across the concrete."
The Courier has learned that the Dec. 31, 2024, incident involving Daniels and other women occurred in Pittsburgh’s Carrick neighborhood.
In the Jan. 3 joint statement by B-PEP and the NAACP Pittsburgh Branch concerning Pridgen's arrest, the community organizations said the available video of the encounter seems to be "significantly more excessive and aggressive than necessary, and possibly violating significant police procedures." The groups requested to know what circumstances led to the police arresting Pridgen in the first place; why was such a level of force used, especially when there were multiple officers at the scene; and since Pridgen was unarmed according to a woman off-camera, why was the "physical interaction on the part of
the police appear to us to be unnecessary, inappropriate, and abusive."
Stevens and Davis, who lead B-PEP and the NAACP Pittsburgh Branch respectively, want the investigation to be "thorough, transparent and fair...in recent years, a lot of work has gone into attempting to improve community-police relations on the part of community organizations including ours, it only takes a few incidents to disrupt the progress that has been made."
As for the Morgan Daniels arrest, which was wit-
nessed by multiple people, Stevens, Davis and Brandi Fisher (leader of Alliance for Police Accountability) said that "we are concerned that such aggressive physical actions by Pittsburgh Police were utilized, potentially violating the City of Pittsburgh’s use of force policies and procedures, and undoubtedly harming the ever changing and sensitive nature of community and police relationship." They requested a meeting with Pittsburgh Mayor Ed Gainey, Public Safety Director Lee Schmidt, and Acting Police Chief
Christopher Ragland. Stevens told the Courier on Jan. 21 that the city responded, and a meeting is scheduled with Stevens, Daylon, Fisher, Public Safety Director Schmidt and Acting Police Chief Ragland in the next seven days. A meeting with Mayor Gainey is expected to take place in February. Cara Cruz, public information officer for Pittsburgh Public Safety, told the Courier on Jan. 21 that “Pittsburgh Police leadership” is reviewing the Dec. 29, 2024, incident involving Pridgen. “Any accusation of improper
conduct is taken seriously, and will be thoroughly investigated by both the department and by the City’s Office of Municipal Investigations which is responsible for investigating citizen complaints of misconduct alleged against employees of the City of Pittsburgh.”
Cruz said Pittsburgh Police is “also aware, and leadership has reviewed, the incident that police were called to on December 31 (2024)” on Edgar Street. Cruz said three people, including Daniels, were arrested and charged with aggravated
assault, disorderly conduct, resisting arrest and public drunkenness. "Finally," the community groups said in its Jan. 9 statement, "as we embark on a new year, we are once again requesting that the Bureau immediately review all police policies and procedures, including training and documentation involving the use of force, so as to avoid more scenarios like that which transpired on the last day of 2024."
CardFest is a celebration of library cards and library resources designed especially for PPS students!
This card unlocks unlimited access to all of the Fine Free resources that the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh has to offer!
• Books, magazines, movies and videogames
• eResources like digital eBooks, eAudiobooks and eMagazines
• On demand tutoring, test prep, and homework help
• Vetted sources for reports, projects and assignments
Join the celebration! Because when students get excited about libraries and everything they can find there... they enter a world of unlimited learning.
ADDITIONAL PHOTOS OF DEVLON PRIDGEN, ARRESTED BY PITTSBURGH POLICE ON DEC. 29, 2024, ON THE NORTH SIDE.
Allegheny County Bar Association's 2025 Martin Luther King Jr. Prayer Breakfast and Program
THE POISE FOUNDATION’S MARK LEWIS, JUDGE JOSEPH K. WILLIAMS III
PA. LT. GOV. AUSTIN DAVIS, CONGRESSWOMAN SUMMER LEE, JUDGE JOSEPH K. WILLIAMS III, ALLEGHENY COUNTY EXECUTIVE SARA INNAMORATO, AND PITTSBURGH MAYOR ED GAINEY.
JUDGE WILLIAMS WAS HONORED BY THE ALLEGHENY COUNTY BAR ASSOCIATION WITH THE DRUM MAJOR FOR JUSTICE AWARD, JAN. 20, AT MT. ARARAT BAPTIST CHURCH. (PHOTOS BY J.L. MARTELLO)
EMCEE OF THE EVENT, KELLIE WARE
REGINA WILSON
Annual 'Let Freedom Sing' concert held on MLK Day
THE MLK FESTIVAL SINGERS DIRECTED BY DR. HERBERT VRP JONES. THE ANNUAL “LET FREEDOM SING” EVENT WAS HELD, JAN. 20, AT THE KELLY STRAYHORN THEATER. (PHOTOS BY J.L. MARTELLO)
JOSEPH HALL, CO-EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE KELLY STRAYHORN THEATER.
EMCEE, MIKEY HOOD OF KDKA-TV.
SOLOIST ANQWENIQUE KINSEL
Kelly Strayhorn Theater celebrates Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
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The Kelly Strayhorn Theater honored the lasting legacy of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. with its annual day of reflection, unity, and creative expression, Jan. 20. The event featured performances by Hill Dance Academy Theatre faculty, Guardians of Sounds’ Hip Hop Orchestra, and students from Los Sabrosos Dance Company. And you couldn’t have missed KST’s newest commissioned performance, Bearing Life: A Dance Play on Black Women’s Reproductive Health, choreographed by Rickia Davenport, featuring Alumni
Theater Company’s Professional Ensemble members. This event was part of Citizens Series: KST Presents Arts and Community Programs, sponsored by Citizens.
Walker’s
“In those days was Hezekiah sick unto death, and Isaiah the prophet the son of Amoz came unto him, and said unto him, thus saith the Lord, set thine house in order: for thou shalt die, and not live. Then came the WORD OF THE LORD to Isaiah saying, Go, and say to Hezekiah, Thus saith the Lord, the God of David thy father, I HAVE HEARD YOUR PRAYER, I HAVE SEEN YOUR TEARS: behold I will ADD unto your days 15 years.”
- Isaiah 38:1, 4-5
REV. WALKER SAYS: Pray and keep on Praying, God can turn things around for our GOOD.
BEARING LIFE: A DANCE PLAY ON BLACK WOMEN’S REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH, CHOREOGRAPHED BY RICKIA DAVENPORT, WAS JUST ONE OF THE MANY ARTISTIC PERFORMANCES AT THE KELLY STRAYHORN THEATER, MONDAY AFTERNOON, JAN. 20. (PHOTOS BY J.L. MARTELLO)
EMCEE ALYSSA P. LYON, BOARD CHAIR AND DIRECTOR, THE BLACK ENVIRONMENTAL COLLECTIVE AT URBANKIND INSTITUTE.
ALYSSA P. LYON, BOARD CHAIR DIRECTOR, THE BLACK ENVIRONMENTAL COLLECTIVE AT URBANKIND INSTITUTE AND JOSEPH HALL, CO-EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, KELLY STRAYHORN THEATER.
An appreciation for Black comic book artists
Phillip Thompson lends his collection for all to see
by Rob Taylor Jr. Courier Staff Writer
Phillip Thompson, known to most Pittsburghers as DJ Big Phill, wrapped up his "Collections in Black: A Celebration of Black Comic Book Culture," with a closing ceremony on Thursday, Jan. 16. The snow didn't stop hundreds from coming out to the August Wilson African American Cultural Center to celebrate the Black heroes that comprised Black comic books from the past, which are now classic materials, along with celebrating Black comic creators of the here and now.
In an interview with AWAACC staff, Thompson said his father and stepfather were both influential in stimulating his lifelong love of comics beginning at age 8. “My dad got me into
‘Black Panther’ because he had a stack of ‘Black Panther’ books, Western comics and ‘Spider-Man’ books. When we were kids, we would sneak around looking at his comic books and risk getting a whooping, but it was that important for us to go look at them while he was at work.
My stepfather from New Jersey had three comics: a ‘Spider-Man,’ ‘Thor’ and a ‘Captain America’ book. He said, ‘I have some more for you,’ and then he came up with a box of Silver Age comic books… both he and my father were collectors in their own right.”
Thompson told the Courier's Julian Hill at the Jan. 16 closing event that the collection for all of Pittsburgh to see was a "labor of love. All the original Black comic book art" was on display, he said. "All the original
pages that make up the comics, whether it's the cover, or the inside."
Thompson mentioned Gene Colan, who co-created the first African American superhero in mainstream comics, the "Falcon." "Falcon" was created in 1969.
Thompson mentioned Jackie Ormes, credited as the first Black woman cartoonist, and she's from Pittsburgh, too. Her creations were regular features in the Pittsburgh Courier, like "Torchy Brown in Dixie to Harlem," which first appeared in the Courier in 1937." Then there was "Patty-Jo 'n' Ginger," a single-panel cartoon which ran for years in the Courier.
Thompson, who attended Penn Hills High School and Rust College, also talked about the valued contributions of Brian Stelfreeze and Larry Stroman. They are living Black comic book artists who are highly-regarded, as Stelfreeze was the artist for Marvel Comics' revival of "Black Panther" in 2016 ("Black Panther" was the first mainstream comics' Black superhero, from Marvel, in 1966).
Earlier, Stelfreeze painted more than 50 cover illustrations for DC Comics' "Shadow of the Bat."
As for Stroman, his credits include illustrating Marvel comic books like "The Uncanny X-Men," "X-Factor" and "Punisher."
You can't mention
Black comic book artistry without Matt Baker. He was born in 1921 in North Carolina, but soon moved to Pittsburgh, where he was raised. After he graduated from Westinghouse High School, Baker left Pittsburgh in 1940 for Washington, D.C., and created "Phantom Lady" in 1941. Baker is recognized as one of the first African American comics book artists to achieve
national acclaim. Baker died in 1959 at age 37.
Thompson's collection was shown at the August Wilson African American Cultural Center from July 26, 2024, to Jan. 12, 2025.
“I needed people to understand our cultural history in this art form," Thompson told WESA-FM (90.5), "and I think it’s been overlooked for too long."
SOME PITTSBURGH COURIER READERS WILL REMEMBER THE COMIC SECTION THAT RAN IN THE COURIER DECADES AGO.
PHILLIP THOMPSON WITH HIS MOTHER, ARNITA STAGGER. (PHOTOS BY JULIAN HILL)
PARADISE GRAY, PHILLIP THOMPSON
MATT BAKER
JACKIE ORMES
Be sure to purchase your copy, too! Giant Eagle Shadyside, East Hills, Penn Hills, Monroeville, North Side, South Side, Braddock Hills, McKeesport, Kennywood, Edgewood, Homestead, Greenfield & Squirrel Hill!
PROPERTY IS POWER!
A new year,
A new beginning
Happy New Year, 2025! A fresh year means fresh opportunities and new beginnings. As we step into this new chapter, it’s time to embrace the mindset of going for it. Whether you’re taking small steps or giant leaps, the key is to keep moving forward. Let’s make 2025 the year of Black empowerment through homeownership because property truly is power. A Mindset Shift for 2025
My mindset for this new year is simple: Go. Go big, go
small, just go. The time for hesitation is over. Whether it’s fear, doubt, or external obstacles like family or friends, don’t let anything stand in your way. Now is the time to channel our resilience, creativity, and entrepreneurial spirit into building generational wealth. Homeownership isn’t just a financial milestone; it’s a statement of independence, strength, and community empowerment.
The Time is Now
There has never been a better time for Black people to own homes or invest in property. The opportunities available today from tailored mortgage products make it possible for everyone to take part in the real estate market. These programs are specifically designed to support the entrepreneurial community, providing innovative solutions that meet a variety of needs. For example, there are mortgage products that don’t require traditional documentation like tax returns, pay stubs, or W-2s. This flexibility opens doors for entrepreneurs, freelancers, and other non-traditional earners to achieve their homeownership dreams. The excuses are gone. The tools are here. It’s time to make the leap.
Set Goals and Get Ready
If you’re serious about making 2025 your year, it starts with setting clear goals. Stop taking shortcuts and start taking ownership literally and figuratively. Get your credit in shape. Build your financial foundation. These steps are the keys to unlocking opportunities and creating a future where you and your family can thrive.
Think big. Then think even bigger. Your thoughts, actions, and commitments need to match the magnitude of your dreams. Dedicate yourself fully to your goals, and don’t let anything derail your progress. This is your time to shine, so stop faking it and start making it happen.
Did you set financial goals for 2025? Here’s
by JPMorganChase
At the end of 2024, you might have mapped out financial goals for the new year—to save more, spend smarter, or stick to a budget. Whether you made New Year’s resolutions, pasted images on a vision board or crunched numbers on a balance sheet, you likely started the year with high hopes and big plans.
As we step into 2025, now is the perfect time to solidify your plans and take steps to help you achieve those goals. Starting strong can set the tone for the entire year.
JPMorganChase offers six dos and don’ts about financial planning and management that can help you achieve a fresh start in 2025 and get closer to reaching your goals.
1. DO create a budget
One common financial mistake is not having a budget at all. Remaining in the dark about your spending can limit your
ability to save for important goals like a car, a home or your retirement. If you don’t know what you’re spending, there’s a
ure. Taking a month to assess and identify your spending patterns may help to establish a baseline as you’re setting your
Starting the new year with a clear plan can set you up for success, and budgeting is a powerful tool to help you achieve your financial goals.
good chance you may be spending too much.
2. DON’T leave your budget up to chance Using guesswork when trying to allocate your monthly budget can lead to overestimating or underestimating how much to allot toward each budgeting category. This may set you up for fail-
When we talk about retirement, we usually focus on money—savings, investments, pensions and Social Security. But let’s keep it a buck. All the money in the world won’t mean a thing if your health is in shambles. “Health is wealth” isn’t just a catchy phrase; it’s the truth. Poor health doesn’t just drain your finances—it steals your ability to enjoy life. Retirement should be about living, not just surviving. Health and wealth go hand in hand. You can’t truly enjoy one without the other. Let me share a personal story that drove this point home for me.
Lessons From My Family I’ve seen firsthand how neglecting health can impact life in later years. My mom, now elderly, and her siblings spent much of their later years managing chronic health issues. Watching them, I realized that many of these problems could have been prevented with better choices—like paying closer attention to their diet and committing to regular exercise. Instead, their later years were fraught with endless doctor visits, ongoing prescription medications, and the accompanying stress of managing both their health and the financial burden. This pattern wasn’t unique to my mom and her siblings; my grandparents also faced similar struggles. The financial, emotional, and rela-
tional costs were staggering. Prescription drugs and treatments drained their finances. The frequent medical needs left little time for enjoying life or spending quality time with loved ones. Most of all, I saw how much easier their golden years could have been if health had been a priority from the start.
Health and Financial Planning Are Intertwined A solid financial plan isn’t just about growing your net worth— it’s about making sure your money supports your lifestyle, including your health. Poor health can derail even the best-laid financial plans. According to Fidelity’s Retiree Health Care Cost Estimate, a couple retiring today can expect to spend over $300,000 on health care alone. Many of these health expenses are preventable. Chronic illnesses like heart disease, diabetes, and high blood pressure are often linked to lifestyle choices. You can save yourself a lot of pain and money by taking preventative measures now.
budget.
3. DO track your spending
Get to know your spending by creating a monthly budget tracker. You can then review your spending and track it in a monthly budget worksheet. Over time, you can adjust which budgeting categories to cut back
Longevity is a gift, but it’s an expensive one. If you don’t plan for the cost of living longer, you’ll find yourself in financial trouble. Medicare doesn’t cover everything, and long-term care costs can drain your savings faster than you think. Maximize Tools for Health and Wealth Health Savings Account (HSA): If you’re still working and have access to an HSA, take full advantage. It’s one of the most effective ways to save for health care costs, especially in retirement.
• Triple Tax Advantage: Contributions are tax-deductible, funds grow tax-free, and withdrawals for qualified medical expenses are also tax-free.
• Rolls Over Forever: Unlike Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs), unused HSA funds carry over year to year, creating a long-term pool of savings.
• Covers Retirement Healthcare Costs: HSA funds can be used for Medicare premiums, long-term care services, and out-of-pocket expenses,
spending on. Expenses can fluctuate month to month, so be prepared to shift gears whenever necessary.
4. DON’T put wants and needs in the same category
A common error beginner budgeters can make is mistaking “wants” for “needs.” Needs are essential items like utility bills, rent or mortgage payments, and groceries. These are things you need to live. Wants, on the other hand, are non-essential expenses like dining out or entertainment. It may still be possible to find room in your budget to accommodate a few luxuries, but being honest with yourself about what’s truly necessary may help you avoid this budgeting mishap.
5. DO keep it simple The idea of listing every single expenditure for a month might seem daunting, but you don’t have to
providing much-needed flexibility as you age. If you’re healthy now, max out your HSA contributions annually to take full advantage of compounding growth for your future medical needs. Long-Term Care Insurance: The cost of long-term care is one of the biggest threats to a retiree’s savings. On average, a private nursing home costs over $105,000 per year, and assisted living averages $55,000 annually. These expenses aren’t typically covered by Medicare, which is why long-term care insurance is worth considering.
• Age 60 is the Sweet Spot: Premiums are more affordable, and you’re still likely to qualify based on your health. Waiting too long can make coverage prohibitively expensive or unattainable.
• Comprehensive Coverage: Policies often cover in-home care, assisted living, and nursing homes, giving you more control over your options.
• Long-term care insurance helps protect your nest egg and ensures you won’t be forced to drain your savings or rely solely on family members for care. Prioritize Your Health Now
ANTHONY O. KELLUM
Find ways to unwind, whether it’s through hobbies, meditation, or spending time with loved ones.
•
reduces the risk of chronic diseases, and sharpens your mind.
• Eat Well: A nutrient-rich diet prevents illness and boosts energy. Make small, sustainable changes for longterm benefits.
•Preventative Care: Don’t skip annual checkups; they can catch issues early, saving you from major medical and financial problems.
• Manage Stress: Chronic stress can lead to serious health issues.
The Balance of Health and Wealth Let’s be clear: money matters, but health and mental wellness matter more! Retirement is about balance—finding the sweet spot where your financial security supports your physical and mental well-being. If you’re financially secure but too sick to enjoy life, you’ve missed the mark. If you’re healthy but broke, you’ll struggle to maintain the lifestyle you’ve worked so hard for. The goal is to find a balance that lets you enjoy the life you’ve earned. Retirement is a time
to live, not just survive. Don’t let poor health or poor financial planning rob you of that. Take action now: eat better, move more, save smartly, and plan for the unexpected. A truly successful retirement is one where health and wealth work together to give you the freedom to live fully.
Remember, health is wealth. Protect both, and you’ll secure a retirement that’s not just long but fulfilling. That’s the ultimate goal—a life where you can enjoy every moment you’ve worked so hard to create.
(Damon Carr, Money Coach can be reached at 412-2161013 or visit his website at www.damonmoneycoach. com)
Catapult Greater Pittsburgh pilots alumni
The New Pittsburgh Courier has learned that Catapult Greater Pittsburgh, in partnership with Empower by GoDaddy and PNC Bank’s Center for Financial Education (CFE), piloted an alumni entrepreneurship program called Leap Ahead from June to November 2024. The program was for entrepreneurs who graduated from Catapult’s entrepreneurship programs and were seeking additional support to take their businesses to the next level.
The six-month technical assistance program offered entrepreneurs who have been in business for three to five years training, tools, and networking opportunities to help them grow and improve their digital footprints. Twenty-five Catapult alumni participated in the pilot.
Empower by GoDaddy and PNC Bank provided customized curricula for the program. Empower By GoDaddy—GoDaddy’s global social impact program launched in 2017—provided access to virtual content focused on building a stronger digital presence, while PNC Bank’s CFE offered monthly in-person sessions centered around business lending and growth, with topics ranging from developing a business plan to how to use business credit. Paired together, these workshops equipped participants with intermediate-level business training to help catapult their businesses into the next stage of growth.
“Being able to meet the needs of entrepreneurs, especially our Catapult entrepreneur alumni, is always significant,” said Lachelle Bell, director of entrepreneurship at Catapult. “We saw a need for additional support after graduation, and through collaboration with these two top-tier programs, we’re filling the missing puzzle pieces to help those who need it most.”
Research from Venture Forward, a GoDaddy research initiative, found that Pittsburgh stands out as one of the fastest-growing areas for microbusinesses (defined as those with a unique web domain, an active website, and fewer than 10 employees). And in Pittsburgh, many of these businesses are run by Black women, with the number of Black women entrepreneurs in Allegheny County almost doubling since 2020.
For these businesses, extra support in the early stages is vital. The research found that 59 percent of microbusinesses in Pittsburgh needed under $5,000 to get started yet raising that small amount of capital wasn’t easy. In fact, 24 percent of microbusiness owners who needed less than $1,000 found it difficult to raise the funds. Through Leap Ahead and its other programs, Catapult is working to bridge this gap. In the Leap Ahead program alone 20 of the entrepreneurs were Black women.
“Partnering locally, we can help address the lack of access to opportunity that many entrepreneurs in underserved communities face, and provide them with programming, mentoring, and skills training that uniquely meet their needs, no matter an individual’s circumstance, or zip code,” said Ebony Janelle, Empower by GoDaddy spokesperson. “It’s through programs like Leap Ahead that we can double down on our commitment to empowering entrepreneurs everywhere and uplift the voices that are shaping our local economies and communities.”
Aimed at boosting the money management skills of individuals, first-time homebuyers, and small business owners, PNC Bank’s CFE provides free financial well-being curriculum in collaboration with community-based nonprofit organizations in select cities.
“PNC’s commitment to improving outcomes for small businesses across the country is reflected in the impactful investments we continue to make with Catapult and other leading organizations that are dedicated to fostering economic growth in under-resourced neighborhoods. Together, we’re working to reduce barriers to banking, increase access to credit, and deliver capacity building opportunities to enable entrepreneurial growth in Pittsburgh’s communities,” said Christopher Rockey, Northeast territory executive, PNC Community Development Banking. For more information about Leap Ahead, contact Lachelle Bell at lachelle@catapultpittsburgh.org.
Lift As You Climb Empowerment isn’t just about personal success; it’s about community success. As you climb the ladder, remember to reach back and pull others up. Share your knowledge, resources, and encouragement with those around you. When one of us wins, we all win. By fostering a culture of collaboration and support, we can amplify the impact of our individual efforts and create lasting change for generations to come.
Why Property Matters
Homeownership isn’t just about having a place to call your own; it’s about building wealth, creating stability, and leaving a legacy. For Black families, property ownership has historically been a powerful tool for overcoming systemic barriers and achieving economic independence. It’s a way to reclaim power and ensure that our communities have a solid foundation for the future.
Take Action in 2025
Here are practical steps you can take to make this year your breakthrough year:
5. Build a Support Network: Connect with real estate professionals, mortgage brokers, financial advisors, and community organizations that can guide you through the process.
6. Take the First Step: Whether it’s saving for a down payment, applying for pre-approval, or attending a homeownership seminar, start now.
Dream Big, Act Bigger Dreams without action remain dreams. This year, challenge yourself to go bigger than you ever thought possible. Push past your comfort zone, commit fully to your goals, and dedicate yourself to achieving them. It’s not just about what you accomplish, it’s about the example you set for others and the legacy you leave behind.
1. Educate Yourself: Learn about the homebuying process, mortgage options, and financial literacy. Knowledge is pow-
2. Improve Your Credit: A strong credit score opens doors to better loan terms and greater opportunities.
3. Explore Your Options: Research programs and products that fit your unique financial situation.
4. Set a Budget: Understand your financial limits and create a plan that aligns with your goals.
A Movement for Change The “Property is Power” movement is about more than just individual success. It’s about creating a collective shift in how we view and pursue wealth. By prioritizing homeownership and investment, we’re laying the groundwork for stronger, more resilient Black communities. Together, we can turn 2025 into a year of progress, prosperity, and empowerment. Let’s Go This is the year to stop waiting and start doing. Take the first step, then the next, and keep going until you reach your destination. No matter how big or small the steps are, just keep moving forward. Let’s make 2025 our year.
Property is Power! Let’s go get it.
(Dr.
go that far. It can be helpful to create a budget that works for you, which includes making it manageable enough to take on in the first place. If you’re just starting out, create just a handful of budgeting categories to help keep things simple.
6. DON’T skip the emergency fund
Life is unpredictable and having an emergency fund to pay for unplanned expenses may help you during that time. Without it, you may have to dip into long-term savings or use a credit card if the unexpected arises. Creating an emergency fund doesn’t have to be intimidating. When you’re making your budget, include a monthly line item for emergency fund contributions. This can help build up your reserves over time. Many bank accounts even let you automate these emergency fund deposits. The bottom line
Starting the new year with a clear plan can set you up for success, and budgeting is a powerful tool to help you achieve your financial goals.
Start tracking your spending now to set up your budget for the year and be aware of common budgeting mistakes. It’s never too early—or too late—to get
back on the road to financial freedom. For informational/educational purposes only: Views and strategies described in this article or provided via links may not be appropriate for everyone and are not intended as specific advice/recommendation for any business. Information has been obtained from sources believed to be reliable, but JPMorgan Chase & Co. or its affiliates and/or subsidiaries do not warrant its completeness or accuracy. The material is not intended to provide legal, tax, or financial advice or to indicate the availability or suitability of any JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. product or service. You should carefully consider your needs and objectives before making any decisions and consult the appropriate professional(s). Outlooks and past performance are not guarantees of future results. JPMorgan Chase & Co. and its affiliates are not responsible for, and do not provide or endorse third party products, services, or other content.
Guest Editorial
The Color Conundrum
There are a lot of people, particularly Black people, who accuse others of “bleaching their skin” in an attempt to be more “White adjacent.” This is even happening to someone with a long history of observing Black culture, like Beyoncé Knowles. People have seen recent photos of Beyoncé and some are convinced that she is bleaching her skin. They say this even though she looks just like she did when she was a child.
Along the same lines people are accusing others of trying to bleach themselves White. One of the latest public figures targeted by these allegations is the great tennis star Serena Williams. Basically, there are photos of her that seem to be taken in lighting that makes her appear to be lighter than she actually is. What people are ignoring is the fact that makeup can make a person look lighter than normal, as well as certain camera lighting. This does not mean that a person is trying to transform into a “White” person.
In most cases, it is not true that people who wear makeup are trying to become White. Makeup has the advantage of covering blemishes and enhancing a person’s natural features. However, wearing makeup does not mean that one is trying to change into another race.
The issues of color are enigmatic…what is it about skin color that causes people to attempt to hurt or ignore others based on it? Actually, race far transcends skin color. There have been numerous challenges to light-skinned Black people who complain about being rejected by darker-skinned Black people. In other words, the issue of skin color impacts both dark-skinned AND light-skinned African Americans.
The truth is that racism is not just about skin color; it’s about a type of tribal bigotry. There are Black people so light-skinned that they can pass for White, yet they are persecuted if they are discovered. In some of these cases, neither Black nor White people can tell that they are “passing.” This brings to mind several questions: if some people are so similar that they are racially ambiguous, why are people inclined to separate people racially?
There are indications that the differing “races” are an artificial construct…that there is no such thing as differing races. This may be true on a molecular or cellular level, but in actual life, people tend to bond with others like themselves. In this regard, we can observe that anyone of any race can succeed in any area of endeavor if they apply themselves.
That last assertion lends credence to the idea that the issue of racial identity is not valid when it comes to leaving people out of life’s activities based on their apparent race; anyone can do anything if they have the sufficient desire to accomplish their goals.
One other thing to consider is the fact that even though there ARE racial differences, it does not mean that the differing races represent different humanities. This is a crucial point because some of the bigotry that comes from individuals who are prominent in the dominant culture exhibit racist actions due to a belief that some “races” are inferior.
Many White people (and, unbelievably, some Blacks) have been notorious for attributing inferiority to Blacks. There ARE differences between the races, but these differences are not “barriers!” There is a difference between cultural habits and interests that cause people to branch out in differing performance directions. Differences in cultural memories and habits between Black and White (and other) people are obvious. What is also apparently true is that we are all connected. WiFi is the modern proof of this. Since we are on this planet together, we can benefit greatly by pooling resources and sharing our talents and interests. Earth is populated by differing races whose skills and talents intertwine; it’s a tapestry that collectively fits together, and if we ever reach a point of maturity, we’ll be able to maximize our united Earthly existence. Hopefully, this can happen soon. In the meantime, however, each group must understand their own culture and identify strategies that can enhance the quality of life for us all. Aluta continua.
(Reprinted from the Chicago Crusader)
Saved from prosecution
(TriceEdneyWire.com)—As I was growing up, I often heard people say, “We’ll have to take this to the Supreme Court!” That was because the thinking then was the Supreme Court was the final place our leaders could go seeking justice for our human rights. I haven’t heard that said for a very long time with good reason. Donald Trump’s Justices thought saving Trump from prosecution was a done deal. They didn’t know that Justice Elena Kagan was going to be listening and asking, “Wasn’t the whole point of the Constitution that the President was not…supposed to be above the law?”
It seems that some on the Supreme Court missed that statement about their job, but Justice Kagan thankfully will not allow them to forget. The Democrats agree with Justice Kagan’s understanding of the Constitution, and it does not excuse Donald Trump for whom a lot of laws seem not to have been applied. Can you even imagine the justification of anybody, not just Trump, that they could do anything they wanted to do—even oppose the United States Constitution? Can you imagine anybody walking down 5th Avenue, shooting somebody and bragging about the fact that there would be no consequences whatsoever? Can you imagine anybody being convicted of 34 crimes with a whole lot of other things still waiting to be convicted of becoming President of the United
States? I can’t imagine that, but I also can’t imagine any sane person voting for somebody like that! The fact that his opponent in the last Presidential election ran circles around him in education, work experience, normal behavior, and a long list of other great things she cared about doing good things for, but who were not millionaires, billionaires or trillionaires? Well, strange things do happen, and we have people who have no knowledge of Trump’s record who voted for him. The second thing we had to deal with the past week was listening to Senatorial questions meant to find out if nominees were capable of telling the truth about their past statements and behavior. Even though we were taking the time to observe the great works of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and remembering all he did to move our country to honoring the purpose of our laws and the statement that says all men are created equally. Ultimately and presumably someday, the statement will be shown to mean it includes all genders, races and ethnic groups—but we’re still
working on it.) However, it was never our understanding that somebody named Donald John Trump would come along and with no change in our laws or cherished documents would give him the title of King Donald John Trump and allow him to be exempt from our laws!
In the coming four years, we have a job to do. Aside from teaching our young people right from wrong, legal from illegal, selfishness from caring about others, we have a huge job to do. Instead of Trump worrying about DUI, equality for women and people of color, poor people, immigrants, we need to convince Donald Trump and his allies about right and wrong for all!
I encourage you to take a look at all the nominees Trump has put up for governing our lives for the next four years. Please put in a prayer for the entire administration to do better than they’ve planned to do, so we know what to expect and how our unity will help us through the intended misery planned for us. We haven’t heard from any of Trump’s nominees about their plans to do the right thing by people like us, but if we do the right thing, we can make a difference that benefits all of us. Don’t just stand by and accept wrongdoing. “It’s always time to do the right thing.” Resist wrongdoing!
What would Martin do?
(TriceEdneyWire.com)—What would Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. do to celebrate his 96th birthday? Would he sit on the sidelines and cheer the incoming president who stands for everything that King was opposed to? Would he be wheeled to a protest to deliver rousing resistant remarks? Would he use the opportunity, the occasion of his holiday, to introduce young and vibrant new leaders? Would he embrace Rev. William Barber and invigorate the Poor People’s Campaign? Dr. King is not here to tell us what he would do, but we can guess at his profound dissatisfaction at this moment in history. We must know that Dr. King would be “no ways tired” because he never was. He was a man of audacity who, in accepting the Nobel Peace Prize spoke of his “audacity” to believe in justice. In his many speeches, he spoke of issues of distribution, getting to the economic bottom line —who gets what, when, where and why? What would Dr. King do for his birthday. He’d be fighting!
There are those who are about to give up. We have an incoming President who wants to turn the clock backwards. He wants to eliminate DEI, set back progress in education, eliminate public broadcasting, and more. We aren’t surprised. He told us what he was going to do through Project 2025, which he now somewhat disavows. No one should be surprised about anything that happens in these next few years. I am not surprised about anything but the ways so many have rolled over with resignation. Civil rights advo-
(TriceEdneyWire.com)—As we stand at the crossroads of history, we are confronted with two starkly different futures. On one side of the Capitol, a twice-impeached convicted felon, committed to depriving people of color of affordable healthcare, education, and a sustainable future, is poised to be sworn in as president. On the other side, thousands are converging on Washington to pledge their allegiance to the continuation of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s dream of equality, fairness, and justice for all Americans.
I will be marching with those who choose to be on the right side of history. I am 82 but I intend to keep on marching and protesting. I began my first march in the 1960’s as a student working to register Black people to vote in Tennessee. Coming from the South, I was so naïve I did not know that showing up in public after dark or going into White stores with inter-racial friends, was a dangerous terrifying venture. My group was chased by the Klan and we felt blessed for managing to escape with our lives. I kept on marching, protesting and as a writer, most of the time as the biographer of Mrs. Coretta Scott King, I saw how committed non-violent warriors, those who would struggle and trade their blood for freedom, could overcome most anything. I was amazed at the fortitude of Mrs. King to fight for this holiday, rear her four children and continue the movement 30 years after her beloved husband was murdered.
In the 60’s where I entered the struggle for justice, there were no thoughts of an African American president, a Black woman on the Supreme Court or a multi-cultural Vice president we couldn’t even vote in the South or attend schools that were desegrated. Today, we now have 62 Blacks in Congress, Black billionaires, like Oprah Winfrey and Robert Smith who contribute to their communities and the Black gross national buying power is estimated at 1.6 trillion. I would be foolish to not be optimistic about our future. I understand we have come this far by faith and hard work, and we will not sit quietly as we are being pushed back possibly
cates dd not roll over for the Bushes (although they were kinder, gentler Republicans that Mr. Trump is). We didn’t roll over for Ronald Reagan, whose racist rhetoric, while repugnant (remember the “welfare mother” with 13 kids), did not prevent him, under pressure, for making Dr. King’s birthday a holiday. We didn’t roll over the first time the Orange Man had a bite at the presidency apple, and we won’t roll over now. So the road isn’t going to be easy, but it never was. Ask Sojourner Truth or Harriet Tubman. Ask Mary McLeod Bethune or Sadie Alexander. Ask Whitney Young or A. Philip Randolph. Take our leaders out of the history books, sit down with them and ask them. Was it easy? And they will tell you that it was not. So what would Dr. King do? What will you do? We keep fighting for equality. For reparation. For criminal justice fairness. We keep talking about the nonsense that the incoming President embraces. We keep showing up at rallies, and we engage in radical self-care so that we do not burn out. And we bu8ild community together, mindfully, purposefully and willingly.
Progressive people and civil rights
advocates experienced a devastating blow in November. But we have been down this path before. I think of the days after President Lincoln was assassinated when, in the words of poet and playwright James Weldon Johnson wrote of the days when “hope unborn had died”. Our Negro National Anthem, Lift Every Voice and Sing” melodiously walks us through aspects of our struggle. It is our lesson, our blessing, our history, our reminder. What would Martin Luther King Jr. do about poverty, inequality, homelessness, unequal education, resistance? What would he be doing in a nation that has still not fully accepted his brilliance? In too many states, the King holiday has been paired with something Confederate, even though we know that the Confederates lost. It is a genuflection to Caucasity that allows some stats, Southern in particular, to attempt to erase the meaning of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. He will not be erased; we can’t let it happen. Thus, and so, the struggle continues.
There will be King Day celebrations all over the country, along with a putrid inauguration of a man that King would be repulsed by. But King was among those who embraced the spiritual “Ain’t Gonna Let Nobody Turn Me Around”. We are climbing a steep hill, and we are climbing. What would Dr. King do this birthday? He would fight!
(Dr. Julianne Malveaux is a DC based economist and author.)
as far as when in 1857 the Supreme Court’s Dred Scot Decision ruled Black people had no rights that Whites had to respect . Moreover, Lynching and the destruction of all Black towns such as in Tulsa Oklahoma were a common occurrence. Those of us who are seniors have relived so much of what it took to attain today’s victories and our young people who are not planning to relive the indignities of yesterday will find a way out of no way. The Dark Path: A Presidency Rooted in Division and Inequality So, the prospect of a convicted felon assuming the highest office in the land is a grim reminder of the fragility of our democratic institutions. This individual, whose tenure has been marked by scandal and impeachment, represents a vision of America that is exclusionary and unjust. His policies have consistently targeted marginalized communities, particularly people of color, by undermining their access to essential services such as healthcare and education. Under his administration, the concept of a sustainable future has been systematically eroded. Environmental regulations have been rolled back, climate change has been dismissed as a hoax, and corporate interests have been prioritized over the well-being of the planet and its inhabitants. This path leads to a future where the rich grow richer, and the poor are left to fend for themselves in an increasingly hostile environment. And with the marvels of artificial intelligence in the hands of tech wizards like Elon Musk, we cannot say for sure that our votes cannot be cloned, hacked or defused in some nefarious manner. The consolidation of power in the hands of a few is a defining characteristic of this dark path. With the courts,
the House, and the Senate under the new president’s grip, and the support of the Billionaire Boys Club, we are on the brink of a dangerous oligarchy. In this system, money and power creates a network where the elite can break the rules with impunity, leaving everyday people disenfranchised and voiceless.
The Bright Path: A Commitment to Equality and Justice In stark contrast, the other side of the Capitol will witness a gathering of thousands who believe in the ideals of equality, fairness, and justice championed by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. These individuals are committed to non-violent revolution, advocating for a society where everyone is treated equally under the power of a righteous God.
This path is rooted in the belief that all people, regardless of race, creed, or socioeconomic status, deserve access to affordable healthcare, quality education, and a sustainable future. It envisions an America where diversity is celebrated, and the rights of all citizens are protected. Non-violence is a cornerstone of this movement. Unlike the violent mob that ransacked the Capitol in 2020, injuring hundreds, these marchers are dedicated to peaceful protest. They draw strength from the Bible, which says not to fret over the crimes of evildoers as they will ultimately be crushed like blades of grass. Their faith in a higher power and their unwavering dedication to justice provide a moral compass that guides their actions.
As we stand at this critical juncture, the choice before us is clear. Will we allow our nation to be led by a convicted felon whose policies perpetuate division and inequality, or will we join the ranks of those who are committed to a future of justice and equality for all? In the words of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., “The arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends toward justice.” Let us choose the path that bends toward justice and work together to build a nation that truly reflects the values of equality, fairness, and justice for all. (Reynolds News
Julianne Malveaux
(Dr. E. Faye Williams, President of The Dick Gregory Society.)
President Trump will raise your energy bills
(TriceEdneyWire.com)—Ratepayers beware. Team Trump’s eagerness to enrich his fossil fuel industry cronies with his “drill baby drill” (and export baby export) agenda is going to raise energy costs for American households. Burning fossil fuels is deadly on many levels. The pollution in our air and water from burning coal, oil, and gas kills people. The pollution from extracting fossil fuels from the ground and transporting them kills people. And the climate crisis and its extreme weather events —extreme heat waves, supercharged wildfires and hurricanes—kill people.
Just as our continued reliance on fossil fuels kills people and entire ecosystems, slowing down our transition to clean energy kills jobs. Because of President Biden’s signature legislative achievements, the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL), and the CHIPS and Science Act we have seen clean energy projects create more than 406,000 new jobs across this country. Hundreds of thousands additional jobs are being created as an indirect result of these new clean energy jobs.
We are reshoring entire supply chains for the products and technologies that will be the foundation of the new global economy. American manufacturing is back. And after losing 65,000 American factories since the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) went into effect 30 years ago, factories are now coming back—this time, building solar panels, wind turbines, electric vehicles, and batteries. But it is not enough for fossil fuel interests and their allies in the Trump administration to put our lives and livelihoods in jeopardy. They are sprinting to make those factories empty once again, sending American jobs anywhere but America as they kill our pocketbooks with higher energy costs.
Energy from solar and wind power is not only already less expensive and more resilient than energy from fossil fuels, it keeps getting cheaper. So efforts by the Trump administration and its allies in Congress to slow the transition to clean energy are not just anti-climate, they are anti-consumer. When they say they want to come after the IRA or undo “Green New Deal” policies, they are talking about jacking up the cost of lighting and heating your home.
It is all based on the big lie that increasing fossil fuel production and supply will lower energy costs. That is hardly the case. Especially when we are talking about exporting those fossil fuels. And that brings us to “liquified natu-
ral gas,” or LNG.
The US is already the world’s leading exporter of LNG. Methane gas is a powerful greenhouse gas—more than 80 times more powerful at warming that carbon dioxide. And the lifecycle of LNG—from fracking and transport to liquefaction and refinement to shipping and burning—is fraught with methane leaks, making it nearly as harmful to the climate as coal. But the LNG market is also volatile, and the oil and gas companies that have such ambitious plans for expanding exports to countries and markets that will pay far more for it than the domestic market rate. That drives up the price of methane gas here at home.
The Department of Energy released a report confirming that unfettered LNG exports would drive up domestic energy prices—further supporting the Biden administration’s pause of LNG export projects as the right choice.
But Big Oil and Gas can get rich from the higher prices other countries are willing to pay, so they don’t care about household energy burdens here at home. And they are even willing to undermine our national security by supplying LNG to our rivals, like the Chinese government, who can then resell it and leverage their role as an energy supplier elsewhere in the world. All the while, domestic consumers potentially face paying billions more in annual energy costs.
President Trump has made big promises to Big Oil and Gas in exchange for their support of his reelection. At one campaign fundraiser, Trump told oil and gas executives if they collectively contributed $1 billion to his reelection they would essentially get whatever they want and it would be a “deal” for them. They got the message. In addition to many other high-dollar contributions from the industry, the CEO of the country’s largest LNG exporter Cheniere Energy kicked in $250,000. Cheniere continues to rapidly develop more export capacity at new and existing LNG terminals on the Gulf coast. LNG is not the only way Trump could increase energy costs for everyday Americans. If his threatened 25 percent tariffs on Canadian and Mexican imports happen, prices at the pump could end up rising between 35 and 75 cents a gallon. That is according to GasBuddy’s head of petroleum analysis Patrick De Haan, who says the increases might be steepest in the Midwest and Rocky Mountain regions but would likely happen across all regions. And Trump’s baffling war on energy efficient home appliances threatens utility bill savings that would benefit millions of households and are especially important to low-income families. Those families spend as much as four times more on energy bills as a portion of their household income. Trump has talked a big game on bringing down energy prices. But most of his proposed policies—from more oil and gas drilling to his attacks on clean energy and energy efficiency standards—are far more likely to drive the cost for consumers up. Americans need relief from punishingly high energy prices, not to be sacrificed on the altar of fossil fuel industry profits. (Ben Jealous is the Executive Director of the Sierra Club and a Professor of Practice at the University of Pennsylvania.)
Throughout his life, civil rights leader Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. had more detractors than allies. MLK became a global hero after his assassination in 1968, and President Ronald Reagan added to his legacy in 1983 by making his birthday a national holiday.
MLK still had detractors. Most of them were academics who disagreed with his political beliefs, but these opinions were mostly found in publications that few people read. For the most part, MLK was widely embraced, from the religious right to democratic socialists, and for decades, no one questioned whether his legacy was worthy of celebration.
That has changed in recent years.
There’s a new breed of MLK detractors. They are a group of Black Christian conservative Republicans who promote capitalism and oppose progressive Christianity, the social gospel, and Black liberation theology. These individuals feel MLK was not a hero at all. They argue that MLK does not deserve any national recognition because America should not celebrate a Marxist sympathizer. Some go even further and point out the self-proclaimed communists in MLK’s inner circle and insist, like J. Edgar Hoover, that MLK was a communist too.
There’s one key question these new MLK detractors should have asked before attempting to make a name for themselves by attacking MLK. Should we fault a person for the affinities they developed during their formative years?
It’s important to understand that between 1848, when Marx published the Communist Manifesto, and 1922, when
We all saw the news reports. The former US first lady Michelle Robinson-Obama boycotted Trump’s presidential inauguration on January 20, 2025. That was also the date of the Martin Luther King Jr. National Holiday. She let it be known several days before the inauguration that she would not be attending. Her husband former US president Barack Obama attended the event, alone.
At this crisis moment in world history, all African Americans should say, “Asante Sana Michelle Robinson-Obama, Thank you.” Her stance strengthens the Black community’s moral and political resolve to “mobilize, educate, and organize,” locally and nationally In the tradition of African American struggle and all ethical, principled people’s struggles worldwide, Michelle is a commanding tower of strength and inspiration. She was not alone. Remember in January 2020 when US congresswoman Nancy Pelosi stood before the world on the floor of US Congress and ripped up for the world to see Donald Trump’s State of the Union speech?
Nancy Pelosi boycotted Trump’s 2025 inauguration. We must applaud Nancy Pelosi and other high-profile elected official who boycotted the inauguration. We must also take note of the local elected officials who did attend Trump’s inauguration, contrary to their self-proclaimed “progressive” Rainbow-leaning politics.
Donald Trump started the inauguration—boycotting. Trump boycotted
(Word In Black)—I’ve watched several of the confirmation hearings for Trump’s cabinet nominees, but the hearing for “the Black job” was the Blackest yet— and perhaps also the most revealing about the next four years.
Scott Turner, the only Black person Trump has nominated for his cabinet, is almost certain to be confirmed for “the Black job.”
You know the job.
It’s the same job that Ben Carson, Alphonso Jackson, and Samuel Pierce had. It’s the one job that Republicans love to give to a Black person: Secretary of Housing and Urban Development.
Turner’s hearing on Thursday was polite and non-confrontational, especially compared to the hostility from Attorney General nominee Pam Bondi and the incompetence of Defense Secretary nominee Pete Hegseth.
Based solely on his decorum at the hearing, Turner actually seems to be a nice guy, and just like Herschel Walker, Trump’s pick for the non-cabinet position to be ambassador to the Bahamas, Turner is a former professional football player.
But it’s clear to me that Turner is in over his head—not so much in terms of ability but in his lack of resilience to withstand the pressure from his Republican colleagues, his reluctance to advocate for fair and affordable housing, and his powerlessness to stand up to his bosses in the Trump administration.
The Senate Banking Committee that will vote on his confirmation includes four Black members: the Republican chair, Tim Scott, who famously professed his love for Trump and obsequiously rubber stamps his agenda with a toothy smile, and three Democrats who tried repeatedly and failed to get Turner to commit to fighting for housing needs.
Delaware Senator Lisa Blunt Rochester asked Turner if he supports manda-
the Soviet Union became the world’s first Marxist-Communist state, Marxism/ communism were just high-minded ideas that attracted a large number of people who wanted to put an end to the rich exploiting the poor and to redistribute industrial wealth for the benefit of humanity. These Marxist ideas also attracted religious leaders, who saw them as the “gospel in action” that would enable “the meek to inherit the earth.”
Since Marxism/communism had not yet been established in any country, those people who became Marxist/communist between 1848 and 1922 had no idea that once implemented, Marxism/communism would be an abject failure. Should we condemn them for being unable to predict the future? Of course, the answer is no.
When the Soviet Union became the world’s first communist state, idealists all over the world applauded the accomplishment and believed that its economic success would serve as a model for other countries seeking to replace capitalism. However, the Soviet Union did not need to flourish to become an appealing alternative economic system for millions of people around the world.
The stock market crashed in 1929,
initiating a severe economic depression that lasted until World War II. Many who grew up during the Great Depression viewed the capitalist system as a failure, while they viewed the Soviet Union with optimism and admiration.
MLK was born in 1929. When the Great Depression ended after World War II, MLK was already in college. MLK was no different from anyone else in his generation who grew up distrustful of capitalism and fascinated by Marxism. For example, Thomas Sowell, the prominent Black conservative economist, was born in 1930. He acknowledges that he was a Marxist until he graduated from college. Sowell didn’t become disillusioned with Marxism until after he worked for the government and realized a free market was better than Marx’s planned economy. However, the same Black Christian conservatives who argue that MLK should not be celebrated because he was a Marxist sympathizer ignore Sowell’s Marxist past and support Sowell’s conservative philosophy. Both MLK and Sowell developed the same affinity for Marxism during their impressionable years. The difference between the two is that Sowell lived long enough to reinvent himself after witnessing the failings of the first communist state, and MLK did not.
These Black Christian conservatives insist that MLK should not be remembered as a national civil rights hero simply because he didn’t lose his affinity toward Marxism before he died. That is just as ridiculous as blaming him for his own death because he didn’t dodge the assassin’s bullet.
Joe Biden’s inauguration in January 2021. Trump’s open, right-wing actions and proposals are no secret. Anyone who supports Trump, in any respect, cannot claim they were misled. He is not a hypocrite in this respect. Trump “is what he is.” We hear some Black folks, here and there, argue Michelle should have supported Barack and attended the inauguration with him. Michelle stood rock-solid on her convictions. And from the clear scowl on Barack’s face during the inauguration, he didn’t want to be there.
Trump invoked Martin Luther King’s legacy and said his presidency will make Martin Luther King’s “dream come true,” Can you criticize Michelle for boycotting that? Can you?
Michelle Robinson-Obama made strong principled speeches at the 2024 Democratic Convention and at the 2016 National Democratic Convention. Both Hillary Clinton in 2016 and Kamala Harris in 2024 were far superior candidates to Trump. But mainstream America voted in the footsteps of South Carolina’s Pitch
Fork Ben Tillman and the other open right wing White racist politicians who have domination US politics.
At former US president Jimmy Carter’s recent funeral, Barack Obama and Trump can be seen sitting next to each other smiling and whispering. Michelle would have none of that.
During his eight years in the White House Obama did nothing to mobile his base that voted him in office. That included the Black community. During his eight years in office, Obama ducked and dodged the Black Agenda, which includes many of the programs and policies of the current Progressive agenda.
In October 2024, Barack Obama was in Pittsburgh scolding the Black male vote, which remains light years ahead of any US Ethnic European American vote.
Among the best, most important ways for Black folks in the Pittsburgh area to say “Asante Sana, Thank You” to Michelle is to continue building the infrastructure, that is the institutional base for Black politics. That means to continue building the online newsletters and hard copy newsletters, the Black political action committees, the Black think tanks large and small that the Black community must have to keep itself informed and to the strategize how to move forward in these perilous times we live in. And we can be sure Michelle Robinson-Obama will say “Asante Sana, Thank you” to us for building that.
tory work requirements that would kick many vulnerable people off of Section 8. It took three times before he finally admitted that he supports these restrictions.
Maryland Senator Angela Alsobrooks asked if he would oppose cuts to HUD programs for affordable housing for low-income households. “What I will commit to looking at these programs and to maximize the budget,” Turner responded. That didn’t answer the question, so Alsobrooks asked again, and Turner only pledged that he “will work with the president” and Congress within “the budget that we do have.”
Alsobrooks then asked about Elon Musk’s proposal to lay off 75 percent of HUD workers, and Turner meekly responded: “What I do support is encouraging people to do the job that they’ve been called to do.” But what exactly does that mean? That doesn’t answer the question.
Georgia Senator Raphael Warnock asked about Trump’s proposed cuts to HUD’s budget, and Turner would only repeat his rehearsed talking points that he would “maximize that budget.”
And when asked if he would crack down on racial discrimination in home appraisal bias, which Kamala Harris proposed to tackle during her presidential campaign, Turner replied, “We will continue to look into that, and I look forward to working with you on that and become more well-studied.”
You’re the nominee for Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, and
you need to “become more well-studied” on racial discrimination in home appraisals? That’s not a good sign.
We’ve seen this movie before, folks. Part of the reason we have a housing crisis today is because of decisions made decades ago when Ronald Reagan appointed a nice, quiet Black Republican HUD Secretary as the public face to preside over massive cuts in funding that would disproportionately hurt Black people.
When Congress passed the Housing Act of 1968, it committed the nation to the goal of producing 2.6 million units of housing a year, including 600,000 annually for low-income families. But when Reagan came into office, he slashed funding for housing programs and cut the proposed number of units for new construction to only 10,000. Reagan’s policies created a spiraling crisis of homelessness and affordable housing that still persists four decades later. Most of the media attention in the coming days will focus on Trump’s crew of controversial, combative, and clearly unqualified White cabinet nominees, but we should also pay attention to what Trump might call “the Black job.” Scott Turner’s confirmation hearing proves that Trump will not only follow but also expand on the Republican playbook of using a Black face to implement a decidedly anti-Black agenda.
Keith Boykin is a New York Times–bestselling author, TV and film producer, and former CNN
ANNOUNCEMENTS Public Notice
JANUARY 22-28, 2025
www.newpittsburghcourier.com
ANNOUNCEMENTS Public Notice
CONDITIONS OF SALE
Effective with the August 3, 2020, Sheriff Sale of real estate and all such monthly public sales thereafter shall be conducted virtually through video conferencing technology or live streaming. ALL PARTICIPANTS OR BIDDERS MUST BE REGISTERED AT LEAST 7 DAYS BEFORE THE DATE OF THE SALE IN ORDER TO PARTICIPATE (VIRTUALLY OR IN PERSON) AT THE ALLEGHENY COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE SALES OF REAL ESTATE. REGISTRATION WILL BE AVAILABLE ON THE ALLEGHENY COUNTY SHERIFF’S WEBSITE: SHERIFFALLEGHENYCOUNTY.COM
The Successful bidder will pay full amount of bid in CASH, CERTIFIED CHECK OR CASHIERS CHECK at time of sale, otherwise the property will be resold at the next regular Sheriffs Sale; provided, that if the sale is made on MONDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 2025 the bidder may pay ten percent of purchasing price but not less than 75.00 in CASH, CERTIFIED CHECK, OR CASHIERS CHECK THE DAY IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWING THE SALE, e.g. TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 4, 2025, BETWEEN THE HOURS OF 8:30AM AND 2:30PM IN THE ALLEGHENY COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE. Failure to pay the 10% deposit will have you banned from future Sheriff Sales. And the balance in CASH, CERTIFIED CHECK, OR CASHIERS CHECK, on or before MONDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 2025, at 10:00 O’CLOCK A.M. The property will be resold at the next regular Sheriff’s Sale if the balance is not paid, and in such case all money’s paid in at the original sale shall be applied to any deficiency in the price of which property is resold, and provided further that if the successful bidder is the plaintiff in the execution the bidder shall pay full amount of bid ON OR BEFORE THE FIRST MONDAY OF THE FOLLOWING MONTH, OTHERWISE WRIT WILL BE RETURNED AND MARKED “REAL ESTATE UNSOLD” and all monies advanced by plaintiff will be applied as required by COMMON PLEAS COURT RULE 3129.2 (1) (a).
FORFEITED SALES WILL BE POSTED IN THE SHERIFF’S OFFICE AND LISTED ON THE SHERIFF OF ALLEGHENY COUNTY WEB SITE.
AMENDMENT OF THE CODE SECOND CLASS COUNTY NEW CHAPTER 475 THE ALLEGHENY COUNTY CODE OF ORDINANCES, CHAPTER 475, ENTITLED TAXATION IS HEREBY AMENDED THROUGH THE CREATION ARTICLE XII, ENTITLED, “SHERIFF SALES”, AND COMPRISED AS FOLLOWS: SUBSECTION 475-60: RECORDING OF DEEDS AND NOTIFICATION OF SHERIFFS SALES TO TAXING BODIES.
A. FOR ANY REAL PROPERTY OFFERED AT SHERIFFS SALE DUE TO NONPAYMENT OF REAL ESTATE TAXES AND PURCHASED BY A THIRD PARTY THROUGH SUCH SALE, THE SHERIFF SHALL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR FILING THE DEED AND, WITHIN SEVEN DAYS OF FILING OF THE SHERIFFS DEED, PROVIDE WRITTEN NOTICE OF THE CONVEYANCE TO THE ALLEGHENY COUNTY OFFICE OF PROPERTY ASSESSMENTS. THE WRITTEN NOTICE REQUIRED PURSUANT TO THIS SUBSECTION SHALL INCLUDE THE DATE OF THE SALE, IDENTIFICATION OF THE PROPERTY SOLD BY BOTH ADDRESS AND LOT AND BLOCK NUMBER, AND THE NAME AND ADDRESS OF THE INDIVIDUALS OR OTHER ENTITY THAT PURCHASED THE PROPERTY.
B. AT THE TIME OF THE SALE THE SHERIFF SHALL COLLECT ALL REQUISITE FILING COSTS, REALTY TRANSFER TAXES AND FEES, NECESSARY TO PROPERLY RECORD THE DEED. C. WITHIN SEVEN DAYS OF RECEIPT OF WRITTEN NOTICE FROM THE SHERIFF, THE ALLEGHENY COUNTY OFFICE OF PROPERTY ASSESSMENTS SHALL FORWARD COPIES OF SUCH NOTICE TO ALL TAXING BODIES LEVYING REAL ESTATE TAXES ON THE PROPERTY DESCRIBED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO THE MUNICIPALITY AND SCHOOL DISTRICT WHERE THE PROPERTY IS LOCATED. AS REQUIRED BY SECTION 14 OF ACT NO. 77 OF 1986, THE COST OF ALL DOCUMENTARY STAMPS FOR REAL ESTATE TRANSFER TAXES (STATE, LOCAL, AND SCHOOL) WILL BE DEDUCTED BY THE SHERIFF FROM THE PROCEEDS OF THE SALE. Purchasers must pay the necessary recording fees. Pursuant to Rule 3136 P.R.C.P. NOTICE is hereby given that a schedule of distribution will be filed by the Sheriff not later than 30 days from date of sale and that distribution will be made in accordance with the schedule unless exceptions are filed thereto within 10 days thereafter. No further notice of the filing of the schedule of distribution will be given.
A Land Bank formed under 68 Pa. C.S.A. 2101 et seq. may exercise its right to bid pursuant to 68 Pa. C.S.A. 2117(d) (2) through Pa. C.S.A. 2117(d) (4) on certain properties listed for sale under the municipal claims and Tax Lien Law, 53 P.S. 7101 et seq. The Sheriff of Allegheny County will honor the terms of payment which the Land Bank has entered with any municipalities having a claim against the property. If the Land Bank tenders a bid under Pa. C.S.A. 2117(d)(3) or 2117(d)(4) the property will not be offered for sale to others and the Property will be considered sold to the Land Bank for the Upset Price as defined in P.S.7279 and no other bids will be accepted.
NOTICE IS GIVEN THAT ALL SHERIFFS DEEDS TENDERED TO PURCHASERS WILL CONTAIN THE FOLLOWING:
NOTICE: The undersigned, as evidenced by the signature(s) to this notice and the acceptance and recording of this deed, (is/are) fully cognizant of the fact that the undersigned may not be obtaining the right of protection against subsidence, as to the property herein conveyed, resulting from coal mining operations and that the purchased property, herein conveyed, may be protected from damage due to mine subsidence by a private contract with the owners of the economic interest in the coal. This notice is inserted herein to comply with the Bituminous Mine Subsidence and Land Conservation Act of 1966. as amended 1980. Oct. 10, P.L 874, No. 156 §1.
“This document may not sell, convey, transfer, include, or insure the title to the coal and right of support underneath the surface land described or referred to herein and the owner or owners of such coal may have the complete legal right to remove all of such coal, and in that connection damage may result to the surface of the land, any house, building or other structure on or in such land.”
1FEB25
PLAINTIFF(S): EAST ALLEGHENY SCHOOL DISTRICT vs DEFENDANT(S): LANDIS PROPERTY INVESTMENTS, LLC ******************** CASE NO. GD-23-014694
DEBT $ 20,142.32
NAME OF ATTORNEY(S): CHRISTOPHER E. VINCENT
ADDRESS OF ATTORNEY(S): 546 WENDEL ROAD, IRWIN, PA 15642
ATTORNEY TELEPHONE NUMBER: 724-978-0333
SHORT DESCRIPTION:
In the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, County of Allegheny, BOROUGH OF WILMERDING: HAVING ERECTED THEREON A DWELLING BEING KNOWN AND NUMBERED AS 334 WOOD STREET, WILMERDING, PA 15148. DEED BOOK 16135, PAGE 256. BLOCK AND LOT NUMBER 546-G-162
2FEB25
PLAINTIFF(S): MCKEESPORT AREA SCHOOL DISTRICT AND CITY OF MCKEESPORT vs DEFENDANT(S): LAWRENCE YEARWOOD AND JOHN OLOWU CASE NO. GD-23-000522 ************ DEBT $19,472.68 ********* NAME OF ATTORNEY(S): CHRISTOPHER E. VINCENT **********************
ADDRESS OF ATTORNEY(S): 546 WENDEL ROAD, IRWIN, PA 15642 ************************** ATTORNEY TELEPHONE NUMBER: 724-978-0333
SHORT DESCRIPTION: ******************** In the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, County of Allegheny, CITY OF MCKEESPORT:
HAVING ERECTED THEREON A DWELLING BEING KNOWN AND NUMBERED AS 611 SHAW AVENUE, MCKEESPORT, PA 15132. DEED BOOK 18437, PAGE 576. BLOCK AND LOT NUMBER 307-K-133.
3FEB25
PLAINTIFF(S): DUQUESNE CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT vs DEFENDANT(S): CHARLES CHAMBERS
CASE NO. GD-22-012521
************ DEBT $7,612.21
*********
NAME OF ATTORNEY(S): CHRISTOPHER E. VINCENT **********************
ADDRESS OF ATTORNEY(S): 546 WENDEL ROAD, IRWIN, PA 15642
**************************
ATTORNEY TELEPHONE NUMBER: 724-978-0333 ******************************** SHORT DESCRIPTION:
********************
In the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, County of Allegheny, CITY OF DUQUESNE:
ANNOUNCEMENTS Public Notice ANNOUNCEMENTS Public Notice
HAVING ERECTED THEREON A DWELLING BEING KNOWN AND NUMBERED AS 1019 KENNEDY AVENUE, DUQUESNE, PA 15110. DEED BOOK 12370, PAGE 282. BLOCK AND LOT NUMBER 305-L-270
4FEB25
DEFENDANT(S): CARL L. HANFORD AND DEBBIE L. HANFORD aka DEBBIE L. THOMPSON
********************
CASE NO. GD-23-012483
************ DEBT
$289,489.50
NAME OF ATTORNEY(S): Gary W. Darr, Esquire McGrath McCall, P.C. **********************
ADDRESS OF ATTORNEY(S): Four Gateway Center, Suite 1340, 444 Liberty Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15222
ATTORNEY TELEPHONE NUMBER: 412-281-4333
SHORT DESCRIPTION:
In the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, County of Allegheny, Borough of Jefferson Hills:
PARCEL #1: HAVING ERECTED THEREON A COMMERCIAL BUILDING KNOWN AS 1501 STATE ROUTE 51, CLAIRTON, PA 15025, DEED BOOK VOLUME 13413, PAGE 486, BLOCK & LOT NO. 766-L-200.
PARCEL#2: BEING VACANT LAND KNOWN AS WRAY LARGE ROAD, CLAIRTON, PA 15025, DEED BOOK VOLUME 13413, PAGE 486, BLOCK & LOT NO. 766-L-259.
6FEB25
DEFENDANT(S): 4th Quarter Realty Group, Inc.
********************
CASE NO. MG-23-000702
DEBT $156,518.55
********* NAME OF ATTORNEY(S): Ian Yorke, Esq.
ADDRESS OF ATTORNEY(S): 1325 Franklin Avenue, Suite 160, Garden City, NY 11530
In the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, County of Allegheny, and 31st Ward of the City of Pittsburgh:
HAVING ERECTED THEREON A DWELLING BEING KNOWN AND NUMBERED AS 1126 MIFFLIN ROAD, PITTSBURGH, PA 15207. DEED BOOK VOLUME 18035, PAGE 202. BLOCK AND LOT NUMBER: 0185-D00314-0000-00.
7FEB25
DEFENDANT(S): Richard C. Zupanc and Gloria P. Kennedy
********************
CASE NO. MG-22-000931
************ DEBT $776,116.40
NAME OF ATTORNEY(S): Ian Yorke, Esq.
ADDRESS OF ATTORNEY(S): 1325 Franklin Avenue, Suite 160, Garden City, NY 11530
**************************
ATTORNEY TELEPHONE NUMBER: (212) 471-5100
SHORT DESCRIPTION:
******************** In the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, County of Allegheny, and Township of Marshall:
HAVING ERECTED THEREON A DWELLING BEING KNOWN AND NUMBERED AS 102 GREENBRIAR DRIVE, WEXFORD, PA 15090, DEED BOOK VOLUME 12202, PAGE 530. BLOCK AND LOT NUMBER 1822-F-000070000-00
8FEB25
DEFENDANT(S): JOHNATHON JONES AND SALINA BOWSER ********************
CASE NO. MG-24-000619 ************ DEBT $91,202.99
NAME OF ATTORNEY(S): CHELSEA A. NIXON, ESQUIRE **********************
ADDRESS OF ATTORNEY(S): MCCABE, WEISBERG & CONWAY, LLC 216 HADDON AVENUE, SUITE 201 WESTMONT, NJ 08108
ATTORNEY TELEPHONE NUMBER: (856) 858-7080
SHORT DESCRIPTION: IN THE COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA, COUNTY OF ALLEGHENY, TOWNSHIP OF NORTH VERSAILLES: HAVING ERECTED THEREON A DWELLING BEING KNOWN AND NUMBERED AS 889 JOAN DRIVE, NORTH VERSAILLES, PENNSYLVANIA 15137. DEED BOOK VOLUME 17367, PAGE 515. BLOCK AND LOT NUMBER 0548-M-00115-0000-00.
3
6 2 8 1 4 0 9 6
9FEB25
DEFENDANT(S): TRACY M. HILL, KEVIN R. HILL ******************** CASE NO. MG-24-000458
DEBT $45,732.81
NAME OF ATTORNEY(S): KML LAW GROUP, P.C.
ADDRESS OF ATTORNEY(S): SUITE 5000, 701 MARKET STREET PHILADELPHIA, PA 19106 **************************
ATTORNEY TELEPHONE NUMBER: (215) 627-1322 ******************************** SHORT DESCRIPTION: ******************** IN THE COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA, COUNTY OF ALLEGHENY, TOWNSHIP OF ELIZABETH: HAVING ERECTED THEREON A DWELLING BEING KNOWN AND NUMBERED AS 212 SHAFFER AVENUE, ELIZABETH, PA 15037. DEED BOOK 10520, PAGE 127. BLOCK AND LOT NUMBER 1132-K-56.
10FEB25
DEFENDANT(S): Peter Beccard ******************** CASE NO. MG-23-000372 DEBT $9,914.90
NAME OF ATTORNEY(S): The Law Office of Gregory Javardian, LLC
ADDRESS OF ATTORNEY(S): 1310 Industrial Boulevard, 1st Floor, Suite 101, Southampton, PA 18966 ************************** ATTORNEY TELEPHONE NUMBER: 215-942-9690 ******************************** SHORT DESCRIPTION: ******************** In the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, County of Allegheny, 9th Ward, City of Pittsburgh: HAVING ERECTED THEREON A RESIDENTIAL DWELLING BEING MUNICIPALLY KNOWN AND NUMBERED AS 4210 MILGATE STREET, PITTSBURGH, PA 15224. DEED BOOK VOLUME 17611, PAGE 182. BLOCK AND LOT NUMBER. 49-M-311.
11FEB25
DEFENDANT(S): Teresa Ann Helmick
CASE NO. MG-24-000366 ************ DEBT $102,614.87 ********* NAME OF ATTORNEY(S): The Law Office of Gregory Javardian, LLC ********************** ADDRESS OF ATTORNEY(S): 1310 Industrial Boulevard, 1st Floor, Suite 101, Southampton, PA 18966
ATTORNEY TELEPHONE NUMBER: 215-942-9690
SHORT DESCRIPTION: In the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, County of Allegheny, Borough of Liberty: HAVING ERECTED THEREON A DWELLING BEING KNOWN AND NUMBERED AS 3113 WOODROW STREET, MCKEESPORT, PA 15133. DEED BOOK VOLUME 18640, PAGE 528. BLOCK AND LOT NUMBER. 556-H-12.
12FEB25
PLAINTIFF(S): County of Allegheny Vs. DEFENDANT(S): Gregory L. Countouris
CASE NO.: GD 22-011806
************ DEBT: $3,887.88
*********
NAME OF ATTORNEY(S): Joseph W. Gramc, Esquire
**********************
ADDRESS OF ATTORNEY(S): 525 William Penn Place, Ste. 3110 Pittsburgh, PA 15219
ATTORNEY TELEPHONE NUMBER: (412) 281-0587
SHORT DESCRIPTION: In the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, County of Allegheny, Borough of Green Tree
Having erected thereon a two-story brick house being known as 42 Pocono Drive, Pittsburgh, PA 15220. Deed Book Volume 12933, Page 50. Block & Lot No. 17-K-136.
13FEB25
PLAINTIFF(S): County of Allegheny Vs. DEFENDANT(S): Global Hardwork Inc. ******************** CASE NO.: GD 23-002206
DEBT: $9,945.85
NAME OF ATTORNEY(S): Joseph W. Gramc, Esquire
ADDRESS OF ATTORNEY(S): 525 William Penn Place, Ste. 3110 Pittsburgh, PA 15219
************************** ATTORNEY TELEPHONE
Public Notice
14FEB25
PLAINTIFF(S): Woodland Hills School District VS. DEFENDANT(S): Joseph Michael Senoski CASE NO.: GD 18-014660
DEBT: $16,503.04
********* NAME OF ATTORNEY(S): Joseph W. Gramc, Esquire
ADDRESS OF ATTORNEY(S): 525 William
15FEB25
20FEB25 PLAINTIFF(S): Borough of Castle Shannon VS. DEFENDANT(S): Lawrence J. McNeilis, Administrator of the Estate of Edward J. McNeilis, Deceased CASE NO.: GD 24-000262 ************ DEBT: $3,155.90
NAME OF ATTORNEY(S): Joseph W. Gramc, Esquire
ADDRESS OF ATTORNEY(S): 525 William Penn Place, Ste. 3110 Pittsburgh, PA 15219
ATTORNEY TELEPHONE NUMBER: (412)
LLC
$2,874.36
NAME OF ATTORNEY(S): Joseph W. Gramc, Esquire
OF ATTORNEY(S): 525 William Penn Place, Ste.
SONNY BOY
as 6 Stratford Road, Pittsburgh, PA 15202. Deed Book Volume 18581, Page 331. Block & Lot No. 214-C92.
28FEB25
PLAINTIFF(S): Municipality of Bethel Park VS.
DEFENDANT(S): Wesley W. Ritterbusch
CASE NO.: GD 23-011444
DEBT: $2,508.93 *********
NAME OF ATTORNEY(S): Joseph W. Gramc, Esquire **********************
ADDRESS OF ATTORNEY(S): 525 William Penn Place, Ste. 3110 Pittsburgh, PA 15219
ATTORNEY TELEPHONE NUMBER: (412) 281-0587 ******************************** SHORT DESCRIPTION: In the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, County of Allegheny, Municipality of Bethel Park:
Having erected thereon a one and a half story frame house known 5493 Main Street, Bethel Park, PA 15102. Deed Book Volume 17483, Page 300. Block & Lot No. 567-H-102.
29FEB25
PLAINTIFF(S): CoW1ty of Allegheny, City of Pittsburgh, and School District of Pittsburgh VS. DEFENDANT(S): Unknown Heirs of Carolyn Green, Deceased
CASE NO.: GD 12-007324 ************ DEBT: $7,977.87 *********
NAME OF ATTORNEY(S): Joseph W. Gramc, Esquire **********************
ADDRESS OF ATTORNEY(S): 525 William Penn Place, Ste. 3110 Pittsburgh, PA 15219
ATTORNEY TELEPHONE NUMBER: (412) 281-0587
SHORT DESCRIPTION:
In the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, County of Allegheny, City of PittsburghWard 25.
Being thereon vacant residential land known as Brighton Road, Pittsburgh, PA 15212. Deed Book Volume 5412, Page 31. Block& Lot No. 23-E-375.
30FEB25
PLAINTIFF(S): County of Allegheny VS. DEFENDANT(S): Dorea J. Dempe Hill & James Pounds ******************** CASE NO.: GD 17-005264 DEBT: $5,895.01
NAME OF ATTORNEY(S): Joseph W. Gramc, Esquire
ADDRESS OF ATTORNEY(S): 525 William Penn Place, Ste. 3110 Pittsburgh, PA 15219 **************************
In the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, County of Allegheny, Township of North Fayette:
Having erected thereon a one-story frame house being known as 7998 Noblestown Road, McDonald, PA 15057. Deed Book Volume 15675, Page 202. Block & Lot No. 683-F-2.
32FEB25
PLAINTIFF(S): County of Allegheny VS. DEFENDANT(S): Julian Thomas & Stephanie Thomas ******************** CASE NO.: GD 23-006967 ************ DEBT: $4,953.85
NAME OF ATTORNEY(S): Joseph W. Gramc, Esquire
ADDRESS OF ATTORNEY(S): 525 William Penn Place, Ste. 3110 Pittsburgh, PA 15219 **************************
ATTORNEY TELEPHONE NUMBER: (412) 281-0587 ******************************** SHORT DESCRIPTION: ******************** In the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, County of Allegheny, City of McKeesportWard 12:
Having erected thereon a one-story brick industrial building being known as 528 Eden Park Boulevard,McKeesport, PA 15132. Deed Book Volume 18589, Page 20. Block & Lot No. 464-S-191.
33FEB25
PLAINTIFF(S): Township of Reserve VS. DEFENDANT(S): Lori E. Jockel ******************** CASE NO.: GD 24-001854
DEBT: $3,168.16
NAME OF ATTORNEY(S): Joseph W. Gramc, Esquire
ADDRESS OF ATTORNEY(S): 525 William Penn Place, Ste. 3110 Pittsburgh, PA 15219 ************************** ATTORNEY TELEPHONE NUMBER: (412) 281-0587 ******************************** SHORT DESCRIPTION:
In the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, County of Allegheny, Township of Reserve: Having erected thereon a one-story frame house being known as 1709 Luty Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15212. Deed Book Volume 11046, Page 213. Block & Lot No. 47-H301.
34FEB25
DEFENDANT(S): Scott Ross II and Brandi T. Daugherty
CASE NO.: MG-24-000287
************ DEBT: $97,219.94
*********
NAME OF ATTORNEY(S): Powers Kirn, LLC
**********************
ADDRESS OF ATTORNEY(S): Eight Neshaminy Interplex, Suite 215, Trevose, PA 19053
ATTORNEY TELEPHONE NUMBER: 215-942-2090
SHORT DESCRIPTION:
********************
In the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, County of Allegheny, First Ward of the Borough of Carnegie:
Having erected thereon a dwelling being known and numbered as 18 Watson Street, Carnegie, Pennsylvania 15106. Deed Book Volume 16064, Page 487, Block and Lot Number 104-R-l 72.
35FEB25
DEFENDANT(S): David K. Walker and Sharon A. Walker
********************
CASE NO.: MG-17-001671
************
DEBT: $133,516.47
NAME OF ATTORNEY(S): Stem & Eisenberg, PC
ADDRESS OF ATTORNEY(S): The Shops at Valley Square, 1581 Main Street, Suite 200 Warrington, PA 18976
ATTORNEY TELEPHONE NUMBER: (215) 572-8111
SHORT DESCRIPTION:
In the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, County of Allegheny and the 27th Ward of the City of Pittsburgh:
Having erected thereon a dwelling being known and numbered as 1156 Pemberton Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15212. Deed Book Volume 12378, Page 57, 2005-7645. Block and Lot Number 115-N-218.
36FEB25
DEFENDANT(S): Susan E. McCandless
CASE NO. MG-24-000127
************ DEBT: $84,993.40
*********
NAME OF ATTORNEY(S): Stem & Eisenberg, PC
**********************
ADDRESS OF ATTORNEY(S): The Shops at Valley Square, 1581 Main Street, Suite 200 Warrington, PA 18976 **************************
ATTORNEY TELEPHONE NUMBER: (215) 572-8111 ******************************** SHORT DESCRIPTION:
In the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, County of Allegheny and 29th Ward of the City of Pittsburgh: Having erected thereon a dwelling being known and numbered as 111 Merritt Ave., Pittsburgh, PA 15227. Deed Book Volume 12364. Block and Lot Number 0137-A0232.
37FEB25
DEFENDANT(S): Jerry J. Jones and Kasey Amanda Jones
******************** CASE NO. GD-24-009721
************ DEBT: $70,501.12
NAME OF ATTORNEY(S): Benjamin Hoen, Esquire
**********************
ADDRESS OF ATTORNEY(S): 5990 West Creek Road, Suite 200, Independence, OH 44131
ATTORNEY TELEPHONE NUMBER: 216-739-5100
SHORT DESCRIPTION:
******************** ALL THE RIGHT, TITLE, INTEREST AND CLAIM OF JERRY J. JONES AND KASEY AMANDA JONES OF, IN AND TO ALL THE FOLLOWING DESCRIBED REAL ESTATE: SITUATED IN THE TOWNSHIP OF NORTH VERSAILLES, COUNTY OF ALLEGHENY, CO1\1MONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA. HAVING ERECTED THEREON A DWELLING KNOWN AND NUMBERED AS 419 WEST CARTER DRIVE, NORTH VERSAILLES, PA 15137. DESCRIBED AT DEED BOOK 16362, PAGE 360, PARCEL NUMBER 0376-P00326-0000-00..
38FEB25
PLAINTIFF(S): County of Allegheny vs. DEFENDANT(S): Catherine A. King, With Notice to Heirs and Assigns ******************** CASE NO. GD 22-007532 DEBT: $2,866.84
NAME OF ATTORNEY(S): Joseph W. Gramc, Esquire
ADDRESS OF ATTORNEY(S): 525 William Penn Place, Suite 3110 Pittsburgh, PA 15219 ************************** ATTORNEY TELEPHONE NUMBER: (412) 281-0587 ******************************** SHORT DESCRIPTION:
80.
39FEB25
PLAINTIFF(S): Hampton Township School District vs. DEFENDANT(S): Virginia A. Hansel, With Notice to Heirs and Assigns ******************** CASE NO. GD 23-006889
DEBT: $4,613.41
NAME OF ATTORNEY(S): Joseph W. Gramc, Esquire
ADDRESS OF ATTORNEY(S): 525 William Penn Place, Suite 3110 Pittsburgh, PA 15219
************************** ATTORNEY TELEPHONE NUMBER: (412) 281-0587 ******************************** SHORT DESCRIPTION: ******************** In the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, County of Allegheny, Township of Hampton: Having erected thereon a one and a half story frame house being known as 4978 South Pioneer Road, Gibsonia, PA 15044. Deed Book Volume 4988, Page 117, Block & Lot No. 1212-E-245.
40FEB25
PLAINTIFF(S): Borough of Dormont vs. DEFENDANT(S): Thomas W. Dickey, Executor of the Estate of Patricia J. Hoffman, Deceased ******************** CASE NO. GD 24-000479 ************ DEBT: $4,129.57
NAME OF ATTORNEY(S): Joseph W. Gramc, Esquire
ADDRESS OF
ATTORNEY TELEPHONE NUMBER: (412) 281-0587
SHORT DESCRIPTION: ******************** In the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, County of Allegheny, Borough of Dormont: Having erected thereon a one-story brick house being known as 1100 Tennessee Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15216. Deed Book Volume 8601, Page 539. Block & Lot No. 97-E-156.
41FEB25
DEFENDANT(S): Miriam Page and Todd Lind, ******************** CASE NO. MG-24-000679
DEBT: $135,148.75
*********
NAME OF ATTORNEY(S): Kristine M. Anthou, Esquire, ADDRESS OF ATTORNEY(S): Grenen & Birsic, P.C. One Gateway Center, 9th Floor, Pittsburgh, PA 15222
**************************
ATTORNEY TELEPHONE NUMBER: (412) 281-7650
SHORT DESCRIPTION: ******************** In the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, County of Allegheny, Borough of Baldwin:
HAVING ERECTED THEREON A DWELLING KNOWN AND NUMBERED AS 4917 EAST WILLOCK ROAD, PITTSBURGH, PA 15227. DBV 17572, PG 25, 8/L #246-J-34. 42FEB25
DEFENDANT(S): JOHN DESABATO AND GIOIA MANGIS KNOWN HEIRS AND ALL UNKNOWN HEIRS OF EDWARD P. DESABA TO, JR., ******************** CASE NO. MG-24-000390
DEBT: $18,681.35
NAME OF ATTORNEY(S): Michelle Pierro, Esq. (PA ID No. 317454)
ADDRESS OF ATTORNEY(S): Tucker Arensberg, P.C. 1500 One PPG Place Pittsburgh, PA 15222
**************************
ATTORNEY TELEPHONE NUMBER: (412) 566-1212 ******************************** SHORT DESCRIPTION: ******************** In the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, County of Allegheny, 30TH Ward - City of Pittsburgh: HAVING ERECTED THEREON A DWELLING KNOWN AND NUMBERED AS: 230 MCKINLEY STREET, PITTSBURGH, PA 15210. DEED BOOK VOLUME 5796, PAGE 709 Block / Lot# 33-K-149
43FEB25
DEFENDANT(S): Michael Spargal ******************** CASE NO. MG-24-000387 ************ DEBT: $67,182.33
NAME OF ATTORNEY(S): MDK Legal
ADDRESS OF ATTORNEY(S): P. 0. Box 165028 Columbus, OH 43216-5028 ************************** ATTORNEY TELEPHONE NUMBER: 614-220-5611 ******************************** SHORT DESCRIPTION: ******************** In the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, County of Allegheny, Borough of Liberty: Having erected thereon a dwelling being known and numbered as 2708 E Street, McKeesport, PA 15133. Document Number 2010-20872, Deed Book Volume 14342, Page 260. Block and Lot Number 0465-R-00309-0000-00.
45FEB25
PLAINTIFF(S): County of Allegheny VS. DEFENDANT(S): J. Elks, Inc. CASE NO. GD 19-015552
DEBT: $4,591.94 *********
NAME OF ATTORNEY(S): Joseph W. Gramc, Esquire
ADDRESS OF ATTORNEY(S): 525 William Penn Place, Suite 3110 Pittsburgh, PA 15219
**************************
NO. GD 22-013101 DEBT: $3,095.98
OF ATTORNEY(S): Joseph W. Gramc, Esquire
OF ATTORNEY(S): 525 William Penn Place, Suite 3110 Pittsburgh, PA 15219
DESCRIPTION: In the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, County of Allegheny, Borough of Carnegie:
erected thereon a two-story masonry frame house being known as 25 Woodruff Drive, Carnegie, PA 15106. Deed Book Volume 9300, Page 356, Block & Lot No. 66-K-244. 47FEB25
PLAINTIFF(S): MT. LEBANON SCHOOL DISTRICT, VS. DEFENDANT(S): COLEEN A. MCGRATH CASE NO. GD 24-007486
DEBT: $7,368.86 ********* NAME OF ATTORNEY(S): JOHN T. VOGEL, TUCKER ARENSBERG, P.C.
ADDRESS OF ATTORNEY(S):
BRENT KAUER AND JULIE PAIGE
$178,807.52 NAME OF ATTORNEY(S): CHELSEA A. NIXON, ESQUIRE ADDRESS OF ATTORNEY(S): MCCABE, WEISBERG & CONWAY, LLC
HADDON AVENUE, SUITE
NJ 08108 ATTORNEY TELEPHONE NUMBER: (856) 858-7080 SHORT DESCRIPTION: IN THE COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA, COUNTY OF ALLEGHENY, MUNICIPALITY OF BETHEL PARK: HAVING ERECTED THEREON A DWELLING BEING KNOWN AND NUMBERED AS 3129 SOUTH PARK ROAD, BETHEL PARK, PENNSYLVANIA 15102. DEED BOOK VOLUME 17008, PAGE 260. BLOCK AND LOT NUMBER 0476-N-00060-0000-00.
52FEB25 DEFENDANT(S):
54FEB25
REI LLC
CASE NO. GD-23-010279 ************ DEBT: $242,958.01 ********* NAME OF ATTORNEY(S): PADGETT LAW GROUP **********************
ADDRESS OF ATTORNEY(S): 700 Darby Road, Suite 100 Havertown, PA 19083
ATTORNEY TELEPHONE NUMBER: 850-422-2520
SHORT DESCRIPTION:
ALL THE FOLLOWING DESCRIBED REAL ESTATE SITUATED IN ROSS TOWNSHIP, COUNTY OF ALLEGHENY AND COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA:
HAVING ERECTED THEREON A TWO-FAMILY RESIDENTIAL DWELLING BEING KNOWN AND NUMBERED AS 74 UNION AVENUE, PITTSBURGH, PA 15202. DEED BOOK VOLUME DE 18714, PAGE 125, INSTRUMENT NUMBER 2021-42072. BLOCK AND LOT NUMBER 215-K-300.
55FEB25
DEFENDANT(S): Curtis Barrett, individually and d/b/a CB Fixit and CB Fixit, Inc., ******************** CASE NO. AR-24-004277 ************ DEBT: $44,312.39
NAME OF ATTORNEY(S): Alexander C. Herron, Esquire, **********************
ADDRESS OF ATTORNEY(S): Grenen & Birsic, P.C. One Gateway Center, 9th Floor, Pittsburgh, PA 15222
ATTORNEY TELEPHONE NUMBER: (412) 281-7650 ******************************** SHORT DESCRIPTION:
In the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, County of Allegheny, Borough of Wilkinsburg: HAVING ERECTED THEREON A DWELLING KNOWN AND NUMBERED AS 2326 MCNARY BOULEVARD, PITTSBURGH, PA 15235. DEED BOOK VOLUME 19579, PAGE 486, BLOCK AND LOT NUMBER 297-G-105.
56FEB25
DEFENDANT(S): SARAH WILLIAMS ******************** CASE NO. MG-23-000432 DEBT: $498,333.42
NAME OF ATTORNEY(S): KML LAW GROUP, P.C.
ADDRESS OF ATTORNEY(S): SUITE 5000, 701 MARKET STREET PHILADELPHIA, PA 19106 **************************
ATTORNEY TELEPHONE NUMBER: (215) 627-1322 ******************************** SHORT DESCRIPTION: ******************** IN THE COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA, COUNTY OF ALLEGHENY, 17TH WARD CITY OF PITTSBURGH: HAVING ERECTED THEREON A DWELLING BEING KNO”WN AND Nillv1BERED AS 1802 HARCUM WAY, PITTSBURGH, PA 15203. DEED BOOK 16978, PAGE 447. BLOCK AND LOT NUMBER 12-J-251.
57FEB25
PLAINTIFF(S): County of Allegheny vs. DEFENDANT(S): Richard M. Hartin ******************** CASE NO. GD. 24-001563 ************ DEBT: $3,322.01
NAME OF ATTORNEY(S): Joseph W. Gramc, Esquire
ADDRESS OF ATTORNEY(S): 525 William Penn Place, Ste. 3110 Pittsburgh, PA 15219 **************************
In the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, County of Allegheny, Village of Pennsbury:
Having erected thereon a two story brick condominium unit in Pennsbury Village known as 742 Carriage Circle, Pittsburgh, PA 15205. Deed Book Volume 18306, Page 477. Block & Lot No. 150-S- 96-423.
58FEB25
PLAINTIFF(S): County of Allegheny vs.
DEFENDANT(S): Cynthia Lee Bartges ********************
CASE NO. GD 17-008214 ************ DEBT: $1,939.09
NAME OF ATTORNEY(S): Joseph W. Gramc, Esquire
ADDRESS OF ATTORNEY(S): 525 William Penn Place, Ste. 3110 Pittsburgh, PA 15219
**************************
ATTORNEY TELEPHONE NUMBER: (412) 281-0587
SHORT DESCRIPTION: ******************** In the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, County of Allegheny, Township of North Versailles:
Having erected thereon a one story frame house being known as 204 Broadway Extension, North Versailles, PA 15137. Deed Book Volume 11080, Page 353. Block & Lot No. 458-M-259.
59FEB25
PLAINTIFF(S): County of Allegheny vs.
DEFENDANT(S): Daniel M. Guy and William Smith ********************
CASE NO. GD 05-024004
DEBT: $20,633.69
NAME OF ATTORNEY(S): Joseph W. Gramc, Esquire
ADDRESS OF ATTORNEY(S): 525 William Penn Place, Ste. 3110 Pittsburgh, PA 15219 **************************
60FEB25
DEFENDANT(S): Jean E. Holler
CASE NO. MG-24-000098
************ DEBT: $69,031.04 *********
NAME OF ATTORNEY(S): Perry Russell, Esq. **********************
ADDRESS OF ATTORNEY(S): 1325 Franklin Avenue, Suite 160, Garden City, NY 11530
ATTORNEY TELEPHONE NUMBER: (212) 471-5100
SHORT DESCRIPTION:
In the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, County of Allegheny, and 20TH Ward of the City of Pittsburgh:
HAVING ERECTED THEREON A DWELLING BEING KNOWN AND NUMBERED AS 3137 LANDIS STREET, PITTSBURGH, PA 15204. DEED BOOK VOLUME 9975, PAGE 8. BLOCK AND LOT NUMBER 0042-L00181-0000-00.
62FEB25
PLAINTIFF(S) Penn Hills School District and Municipality of Penn Hills VS.
DEFENDANT(S): Tonecia Parker ********************
CASE NO. GD 22-000733
DEBT: $8,514.94
NAME OF ATTORNEY(S): Jennifer L. Cerce, Esquire
ADDRESS OF ATTORNEY(S): 424 S. 27th Street, Ste. 210 Pittsburgh, PA 15203
**************************
ATTORNEY TELEPHONE NUMBER: (412) 242-4400
******************************** SHORT DESCRIPTION:
********************
In the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, County of Allegheny, Municipality of Penn Hills:
HAVING ERECTED THEREON A SINGLE FAMILY DWELLING BEING KNOWN AND NUMBERED AS 237 EMROSE DRIVE, PITTSBURGH, PA 15235. DEED BOOK 16338, PAGE 26. BLOCK AND LOT NUMBER 369-K-243.
63FEB25
PLAINTIFF(S) RIVERVIEW SCHOOL DISTRICT VS. DEFENDANT(S): MARILYN N. ANKER
******************** CASE NO. GD 22-007506
DEBT: $13,300.45
NAME OF ATTORNEY(S): Jennifer L. Cerce, Esquire
ADDRESS OF ATTORNEY(S): 424 S. 27th Street, Ste. 210 Pittsburgh, PA 15203
**************************
ATTORNEY TELEPHONE NUMBER: (412) 242-4400
******************************** SHORT DESCRIPTION:
********************
In the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, County of Allegheny, Borough of Verona: HAVING ERECTED THEREON A SINGLE FAMILY DWELLING BEING KNOWN AND NUMBERED AS 544 VOGELS LANE, VERONA, PA 15147. DEED BOOK 15547, PAGE 183. BLOCK AND LOT NUMBER 364-R-317.
64FEB25
PLAINTIFF(S) Wilkinsburg School District and Wilkinsburg Borough VS. DEFENDANT(S): Gayle A Price and James E. Price
******************** CASE NO. GD 23-010568
DEBT: $56,958.84
NAME OF ATTORNEY(S): Jennifer L. Cerce, Esquire
ADDRESS OF ATTORNEY(S): 424 S. 27th Street, Ste. 210 Pittsburgh, PA 15203
**************************
ATTORNEY TELEPHONE NUMBER: (412) 242-4400
******************************** SHORT DESCRIPTION:
******************** In the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, County of Allegheny, Borough of Wilkinsburg: HAVING ERECTED THEREON A SINGLE FAMILY DWELLING BEING KNOWN AND NUMBERED AS 556ARDMORE BOULEVARD, PITTSBURGH, PA 15221. DEED BOOK 12276, PAGE 496. BLOCK AND LOT NUMBER 233-L-112.
65FEB25
PLAINTIFF(S) South Allegheny School District VS. DEFENDANT(S): MTM DEVELOPMENT
******************** CASE NO. GD 23-010955
************ DEBT: $8,754.83
NAME OF ATTORNEY(S): Jennifer L. Cerce, Esquire
ADDRESS OF ATTORNEY(S): 424 S. 27th Street, Ste. 210 Pittsburgh, PA 15203
******************************** SHORT DESCRIPTION:
******************** In the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, County of Allegheny, Borough of Glassport: HAVING ERECTED THEREON A TWO
FAMILY DWELLING BEING KNOWN AND NUMBERED AS 813 VERMONT AVE., GLASSPORT, PA 15045. DEED BOOK 18618, PAGE 458. BLOCK AND LOT NUMBER 558-G-89.
66FEB25
DEFENDANT(S): IMMANUEL E. MURIN
******************** CASE NO. MG-19-000614
DEBT: $62,642.33
ATTORNEY TELEPHONE NUMBER: (412) 281-0587 ******************************** SHORT DESCRIPTION: ******************** In the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, County of Allegheny, Municipality of Penn Hills: Having erected thereon a two story commercial building being known as 11-19 Torrance St Pittsburgh, PA 15235. Deed Book Volume 17208, Page 322. Block & Lot No. l 73-M-303.
NAME OF ATTORNEY(S): LEON P. HALLER, ESQUIRE
ADDRESS OF ATTORNEY(S): PURCELL, KRUG AND HALLER 1719 NORTH FRONT STREET HARRISBURG, PA 17102
ATTORNEY TELEPHONE NUMBER: 717-234-4178
SHORT DESCRIPTION:
******************** In the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, County of Allegheny, Township of North Versailles: HAVING ERECTED THEREON A DWELLING BEING KNOWN AND NUMBERED AS 123 THOMAS AVENUE, NORTH VERSAILLES, PA 15137. DEED BOOK VOLUME 14098, PAGE 488. BLOCK AND LOT NUMBER 547-K-326.
67FEB25
DEFENDANT(S): Nelson Norris, Jr., and Vivian V. Norris
F/K/A Vivian V. Nelson
********************
CASE NO. GD-24-000938
DEBT: $67,454.50
*********
NAME OF ATTORNEY(S): Stem & Eisenberg, PC
ADDRESS OF ATTORNEY(S): The Shops at Valley Square, 1581 Main Street, Suite 200 Warrington, PA 18976
**************************
ATTORNEY TELEPHONE NUMBER: (215) 572-8111
SHORT DESCRIPTION:
******************** In the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, County of Allegheny and Municipality of Penn Hills: Having erected thereon a dwelling being known and numbered as 9620 Emerson Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15235. Deed Book Volume 10202, Page 344, Block and Lot Number 0295-P-0246.
68FEB25
DEFENDANT(S): John Christofis CASE NO.MG-24-000452
DEBT: $134,523.30 *********
NAME OF ATTORNEY(S): Stem & Eisenberg, PC
**********************
ADDRESS OF ATTORNEY(S): The Shops at Valley Square, 1581 Main Street, Suite 200 Warrington, PA 18976
**************************
ATTORNEY TELEPHONE NUMBER: (215) 572-8111
********************************
SHORT DESCRIPTION:
******************** In the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, County of Allegheny and the 32nd Ward of the City of Pittsburgh: Having erected thereon a dwelling being known and numbered as 2291 Bernard St, Pittsburgh, PA 15234. Deed Book Volume 5483, Page 365, Block and Lot Number 0096-S-0278.
69FEB25
DEFENDANT(S): LINDA MCEVOY
********************
CASE NO.MG-16-000820
************ DEBT: $100,044.72
NAME OF ATTORNEY(S): Jill M. Fein, Esquire/ Hill Wallack LLP
ADDRESS OF ATTORNEY(S): 1000 Floral Vale Boulevard, Suite 300, Yardley, PA 19067
******************** In the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, County of Allegheny, Borough of Elizabeth HAVING ERECTED THEREON A TWO-STORY RESIDENTIAL DWELLING KNOWN AND NUMBERED AS 923 7TH A VE, ELIZABETH, PA 15037 DEED BOOK VOLUME 11680, PAGE 443. BLOCK & LOT NO. 1272-C-270.
70FEB25
DEFENDANT(S): Jason A. Andrews CASE NO.MG-23-000273
************ DEBT: $1,141,258.71
*********
NAME OF ATTORNEY(S): J. Michael McCague, Esquire
********************** ADDRESS OF ATTORNEY(S): 408 Cedar Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15212
******************** In the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, County of Allegheny, Town of McCandless: HAVING ERECTED THEREON A SINGLE FAMILY DWELLING BEING KNOWN AND NUMBERED AS 9200 TANBARK DRIVE, PITTSBURGH, PA 15237. DEED BOOK VOLUME 14936, PAGE 249, BLOCK AND LOT NUMBER 824-J-277.
71FEB25
DEFENDANT(S): Titus Lamar Morris, Member of Royal Realty by TLM LLC and Royal Realty By TLM, LLC c/o Titus Lamar Morris, Member
******************** CASE NO.MG-23-001114
DEBT: $206,047.34
NAME OF ATTORNEY(S): Stephen M. Hladik, Esquire
ADDRESS OF ATTORNEY(S): Hladik, Onorato and Federman, LLP 298 Wissahickon Avenue, North Wales, PA 19454
ATTORNEY TELEPHONE NUMBER: (215) 855-9521
SHORT DESCRIPTION: ******************** In the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, County of Allegheny, 27TH WARD OF THE CITY OF PITTSBURGH: HAVING ERECTED THEREON A TWO FAMILY RESIDENTIAL DWELLING BEING KNOWN
NOTICE OF DEFAULT AND FORECLOSURE SALE
WHEREAS, on February 07, 2008, a certain mortgage was executed by AARON L. SEATE, as mortgagor in favor of BANK OF AMERICA, N.A. as mortgagee and was recorded in Office of the Recorder of Deeds of Allegheny County in Mortgage Book M VL-35009 Page 164 Instrument # 2008-11912 (“Mortgage”); and WHEREAS, the Mortgage encumbers property located at 1391 Laketon Road Pittsburgh, PA 15221, parcel number 0232L00126000000(“Property”); and WHEREAS, Record Owner AARON L. SEATE is deceased. By operation of law, title vested solely in ALMETTA SEATE. ALMETTA SEATE died on 03/23/22 and Letters Testamentary were granted to Minette M. Seate on 06/01/22 by the Register of Wills of Allegheny County, File No.: 02-22-03580. ALMETTA SEATE is hereby released of liability pursuant to Pa.R.C.P. 1144. ;and WHEREAS, the Property was owned by AARON L. SEATE by virtue of deed dated 12/2/1963 and recorded 12/7/1963 in Book:4115 Page:288 ;and WHEREAS, the Mortgage is now owned by the Secretary of the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development (“Secretary”), pursuant to an assignment recorded on 12/13/2018 in Book M VL-50062 Page 184 Instrument # 2018-83882, in the Office of the Recorder of Deeds of Allegheny County, Pennsylvania; and WHEREAS, a default has been made in the covenants and conditions of the Mortgage (paragraph 9 (a)(i)), as ALMETTA SEATE died on 03/23/2022 and that upon the death the entire principal balance becomes due and owing, and that no payment was made, and remains wholly unpaid as of the date of this Notice; and WHEREAS, the entire amount delinquent as of 9/3/2024 is $63,469.52 plus interest, costs and other charges through the sale date; and WHEREAS, by virtue of this default, the Secretary has declared the entire amount of the indebtedness secured by the Mortgage to be immediately due and payable;
NOW THEREFORE, pursuant to powers vested in me by the Single Family Mortgage Foreclosure Act of 1994, l2 U.S.C. 3751 et seq., by 24 CFR Part 29, and by the Secretary’s designation of me as Foreclosure Commissioner, recorded on 06/28/2012 in Misc. Bk-DE, Vl-14933, Pg-17, in the Office of the Recorder of Deeds of Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, notice is hereby given that on 02/05/2025; at 10:00 AM at at the Main Entrance of the Allegheny County Courthouse located at 436 Grant St, Pittsburgh, PA 15219 all real property and personal property at or used in connection with the following described premises will be sold at public action to the highest bidder:
ALL that certain lot or piece of ground situate in the Borough of Wilkinsburg, County of Allegheny and Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, bounded and described as follows:
BEGINNING at a point on the northerly side of Laketon Road, distant North 65 degrees 40 minutes East, 41.41 feet from the easterly line of property conveyed by Mary M. Herr to Frank H. Davis by deed dated August 23, 1927 and recorded in Deed Book Volume 2340, Page 218; thence from said point of beginning, North 65 degrees 40 minutes East, along the northerly side of Laketon Road, a distance of 41.41 feet to a point on the line of property conveyed by Belva D. Swope, widow, to Ernest J. Kight, et ux, by deed recorded in Deed Book Volume 3234, Page 363; thence North 39 degrees 20 minutes West, along said Kight line, a distance of 239.73 feet to a point; thence South 50 degrees 40 minutes West, a distance of 40 feet to a point; thence South 39 degrees 20 minutes East, a distance of 229.02 feet to the northerly side of Laketon Road aforesaid, the place of beginning.
The sale will be held 02/05/2025; at 10:00 AM at at the Main Entrance of the Allegheny County Courthouse located at 436 Grant St, Pittsburgh, PA 15219. The Secretary of Housing and Urban Development will bid $63,469.52 plus interest, costs and other charges through the sale date. Ten percent (10%) of the highest bid is the deposit required at the sale. The amount that must be paid to HUD by the mortgagors or someone acting on their behalf so that the sale may be stayed is the total delinquent amount of $63,469.52 as of 09/03/2024, plus all other amounts that would be due under the mortgage agreement if payments under the mortgage had not been accelerated, advertising costs and postage expenses incurred in giving notice, mileage by the most reasonable road distance for posting notices and for the Foreclosure Commissioner’s attendance at the sale, reasonable and customary costs incurred for title and lien record searches, the necessary out-of-pocket costs incurred by the Foreclosure Commissioner for recording documents, a commission for the Foreclosure Commissioner, and all other costs incurred in connection with the foreclosure prior to reinstatement.
There will be no proration of taxes, rents or other income or liabilities, except that the purchaser will pay, at or before closing, his prorata share of any real estate taxes that have been paid by the Secretary to the date of the foreclosure sale.
When making their bid, all bidders, except the Secretary, must submit a deposit totaling ten percent 10% of the Secretary’s bid as set forth above in the form of a certified check or cashier’s check made out to the Secretary of HUD. Each oral bid need not be accompanied by a deposit. If the successful bid is oral, a deposit of ten (10%) percent must be presented before the bidding is closed. The deposit is nonrefundable. The remainder of the purchase price must be delivered within thirty (30) days of the sale or at such other time as the Secretary may determine for good cause shown, time being of the essence. This amount, like the bid deposits, must be delivered in the form of a certified or cashier’s check. If the Secretary is the high bidder, he need not pay the bid amount in cash. The successful bidder will pay all conveyance fees, all real estate and other taxes that are due on or after the delivery of the remainder of the payment and all other costs associated with the transfer of title. At the conclusion of the sale, the deposits of the unsuccessful bidders will be returned to them. The Secretary may grant an extension of time within which to deliver the remainder of the payment. All extensions will be for fifteen (15) days, and a fee will be charged in the amount of $150.00 for each fifteen (15) day extension requested. The extension fee shall be paid in the form of a certified or cashier’s check made payable to the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development. If the high bidder closes the sale prior to the expiration of any extension period, the unused portion of the extension fee shall be applied toward the amount due.
If the high bidder is unable to close the sale within the required period, or within any extensions of time granted by the Secretary, the high bidder’s deposit will be forfeited, and the Commissioner may, at the direction of the HUD Field Office Representative, offer the Property to the second highest bidder for an amount equal to the highest price offered by that bidder. There is no right of redemption, or right of possession based upon a right of redemption, in the mortgagor or others subsequent to a foreclosure completed pursuant to the Act. Therefore, the Foreclosure Commissioner will issue a Deed to the purchaser(s) upon receipt of the entire purchase price in accordance with the terms of the sale as provided herein.
KML LAW GROUP, P.C. Foreclosure Commissioners (215-825-6305)
NOTICE OF DEFAULT AND FORECLOSURE SALE
WHEREAS, on February 16, 2011, a certain mortgage was executed by DOROTHY M. DAYTON, as mortgagor in favor of WELLS FARGO BANK, N.A. as mortgagee and was recorded in Office of the Recorder of Deeds of Allegheny County in Mortgage Book M VL-39197, Page 298 or Document 2011-18213 (“Mortgage”); and WHEREAS, the Mortgage encumbers property located at 1616 Concordia Street Pittsburgh, PA 15210, parcel number 60-G-219(“Property”); and WHEREAS, Mortgagor/Record Owner DOROTHY M. DAYTON died on 02/03/20 intestate and is survived by no known heirs. ;and WHEREAS, the Property was owned by DOROTHY M. DAYTON by virtue of deed dated 6/27/1993 and recorded 6/28/1993 in Book:8994 Page:376 ;and WHEREAS, the Mortgage is now owned by the Secretary of the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development (“Secretary”), pursuant to an assignment recorded on 9/21/2018 in Book M VL-49771, Page 466 or Document 2018-64480, in the Office of the Recorder of Deeds of Allegheny County, Pennsylvania; and WHEREAS, a default has been made in the covenants and conditions of the Mortgage (paragraph 9 (a)(i)), as DOROTHY M. DAYTON died on 02/03/2020 and that upon the death the entire principal balance becomes due and owing, and that no payment was made, and remains wholly unpaid as of the date of this Notice; and WHEREAS, the entire amount delinquent as of 9/10/2024 is $90,351.90 plus interest, costs and other charges through the sale date; and WHEREAS, by virtue of this default, the Secretary has declared the entire amount of the indebtedness secured by the Mortgage to be immediately due and payable;
NOW THEREFORE, pursuant to powers vested in me by the Single Family Mortgage Foreclosure Act of 1994, l2 U.S.C. 3751 et seq., by 24 CFR Part 29, and by the Secretary’s designation of me as Foreclosure Commissioner, recorded on 06/28/2012 in Misc. Bk-DE, Vl-14933 Page-17, in the Office of the Recorder of Deeds of Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, notice is hereby given that on 02/05/2025; at 10:00 AM at at the Main Entrance of the Allegheny County Courthouse located at 436 Grant St, Pittsburgh, PA 15219 all real property and personal property at or used in connection with the following described premises will be sold at public action to the highest bidder:
File No. LRC702-490
All those certain lots or pieces of ground situate in the 29th Ward of the City of Pittsburgh, County of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, being Lots Nos. 19, 20 and 21 in the Plan Book Volume 19, page 8. Having erected thereon a building.
60-G-219
The sale will be held 02/05/2025; at 10:00 AM at at the Main Entrance of the Allegheny County Courthouse located at 436 Grant St, Pittsburgh, PA 15219. The Secretary of Housing and Urban Development will bid $90,351.90 plus interest, costs and other charges through the sale date. Ten percent (10%) of the highest bid is the deposit required at the sale. The amount that must be paid to HUD by the mortgagors or someone acting on their behalf so that the sale may be stayed is the total delinquent amount of $90,351.90 as of 09/10/2024, plus all other amounts that would be due under the mortgage agreement if payments under the mortgage had not been accelerated, advertising costs and postage expenses incurred in giving notice, mileage by the most reasonable road distance for posting notices and for the Foreclosure Commissioner’s attendance at the sale, reasonable and customary costs incurred for title and lien record searches, the necessary out-of-pocket costs incurred by the Foreclosure Commissioner for recording documents, a commission for the Foreclosure Commissioner, and all other costs incurred in connection with the foreclosure prior to reinstatement.
There will be no proration of taxes, rents or other income or liabilities, except that the purchaser will pay, at or before closing, his prorata share of any real estate taxes that have been paid by the Secretary to the date of the foreclosure sale.
When making their bid, all bidders, except the Secretary, must submit a deposit totaling ten percent 10% of the Secretary’s bid as set forth above in the form of a certified check or cashier’s check made out to the Secretary of HUD. Each oral bid need not be accompanied by a deposit. If t he successful bid is oral, a deposit of ten (10%) percent must be presented before the bidding is closed. The deposit is nonrefundable. The remainder of the purchase price must be delivered within thirty (30) days of the sale or at such other time as the Secretary may determine for good cause shown, time being of the essence. This amount, like the bid deposits, must be delivered in the form of a certified or cashier’s check. If the Secretary is the high bidder, he need not pay the bid amount in cash. The successful bidder will pay all conveyance fees, all real estate and other taxes that are due on or after the delivery of the remainder of the payment and all other costs associated with the transfer of title. At the conclusion of the sale, the deposits of the unsuccessful bidders will be returned to them.
The Secretary may grant an extension of time within which to deliver the remainder of the payment. All extensions will be for fifteen (15) days, and a fee will be charged in the amount of $150.00 for each fifteen (15) day extension requested. The extension fee shall be paid in the form of a certified or cashier’s check made payable to the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development. If the high bidder closes the sale prior to the expiration of any extension period, the unused portion of the extension fee shall be applied toward the amount due.
If the high bidder is unable to close the sale within the required period, or within any extensions of time granted by the Secretary, the high bidder’s deposit will be forfeited, and the Commissioner may, at the direction of the HUD Field Office Representative, offer the Property to the second highest bidder for an amount equal to the highest price offered by that bidder.
There is no right of redemption, or right of possession based upon a right of redemption, in the mortgagor or others subsequent to a foreclosure completed pursuant to the Act. Therefore, the Foreclosure Commissioner will issue a Deed to the purchaser(s) upon receipt of the entire purchase price in accordance with the terms of the sale as provided herein.
KML LAW GROUP, P.C. Foreclosure Commissioners (215-825-6305)
ANNOUNCEMENTS Public Notice
ANNOUNCEMENTS
ANNOUNCEMENTS Public Notice
NOTICE OF DEFAULT AND FORECLOSURE SALE
WHEREAS, on December 21, 2012, a certain mortgage was executed by ORASTIO SCOUMIS and MARTHA MARIE SCOUMIS, as mortgagor in favor of MORTGAGE ELECTRONIC REGISTRATION SYSTEMS, INC., AS MORTGAGEE, AS NOMINEE FOR AMERICAN NEIGHBORHOOD MORTGAGE ACCEPTANCE CO LLC DBA ANNIE MAC HOME MORTAGE, ITS SUCCESSORS AND ASSIGNS as mortgagee and was recorded in Office of the Recorder of Deeds of Allegheny County in Mortgage Book M VL 41951 Page 330 Instrument # 2013-259 (“Mortgage”); and WHEREAS, the Mortgage encumbers property located at 810 Jackman Avenue Pittsburgh, PA 15202, parcel number 0159-H-00099-0000-00(“Property”); and WHEREAS, Mortgagor/Record Owner MARTHA MARIE SCOUMIS died on 05/08/14. By operation of law title vests solely in ORASTIO SCOUMIS and MARTHA MARIE SCOUMIS is hereby released of liability pursuant to Pa.R.C.P. 1144. ORASTIO SCOUMIS died on 12/17/21 intestate and is survived by his heir(s)-at-law, Kathy Lansittel and Connie Scoumis Bulgarelli aka Constantina Bulgarelli ;and WHEREAS, the Property was owned by ORASTIO SCOUMIS & MARTHA MARIE SCOUMIS by virtue of deed dated 11/21/1977 and recorded 12/20/1977 in Book 5882 Page 204 and Instrument #93209 ;and WHEREAS, the Mortgage is now owned by the Secretary of the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development (“Secretary”), pursuant to an assignment recorded on 8/28/2018 in Book M VL 49686 Page 394 Instrument # 2018-59027, in the Office of the Recorder of Deeds of Allegheny County, Pennsylvania; and WHEREAS, a default has been made in the covenants and conditions of the Mortgage (paragraph 9 (a)(i)), as ORASTIO SCOUMIS died on 12/17/2021 and that upon the death the entire principal balance becomes due and owing, and that no payment was made, and remains wholly unpaid as of the date of this Notice; and WHEREAS, the entire amount delinquent as of 9/3/2024 is $143,885.09 plus interest, costs and other charges through the sale date; and WHEREAS, by virtue of this default, the Secretary has declared the entire amount of the indebtedness secured by the Mortgage to be immediately due and payable; NOW THEREFORE, pursuant to powers vested in me by the Single Family Mortgage Foreclosure Act of 1994, l2 U.S.C. 3751 et seq., by 24 CFR Part 29, and by the Secretary’s designation of me as Foreclosure Commissioner, recorded on 06/28/2012 in Misc. Bk-DE, Vl-14933 PG 17, in the Office of the Recorder of Deeds of Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, notice is hereby given that on 2/5/2025 at 10:00 AM at the Main Entrance of the Allegheny County Courthouse located at 436 Grant St, Pittsburgh, PA 15219 all real property and personal property at or used in connection with the following described premises will be sold at public action to the highest bidder: ALL THAT CERTAIN property in the Avalon Borough, County of Allegheny and Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Parcel ID # 0159-H-00099, being more fully described in Deed dated November 21, 1977, and recorded December 20, 1977, in the land records of the County and State set forth above, in Deed Book 5882, page 204. BEING the same premises which Orastio Scoumis and Martha Marie Scoumis, his wife, by Deed dated November 21, 1977, and recorded December 20, 1977, in the Allegheny County Recorder of Deeds Office, in Deed Book 5882, page 204, granted and conveyed unto Orastio Scoumis and Martha Marie Scoumis, his wife, in fee simple.
The sale will be held 2/5/2024 at 10:00 AM at the Main Entrance of the Allegheny County Courthouse located at 436 Grant St, Pittsburgh, PA 15219. The Secretary of Housing and Urban Development will bid $143,885.09 plus interest, costs and other charges through the sale date. Ten percent (10%) of the highest bid is the deposit required at the sale. The amount that must be paid to HUD by the mortgagors or someone acting on their behalf so that the sale may be stayed is the total delinquent amount of $143,885.09 as of 09/03/2024, plus all other amounts that would be due under the mortgage agreement if payments under the mortgage had not been accelerated, advertising costs and postage expenses incurred in giving notice, mileage by the most reasonable road distance for posting notices and for the Foreclosure Commissioner’s attendance at the sale, reasonable and customary costs incurred for title and lien record searches, the necessary out-of-pocket costs incurred by the Foreclosure Commissioner for recording documents, a commission for the Foreclosure Commissioner, and all other costs incurred in connection with the foreclosure prior to reinstatement.
There will be no proration of taxes, rents or other income or liabilities, except that the purchaser will pay, at or before closing, his prorata share of any real estate taxes that have been paid by the Secretary to the date of the foreclosure sale.
When making their bid, all bidders, except the Secretary, must submit a deposit totaling ten percent 10% of the Secretary’s bid as set forth above in the form of a certified check or cashier’s check made out to the Secretary of HUD. Each oral bid need not be accompanied by a deposit. If the successful bid is oral, a deposit of ten (10%) percent must be presented before the bidding is closed. The deposit is nonrefundable. The remainder of the purchase price must be delivered within thirty (30) days of the sale or at such other time as the Secretary may determine for good cause shown, time being of the essence. This amount, like the bid deposits, must be delivered in the form of a certified or cashier’s check. If the Secretary is the high bidder, he need not pay the bid amount in cash. The successful bidder will pay all conveyance fees, all real estate and other taxes that are due on or after the delivery of the remainder of the payment and all other costs associated with the transfer of title. At the conclusion of the sale, the deposits of the unsuccessful bidders will be returned to them. The Secretary may grant an extension of time within which to deliver the remainder of the payment. All extensions will be for fifteen (15) days, and a fee will be charged in the amount of $150.00 for each fifteen (15) day extension requested. The extension fee shall be paid in the form of a certified or cashier’s check made payable to the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development. If the high bidder closes the sale prior to the expiration of any extension period, the unused portion of the extension fee shall be applied toward the amount due. If the high bidder is unable to close the sale within the required period, or within any extensions of time granted by the Secretary, the high bidder’s deposit will be forfeited, and the Commissioner may, at the direction of the HUD Field Office Representative, offer the Property to the second highest bidder for an amount equal to the highest price offered by that bidder. There is no right of redemption, or right of possession based upon a right of redemption, in the mortgagor or others subsequent to a foreclosure completed pursuant to the Act. Therefore, the Foreclosure Commissioner will issue a Deed to the purchaser(s) upon receipt of the entire purchase price in accordance with the terms of the sale as provided herein. KML LAW GROUP, P.C. Foreclosure Commissioners (215-825-6305)
LEGAL ADVERTISING Legal Notices
Estate of GLENVIE BYRD deceased of Pittsburgh, PA, Estate No. 022407248 Courtney Buggs and Ashley Byrd, Administrators oR To Quinntarra Morant, Esq., PO Box 10946, Pittsburgh, PA 15236
Estate of LAVERNE T. BATH, Deceased of Bridgeville, Allegheny, Pennsylvania, No. 02-24-08084, Nancy L. Pleasants, Executor, 112 Vista Court, Oakdale, PA 15071 or to ROBIN L. RARIE, Atty; BRENLOVE & FULLER, LLC. 401 Washington Avenue, Bridgeville, PA 15017
Estate of JAMES E. MARASCO, JR. Case No. 7267 of 2023. Geraldine Marasco appointed Administratrix by Order dated October 23, 2023. Peter B. Lewis, Neighborhood Legal Services, 928 Penn Ave., Pittsburgh, PA 15222, Counsel.
Estate of KEITH ALLEN REVAK, deceased of North Belle Vernon, PA, No. 65-24-1264, Keith Revak, Adm., 211 Edgewood Avenue, Trafford, PA 15085 OR to Jennifer Roller Chontos, Chontos & Chontos, P.C., 561 Beulah Road, Turtle Creek, PA 15145.
ANNOUNCEMENTS Meetings PUBLIC NOTICE ALLEGHENY COUNTY SANITARY AUTHORITY
The Finance Committee of the Allegheny County Sanitary Authority will hold a special meeting for general purposes on Monday, January 27, 2025, at 3:30 p.m. prevailing time, in the Trefz Board Room at its offices located at 3300 Preble Avenue, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15233. Official action on the Committee’s recommendations will take place at a regular meeting of the Board of Directors at a later date. The public may view the meeting via livestream by visiting www.alcosan.org.
MEETING ANNOUNCEMENT COMMUNITY COLLEGE OF ALLEGHENY COUNTY
A regular meeting of the Board of Trustees of the College will be held on: February 6, 2025 4:30 PM CCAC Allegheny Campus- Byers Hall 808 Ridge Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15212
Meetings
TOWNSHIP OF WILKINS
PUBLIC NOTICE OF INTENT TO ADOPT PROPOSED ORDINANCE NUMBER 1132
The Wilkins Township Board of Commissioners will consider adoption of the following Ordinance at a public meeting to be held on the 10th day of February 2025 at 7:00 p.m. in the Municipal Building, 110 Peffer Road, Wilkins Township, Pennsylvania. The complete text of the Ordinance is on file and may be inspected in the Office of the Township Secretary at the aforesaid Municipal Building during normal business hours.
The title and a summary of the ordinance is as follows.
PROPOSED ORDINANCE #1132
TITLE
AN ORDINANCE OF THE TOWNSHIP OF WILKINS, ALLEGHENY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA, AMENDING ORDINANCE 1131, WHICH ESTABLISHED THE COMPENSATION OF THE TOWNSHIP MANAGER, ASSISTANT TOWNSHIP MANAGER, CHIEF OF POLICE, PUBLIC WORKS SUPERINTENDENT, BUILDING AND FIRE INSPECTOR AND OFFICE PERSONNEL TO REMEDY AN ERROR IN THE COMPENSATION OF THE BUILLDING AND FIRE INSPECTOR
SUMMARY
The Ordinance amends the Building and Fire Inspector’s salary from $66,700 to $69,700.
LEGAL ADVERTISING
Bids/Proposals
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 February 18, 2025, until 2:00 P.M., local prevailing time for:
Pittsburgh Obama Finish Floor Replacement and Miscellaneous Work General and Asbestos Primes
Project Manual and Drawings will be available for purchase on January 27, 2025, 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.
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 Tuesday, February 18, 2025, until 2:00 P.M., local prevailing time for:
Pittsburgh Allderdice High School Install Steam Boilers Mechanical, Electrical, General, and Plumbing Primes
Project Manual and Drawings will be available for purchase on Friday, January 10, 2025, 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.
PUBLIC NOTICE REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS PROVISION OF A SYSTEMWIDE FIXED ROUTE STUDY
The Mid Mon Valley Transit Authority (MMVTA) will receive sealed proposals for the provision of a systemwide fixed route study at the MMVTA, 1300 McKean Avenue, Charleroi, PA 150222135, until 3:00 PM on Monday, March 31, 2025. At this time, technical proposals received will be publicly opened and recorded by name and number of copies. Proposal information is available to be picked up, mailed, faxed or e-mailed during normal business hours (Monday-Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM) by contacting Stephanie Lee, MMVTA Operations Coordinator, slee@mmvta.com, 724-489-0880. MMVTA has implemented positive affirmative action procedures to ensure that all Disadvantaged Business Enterprises (DBE), Small Businesses (SBE), and other Diverse Businesses (DB), including Veterans, have maximum opportunity to participate in the performance of contracts and subcontracts financed in whole or in part, with Federal and State funds provided for in this Project. The MMVTA does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin or sex in the award and performance of FTA-assisted contracts. A Pre-Proposal Conference will be held at MMVTA’s administrative offices in Charleroi, PA on Wednesday, February 19, 2025 at 11:00 AM.
PORT AUTHORITY OF ALLEGHENY COUNTY d.b.a. PRT
Electronic Proposals will be received online at PRT’s Ebusiness website (http://ebusiness.portauthority.org). Proposals/bid submittals will be due 11:00 AM on February 13, 2025, and will be read at 11:15 AM., the same day, through your web browser via Microsoft Teams video conferencing, for the following: Electronic Proposal - Ebusiness website (http://ebusiness.portauthority.org)
Bid Number Bid Name 1 B25-01-01 CRP-Air Conditioning Compressors & Clutches 2 B25-01-03 Coach Radiator Assemblies
To join the bid opening through Microsoft Teams meeting on your computer, mobile app or room device
Meeting ID: 231 400 999 093
Passcode: Nf3Pv9WT
Or call in (audio only)
412-927-0245
Phone Conference ID: 338 244 355#
No bidder may withdraw a submitted Proposal for a period of 75 days after the scheduled time for opening of the sealed bids.
A Pre-Bid Conference will be held on each of the above items at 10:00 AM on January 30, 2025, through your web browser via Microsoft Teams video conferencing.
Join on your computer, mobile app or room device
Meeting ID: 232 113 024 51
Passcode: 2mH2BJ3e
Or call in (audio only)
412-927-0245
Phone Conference ID: 728 312 167#
Attendance at this meeting is not mandatory but is strongly encouraged.
Questions regarding any of the above bids will not be entertained by the PRT within five (5) business days of the scheduled bid opening. These contracts may be subject to a financial assistance contract between Port Authority of Allegheny County d.b.a. PRT and the United States Department of Transportation. The Contractor will be required to comply with all applicable Equal Employment Opportunity laws and regulations. Contractor is responsible for expenses related to acquiring a performance bond and insurance where applicable. All items are to be FOB delivered unless otherwise specified. Costs for delivery, bond, and insurance shall be included in bidder’s proposal pricing. Port Authority of Allegheny County d.b.a. PRT hereby notifies all bidders that it will affirmatively insure that in regard to any contract entered into pursuant to this advertisement, disadvantaged business enterprise will be afforded full opportunity to submit bids in response to this invitation and will not be discriminated against on the grounds of race, color, or national origin in consideration for an award.
The Board of PRT reserves the right to reject any or all bids.
NOTICE TO BIDDERS EMSWORTH BOROUGH ALLEGHENY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
Sealed Proposals will be received by Emsworth Borough at the Municipal Building, 171 Center Avenue, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15202, until Thursday, February 6th, 2025 at 11:00 A.M., prevailing time, for the following project:
2025 CORRECTIVE ACTION REPAIRS CONTRACT
Base Bid
This project involves sanitary sewer rehabilitation work including, but not limited to, approximately over 6,000 linear feet of full length 8” to 12” CIPP lining; pre and post CCTV inspection; internal reinstatement of active service laterals; internal removal of protruding service laterals; heavy cleaning; Sanitary Manhole Frame and Lid Replacement; site restoration; resident, business and Borough notifications; bypass pumping; traffic control; site restoration; curtain grouting, excavation repairs, wye replacements, manhole adjustments and installations, and chimney seal installations as needed, and all appurtenances required by the Contract Documents, complete in place.
Additional Bid
This project involves sanitary sewer rehabilitation work including, but not limited to, CIPP Lining Mechanical End Seals, site restoration and all appurtenances required by the Contract Documents, complete in place. Proposals shall be delivered in a sealed envelope that is clearly marked on the outside with the wording “2025 EMSWORTH BOROUGH CORRECTIVE ACTION REPAIRS CONTRACT”. All proposals shall be marked to the attention of Cathy Jones, Borough Secretary, before 11:00 a.m. prevailing time, Thursday, February 6, 2025, delivered to 171 Center Avenue, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15202 where the same will be publicly opened and read aloud.
Pennsylvania Prevailing wage rates will be required on this Contract. Copies of Drawings, Specifications, Instructions to Bidders, General Conditions, Forms of Proposals and Agreements are on file and open to public inspection at the office of The Gateway Engin¬eers, Inc., 100 McMorris Road, Pittsburgh, PA 15205 where sets of said documents may be obtained upon payment of twenty-five ($ 25.00) dollars. No refunds or exchange will be made for the return of any documents. An additional ten ($10.00) dollar mailing fee will be charged for documents delivered by U.S. Mail. Electronic copies of the Contract Documents will be made available to Bidders at no charge upon request. Please send e-mail requests to the Gateway Engineers to the attention of Christa Klingensmith (cklingensmith@gatewayengineers.com) or Dennis Flynn (dflynn@gatewayengineers.com).
Performance and Labor and Material Payment Bonds, along with Public Liability and Property Damage Certificates of Insurance in the amounts specified, as well as Certificates of Workman’s Compensation must be filed with the executed Agreement.
Proposals must be submitted on the forms provided by the Borough. Proposals must be accompanied by a Certified Check or Bidder’s Bond from a Surety Company authorized to do business in Pennsylvania, made to the order of Emsworth Borough in an amount equal to ten (10%) percent of the total amount of the Proposal as a guarantee that, if the Proposal is accepted, the successful Bidder will enter into an Agreement within fifteen (15) days after Notice of the Award of the Contract.
The Borough expressly reserves the right to reject any or all Proposals, or any part thereof, for any reason, and specifically reserves the right to waive any informality therein. Bidders are also advised that the Borough reserves the right to award to the lowest responsible, responsive, and qualified Bidder a contract for all or any portions of the work listed in the Proposal, and in awarding a contract for less than the work listed, or less than all portions of the work listed, the contract price will be determined from the total quantities for each item listed and the unit price for each item listed. Proposals must be made to Emsworth Borough, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, and shall remain firm for a period of sixty (60) days. No Bidder may withdraw his Proposal during the sixty (60) day period without forfeiting his Bid guarantee.
BY: Cathy Jones Borough Secretary
JOB OPPORTUNITIES
Help Wanted
Hitachi Rail STS USA, Inc., headquartered in
GRANTS WRITER/RESEARCHER
MANCHESTER BIDWELL
CORPORATION
Responsible for coordinating collection of information for grant proposal submissions, writing accurate and timely proposals, and researching funding opportunities. Bachelor’s degree required. Grant writing experience preferred. Demonstrated proficiency in conducting Internet -based research and an understanding of basic budget information. Proficiency with MS Office applications. Experience with online search tools and CRM software preferred.
Send Resume with cover letter and salary requirements to resumes@manchesterbidwell.org
EOE
SCHOOL SUPPORT SPECIALIST
BIDWELL TRAINING CENTER
Performs high level project and administrative support work to the Executive Director and student information system troubleshooting. Serves as a point of contact for internal and external constituencies on matters pertaining to school operations. Associate degree preferred, high school diploma or G.E.D. required. Minimum 5 years administrative experience, preferably in an academic or nonprofit setting. Advanced or expert proficiency with Microsoft Office applications required.
Send Resume with cover letter and salary requirements to resumes@manchesterbidwell.org
EOE
BIDWELL TRAINING CENTER
Instructs adult students in topics such as sterile and non-sterile compounding, pharmacology of medications, and prescription processing and distribution in accordance with Dept of Education licensing regulations and job market demands. 3 yrs experience within institutional pharmacy industry required. Must have demonstrated ability to communicate with a diverse population, possess strong working knowledge of MS Office applications, have a valid U.S. driver’s license and an insurable driving record.
Send Resume with cover letter and salary requirements to resumes@manchesterbidwell.org
EOE
WATER/SEWER UTILITY
WORKER
The Monroeville Municipal Authority (MMA) is seeking qualified applicants for the position of full-time Utility Worker. Benefits include health, dental, vision, paid time off and retirement plan. Valid PA Commercial Driver’s License (CDL), Class B or higher with Tanker endorsement is required or the ability to obtain within six (6) months of employment. Applicants must reside and be domiciled within a seven (7) air-mile radius of MMA facility or comply within six (6) months of employment. Minimum 2 years of experience in construction of water/sewer systems or similar required. Applicants with heavy equipment operation, electrical, and plumbing experience are highly preferred. Applicants must pass pre-employment drug screening, criminal background check and medical exam prior to job offer. View full job summary and employment application at www.monroevillewater.org. Applications will be accepted until February 10, 2025, at 219 Speelman Lane, Monroeville PA 15146.
ENTRY LEVEL POLICE OFFICER
The City of Altoona is now accepting applications for Entry Level Police Officers. Information and applications are available online at www.altoonapa.gov and in the Human Resources Department of City Hall at 1301 12th Street, Suite 400, Altoona, PA. Applications and applicable supporting documentation must be submitted to the Human Resources Department by Noon on Friday, February 21, 2025.
The City of Altoona is an Equal Opportunity Employer
RHEUMATOLOGISTS
(MULTIPLE OPENINGS)
– University of Pittsburgh Physicians seeks Rheumatologists in Pittsburgh, PA to diagnose, treat, and manage a broad range of conditions, including inflammatory (rheumatic) disorders that affect muscles, joints, and bones; connective tissue diseases that affect supporting structures such as ligaments and tendons; and autoimmune diseases. Must have a Medical degree or equivalent; completion of residency training in Internal Medicine; completion of fellowship in Rheumatology; Must be Board certified or eligible for certification in Internal Medicine and Rheumatology; must have a valid unrestricted PA medical license or eligibility. Apply by following these steps; visit http://careers.upmc.com and enter 2500004A in the “Search Keyword/Job ID” field and click Go. EOE.
RADIOLOGIST–THORACIC
IMAGING (MULTIPLE OPENINGS)
– University of Pittsburgh Physicians seek Radiologists–Thoracic Imaging in Allegheny and Butler counties, PA to diagnose and treat cardiothoracic related illnesses/conditions through utilization of X-ray machine, ultrasound, CT, Cardiac CT, MRI, as well as other radiographic studies. Assess patient’s medical history, review test results, and address concerns/ questions. Make a diagnosis and develop a treatment plan. Participate in the teaching of residents, medical students, and fellows. Must have a Medical degree or equivalent; must have completed post-graduate residency training in Radiology, must have completed one year of fellowship training in Cardiothoracic Imaging; must have a valid PA medical license or eligibility. Apply by following these steps; visit http://careers.upmc.com and enter 2500004B in the “Search Keyword/Job ID” field and click Go. EOE.
SPECIAL SERVICE ASSOCIATE
Pittsburgh Regional Transit is seeking a Special Service Associate to under the general guidance of the department management, provides support and assistance in the execution of daily operating activities, to develop, communicate and implement bus and rail detours or temporary routings for planned construction projects, emergency closures, special events and temporary stop discontinuances.
Essential Functions:
• Supports the Special Services, Events & Detours team along with Road Operations and Customer Service, by installing or setting-up detours in the Disruption Management System of Clever CAD. Resolves conflicts or escalates the set-up issue to team management.
• Communicates as necessary with the Operations Command Center (OCC) in their efforts to maintain and adjust service, improve on time performance and the customer experience; provide necessary detours to Operations and Communications Departments, for major special events, service disruptions, natural or man-made emergencies. Communicates from the office or in the field.
• Participates with department management in the drafting, creation, planning, production, placement and removal of temporary Bus & Rail Rider Alert and Stop Change signs during major special events or construction projects.
Job requirements include:
• High school diploma or GED.
• Minimum of three (3) years’ experience as a Bus or Light Rail Vehicle Operator, or five (5) years’ of customer service experience.
• A willingness to respond and attend special event assignments or emergencies on a 24/7 basis as needed.
• Effective and professional communications (especially excellent writing) skills.
• Through knowledge of the Pittsburgh Regional Transit service area, and those of other transit providers.
• Thorough knowledge of the southwestern Pennsylvania highways, road, and street networks.
• Demonstrated ability in the use of Windows.
• Customer and safety focused.
Preferred attributes:
• A minimum of four (4) years’ experience in one of the following positions with Bus or Road Operations, Rail Service Delivery, Instruction or Division Dispatcher.
• Associates or bachelor’s degree in transportation, business administration, public administration or related field from an accredited college or university. Directly related experience may be substituted for education on a year-for-year basis.
• Valid Commercial Driver’s License with a Class B designation and “P” passenger endorsement.
• Supervisory or management experience in unrelated fields.
We offer a comprehensive compensation and benefits package. Interested candidates should forward a cover letter (with salary requirements) and resume to:
Glenn Huetter Employment Department 345 Sixth Avenue, 3rd Floor Pittsburgh, PA 15222-2527 GHuetter@RidePRT.org EOE
TRANSIT POLICE OFFICERS
Pittsburgh Regional Transit (Port Authority of Allegheny County Police Department) is seeking full-time Transit Police Officers. A Transit Police Officer is responsible for ensuring the safety of Port Authority customers, staff, and property throughout the areas it serves. Officers must enforce all local, state, and federal laws on and around our transit system.
Port Authority Police Department
Specialized Units:
- Accident Reconstruction
- DUI Task Force
- Investigations
+ K-9 Unit
+ Narcotics (DANET)
+ North Hills Special Response
+ Team (NHSRT)
+ Video Forensics
Transit Police Officer Salary Progression:
Year one - $68,004 (75% rate)
Year two - $77,071 (85% rate)
Year three - $90,672 (100% Base rate)
Master Patrol $93,392 (9+ Years / 3% above base)
Position Benefits: Pittsburgh Regional Transit offers a competitive benefits package including medical, dental, vision, and short-term disability. Transit Police Officers are eligible for a defined contribution plan which consists of two components: a 401(a) Money Purchase Plan and a 457(b) Deferred Compensation Plan.
- Cellphone - College Tuition Reimbursement and Student Loan Repayment
Assistance - Enhanced uniform allowance
- Incentivized Education and Training Program
- Lateral prior-service applied to salary progression
- NO residency or air mile requirements
- Paid Parental Leave
Job Requirements Include:
• Minimum age 21, at time of hire;
• High School Diploma or GED;
• Valid PA Driver’s License;
• Current Act 120 certification or candidate must successfully pass the Act 120 certification test prior to employment;
• Successful completion of administered written and agility exams.
Transit Police Officer Applicant Testing: Thursday, February 6, 2025, noon – 3:00 pm Saturday, February 8, 2025, 8:00 – 11:00 am Interested candidates should submit a cover letter and resume https://careers.portauthority.org/ or directly to:
Amy Giammanco
Pittsburgh Regional TransitEmployment Department 345 Sixth Avenue, 3rd Floor Pittsburgh, PA 15222-2527 agiammanco@rideprt.org
