March 31, 2021 - Pittsburgh City Paper by Pittsburgh City Paper

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MARCH 31-APRIL 7, 2021

Meet Lacretia Wimbley, the first Black president of the Newspaper Guild of Pittsburgh

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MARCH 31-APRIL 7, 2021 VOLUME 30 + ISSUE 13 Editor-In-Chief LISA CUNNINGHAM Director of Advertising JASMINE HUGHES Director of Operations KEVIN SHEPHERD News Editor RYAN DETO Senior Writer AMANDA WALTZ Staff Writers DANI JANAE, KIMBERLY ROONEY 냖㵸蔻 Photographer/Videographer JARED WICKERHAM Art Director ABBIE ADAMS Graphic Designers JOSIE NORTON, JEFF SCHRECKENGOST Sales Representatives ZACK DURKIN, OWEN GABBEY, NICKI MULVIHILL Circulation Manager JEFF ENGBARTH Featured Contributors REGE BEHE, MIKE CANTON, LYNN CULLEN, TERENEH IDIA, CHARLES ROSENBLUM Interns COLLEEN HAMMOND, KAYCEE ORWIG National Advertising Representative VMG ADVERTISING 1.888.278.9866 OR 1.212.475.2529 Publisher EAGLE MEDIA CORP.

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CP PHOTO: JARED WICKERHAM More than 400 gathered in Oakland on Wed., March 24 for the Pittsburgh Rally for Solidarity march in response to the Atlanta mass shooting, as well as the general rise in recent antiAsian hate crimes.

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FIRST PERSON

ELDER JUSTICE A legal nightmare took away my grandfather’s rights. Pittsburgh’s judges and lawmakers must support elder law reform. BY CHRIS ROSSELOT // INFO@PGHCITYPAPER.COM

ONE OF US HAD ANY IDEA

what to expect when we entered the courtroom for my grandfather’s competency hearing, least of

all him. At 81, he was ordered to leave the home he had chosen with his daughter and forced to return to a wife he intended to divorce, with no rights. Before our family nightmare in 2006, I had little idea of the power judges wield over the fate of elderly Pennsylvanians. With the stroke of a pen, my grandfather was deemed incapable of making his own decisions and taken from his family. Reform could keep other families

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from knowing our pain, but that hinges on the legislature enacting necessary court reforms and the election of judges who ensure the guardianship process is fair and focus on what’s best for older Pennsylvanians and their families. With 39 candidates running for nine open seats on the Court of Common Pleas of Allegheny County, this is an issue that candidates and voters should carefully consider both before and after the election. My maternal grandfather, Steve Gornick, was an intelligent, independent man with a deep love for his family. Taught to read by his mother at a very young age, he quickly outgrew his oneroom schoolhouse in Penn Township

in Butler County, where the teacher had him assist the older students with reading and mathematics. He left the family farm at age 14 to work in a foundry in Butler and escape an abusive father. He joined the army during World War II after his mother changed his age on enlistment documents. After the war, he settled in Erie, started a family with my grandmother Ruth, and began his career as an electrical and mechanical engineer for General Electric and later Electric Materials. Using his intellectual capacity and grit, he helped discover mathematical theorems that advanced his ﬁeld. And when Ruth passed away in 1976, he rose to a new challenge,

raising their two daughters alone. Growing up, Grandpa Steve was a huge part of our lives. We visited him and his second wife every Christmas, and he often traveled to see us. No matter where we were living, he made it to school functions — graduation ceremonies, baseball, and hockey games. He especially loved visiting our family when we lived in Colorado, taking advantage of the outdoor activities like cross-country skiing, hunting, golﬁng, and hiking. In 2003, my parents moved from Denver to Pittsburgh to be closer to home. Grandpa was almost 80 then, and during the last couple of visits, we’d noticed his memory slipping a bit.

PHOTO: GENEVIEVE ROSSELOT, ABOVE

Grandpa Steve, Janelle Rosselot (my sister, holding Faye), and Chris Rosselot (holding Vivian) CP PHOTO: JARED WICKERHAM, LEFT

Chris Rosselot poses for a portrait in the North Side

Two years later, his wife contacted my parents to coordinate an open-ended stay for Grandpa Steve. She presented it as an opportunity for her to get some time to herself. During this visit, grandpa brought up constant arguments he and his wife had regarding his will — and his desire to make his daughters his primary beneﬁciaries. As grandpa’s visit went on, he became more resolute about leaving his wife, transferring funds from a joint account and consulting with an attorney in Pittsburgh to discuss marital separation. When his wife became aware of this, the legal nightmare began.

Guardianship hearing: ‘He’s yours’ ON DEC. 15, 2005, Grandpa Steve’s wife ﬁled a petition with the Court of Common Pleas of Erie County to declare my grandpa incapacitated and to appoint her as guardian. She requested additional immediate relief, including the transfer of custody of grandpa to her and the return of the joint account funds previously removed. The funds were quickly returned, but despite our constant worry that grandpa would be taken away, he remained in our

care until the hearing. My mom, with his wife’s blessing, ordered a full mental evaluation of her father performed at the well-respected UPMC Senior Care - Benedum Geriatric Center. My mom and aunt ﬁled a counter-petition stating that it was Steve’s wish to remain in Pittsburgh. While grandpa exhibited symptoms consistent with dementia, and assistance was necessary for certain daily activities, we believed he could make his own decisions, and he was adamant that he stay with us. On Jan. 31, 2006, we rode the two hours north to Erie in silence. We had no idea what to expect. Judge Stephanie Domitrovich had a reputation for being a wild card on the bench, and grandpa’s fate was in her hands. Our attorneys assured us that legal precedent was on our side. Under Pennsylvania law, the “emergency guardianship” petition had expired, and she had not initiated an extension. Judge Domitrovich seemed serious as she entered the courtroom. The attorney for Grandpa Steve’s wife called for expert witnesses, including a neighbor who had a degree in social work but had never evaluated Steve. Neither our counsel nor grandpa’s court-appointed counsel

had had an opportunity to depose the witnesses prior to the hearing. Testimony painted my grandpa as incapacitated and his wife as both loving and in the best position to care for him. Throughout the proceedings, the judge remarked that the testimony was taking too long and that they only blocked an hour of time on the court calendar. When it was over, the court granted his wife full guardianship, despite my grandfather taking the stand and saying without reservation that he wanted to stay in Pittsburgh. In closing, the judge said grandpa’s wife could take him wherever she wanted for medical care. “He doesn’t have to go to the Benedum [Geriatric] Center,” she said. “[Go] wherever you want him to go. He’s yours.” My grandpa, who had shown grit and autonomy his entire life, had it all ripped away. A few months after that decision, we were back in Domitrovich’s court when his wife — and now guardian — failed to ﬁle ﬁnancial documents after withdrawing thousands of dollars from Grandpa Steve’s savings and cashing out his GE stock. The best we could hope for was for the judge to instruct that

the funds be returned, which she did. Eventually, Grandpa Steve’s wife moved herself into a luxury assisted living facility and moved grandpa to a county nursing home. Because of her guardianship status, there was no obligation that we be notiﬁed of these decisions, and we found out through another source. All we could do was request courtappointed visitations, which we did, and report any concerns about mistreatment to the Erie County Department of Welfare.

Court reform and aging policy GRANDPA’S CASE WAS in Erie County,

but petitions like this are decided across Pennsylvania every day. Demographically, Allegheny County is one of the oldest counties in the country, and according to the Administrative Ofﬁce of Pennsylvania Courts, there are 17,696 people living under guardianship in Pennsylvania, including elderly Pennsylvanians and other incapacitated individuals. With nine seats open on the Allegheny County Court of Common Pleas, judges running for election could sit on the Orphans’ Court, where petitions for guardianship are ﬁled and heard. CONTINUES ON PG. 6

PITTSBURGH CITY PAPER MARCH 31 - APRIL 7, 2021

ELDER JUSTICE, CONTINUED FROM PG. 5

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CP PHOTO: JARED WICKERHAM

Photos of Chris Rosselot’s grandfather and family members are shown on their dining room table in the North Side.

Since my grandfather’s death in 2011, there has been progress — but not enough. In 2013, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court created the Elder Law Task Force to address the growing issues involving guardianship elder abuse cases in the courts. The task force has recommended more than 100 administrative and legislative remedies to improve how older Pennsylvanians interact with the courts and promote elder justice. In 2015, the Ofﬁce of Elder Justice [OEJC] was created to assist the Supreme Court in the execution of the Elder Law Task Force recommendations. One change already implemented is the requirement for a standardized deposition form, which is intended to improve the quality of information available from expert witnesses. In 2018, the U.S. Senate Special Committee on Aging, now chaired by Sen. Bob Casey (D-Scranton), issued a guardianship report that explains other reforms such as creating court-community collaborative measures similar to the child welfare model. Locally, state Rep. Dan Deasy (D-Westwood) is the prime sponsor of HB 564, which would permit local area agencies on aging [AAA] the power to investigate

the exploitation of individuals by their power of attorney. Other local lawmakers, including Rep. Summer Lee (D-Swissvale) are sponsors, and the legislation is currently pending in the Committee on Aging and Older Adult Services, where freshman Rep. Jessica Benham (D-South Side) is a supportive member. Last year, State Sen. Art Haywood (D-Philadelphia) introduced SB 23, which proposed significant reform including changing the court for the case to be in the area where the incapacitated person resides, calls for fiduciary examinations by the court for appointed guardians and independent medical evaluations for guardianship hearings. These reforms could have benefitted my grandfather, as we tried to have the hearing moved to Allegheny County where he was staying, and he would have received a proper independent medical evaluation to determine his mental capacity. With limited Repubican support, this legislation stalled in the Judiciary Committee. The lack of legislative action has frustrated some members of the State Elder Law Task Force because without funding from the state legislature, the burden falls on county courts, who remain largely idle on task force recommendations. In

the short term, it is critical to educate voters on electing judges that have the experience and the judicial temperament necessary to handle emotional and complex cases. Moreover, there is nothing precluding judges to include family mediation for guardians and their families — particularly in cases with blended families. Although it has been a decade since my grandpa passed, not a day goes by where I don’t think about his life and the tragedy of his ﬁnal years tangled in the guardianship system. After his wife passed away, we were able to petition the court to allow grandpa to live with us in Pittsburgh. We were fortunate enough to share a few extra moments with Grandpa Steve — though by then, he was in the throes of dementia and would not remember them. I am heartened by guardianship reforms, but more needs to be done to protect our most vulnerable seniors. With so much power over our families, it’s crucial that judges educate themselves on the issues impacting older Pennsylvanians and that voters carefully consider those issues when choosing candidates. While the courts wield life-changing power over families, I’m sure my grandpa never thought a judge would decide his fate during his ﬁnal years.

Chris Rosselot is a public policy professional and politically active resident of the North Side. Chris is a former regional representative for U.S. Senator Bob Casey. He can be reached at rosselotchris@gmail.com.

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PITTSBURGH CITY PAPER MARCH 31 - APRIL 7, 2021

CP PHOTO: JARED WICKERHAM

Lacretia Wimbley, Newspaper Guild of Pittsburgh President and Pittsburgh Post-Gazette breaking news reporter, poses for a portrait in Downtown Pittsburgh.

.BLACK-LED COMMUNITY SPOTLIGHT.

ABOVE THE FOLD BY DANI JANAE // DANIJANAE@PGHCITYPAPER.COM

ACRETIA WIMBLEY IS the ﬁrst Black

person to serve as president of the Newspaper Guild of Pittsburgh, the union representing journalists at the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Her term as union head will extend until Oct. 31, 2021. Getting to this position was not an easy task, after the results of the initial election in November 2020 were contested due to irregularities in mail-in votes. Eventually, Wimbley had to be declared guild president twice after a second election occurred. In that election, the

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two other nominees declined their nominations. But a rocky start to her term has not deterred her passion for the union and for reporting. Wimbley isn’t originally from Pittsburgh, and moved here for an internship after graduating from Mississippi State University. She describes herself as a “science geek” who initially went to college to study the biological sciences and pre-medicine. She didn’t have many scholarships at school, and so she had a lot of loans and grants in order to pay for her education, but when it became difﬁ-

cult to get funding, she took some time off during her sophomore year and worked two jobs to pay tuition out of pocket. “I went back to school after that,” says Wimbley, who works as a breaking news reporter for the Post-Gazette. “The experience of working hard to pay somebody off myself changed things. It’s not that I wasn’t serious about my education before, but I was deﬁnitely more intentional about what my passions were.” After coming to grips with those passions, Wimbley changed her major to Communication Journalism with the

help of her mother’s prodding. Wimbley had always been a writer, and her mother encouraged her to pursue that outlet. During college, she also made history as the ﬁrst Black editor of the school’s independent, student-run newspaper. “I came in during a time where it was like, ‘Oh, congratulations for that. You’ll be the last editor if we don’t make enough money to at least break even this year.’ So that was stressful,” says Wimbley. The student paper made enough money to last through the year and is still going strong years after Wimbley graduated.

“THIS WORK IS NOT EASY.” Being the first Black person in a position may not be new for Wimbley, but the positions carry a personal weight, especially as a Black woman serving as president of a labor union. Wimbley can see why taking on this position could be seen as inspirational to some, but there’s more to it than that for her. “I think that there’s a lot to be said about me as a Black woman running up for the head of a major labor organization in Southwestern Pennsylvania where it’s traditionally white men that spearhead these organizations, you know?” she says. Wimbley stressed that while she believes her holding this position would allow other Black women and minorities to see themselves in similar roles, there has to be a passion for the work, too. “This work is not easy,” she adds. Having only been serving as president for a little over a month, she is still getting acclimated to her responsibilities and her surroundings. The work has been a “mountain,” especially with her controversial start, but she has continued to move forward and not let the past define her. Wimbley says she has stepped into this role with new ideas and an unshakeable optimism, even through dealing with controversies at the PostGazette, including the paper’s management barring Black journalists Alexis Johnson and Michael Santiago from reporting on last year’s Black Lives Matter protests. In an interview with the New Pittsburgh Courier, Wimbley said the legacy of the Post-Gazette is “hanging in the balance.” She still feels that way. The guild hasn’t had its contract renewed with the Post-Gazette since 2017 when their CBA (collective bargaining agreement) last expired. Wimbley’s goal, despite ongoing difficulties at the Post-Gazette, which includes the resignation of the former

news guild president over allegations of sexual misconduct, is to focus on the union and to let the leadership at the paper work on repairing its legacy. “I would say that my role is to help reset a new atmosphere within our union and among our members,” she says. “And I see my role as being one to continue moving us forward as a union.” The onset of coronavirus changed the landscape of her job as a journalist. As a breaking news reporter, Wimbley was often rushing to get on the scene or listening to her police scanner to see where the action was. Now, things are a bit quieter. That quiet time has given Wimbley the chance to reflect on what she’d like to see from Pittsburgh media. She says she would like to see media outlets be more intentional about how they are reporting, especially on crime in minority neighborhoods. She says people who are victims or suspected perpetrators of crimes in these communities often just become statistics. “One thing that I’ve tried to be intentional about in my own reporting is putting personality and putting a face to the people that are involved in these cases,” says Wimbley. The job, for her, is to tell the human stories of these people. “That just speaks to the importance of having diverse voices and people of color in the newsroom, more people of color in newsrooms and in media. That speaks to Pittsburgh, but that speaks to just about anywhere. The beauty of having diverse voices is not just to have a token Black person or token person of color at your workplace, but it’s so your product can be more enriched, more fulfilled.” A part of that fulfillment, for Wimbley personally, is engaging with the arts. She writes poetry and plays the guitar in her spare time and, weather permitting, can be seen busking at Point State Park.

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SCREENSHOTS: COURTESY OF LINDSAY GIBSON

Items posted to Pittsburgh Buy Nothing Groups

HE ODD FINDS one encounters on

Buy Nothing groups, a growing phenomenon where people trade free items over Facebook posts, are too wide and varied to encompass. But even I wasn’t ready for the alligator head. Posted by Bellevue resident Lindsay Gibson in 2019, the taxidermied alligator head, pictured alongside a fork for scale, reads, “Small alligator head. Sharp teeth.” Even more confounding is the following sentence, “Will draw name due to multiple interests,” meaning a lot of people were scrambling to get their hands on this curious little item. This is just one especially weird example of something Facebook users might stumble upon when scrolling through their neighborhood Buy Nothing group. But mostly, joining a Buy Nothing group means relying on neighbors for more common items like kitchenware and appliances, electronics, furniture, and

second-hand clothing, all at no cost. Users can rely on the randomness of posts to see if someone nearby has just what they need, or they can request something and cross their ﬁngers that someone is giving that very thing away. Likely, no matter where you live, a Buy Nothing group has already been set up and can be found easily through a Facebook search. The concept started with the Buy Nothing Project back in 2013, when two Washington state women embarked on an “experimental hyper-local gift economy,” according to the project’s website. Since then, it has quickly expanded into cities around the globe, with the mission of helping people while also combating rampant consumerism through a trust and trade-based system. Gibson, the member of a group that includes the North Hills communities of Bellevue, Avalon, West View, Ben

Avon, and Emsworth, says she became interested in Buy Nothing groups as a stay-at-home parent. “A person in a local parent group was getting ready to pass on a bunch of baby items and suggested it was a good place to ﬁnd quality, used baby items for free,” says Gibson. “She was a single parent at the time, and they were a valuable resource.” She adds that — besides free baby clothing, toys, and accessories — indemand items from her group tend to be pots and pans and cutlery, or cardboard boxes for moving or storage. But she says even the most unexpected contributions generate interest. This includes leftover food, and she shares posts showing a half-eaten cake and an opened pack of beef patties, among others. Even a post giving away an unﬁnished rotisserie chicken with the breast meat carved off received replies from people saying they

could use it. “For whatever reason, I don’t think food is common in most groups, but it is in ours,” says Gibson. “I think it’s the Pittsburgh hang up on having an extra refrigerator or deep freezer. Someone recently gave away a bunch of frozen oxtail they ‘just knew they weren’t going to eat.’” Gibson says her own bizarre contribution, the alligator head, was a gift given to her two-year-old by their garbage collector, who had rescued it from the trash. She decided to give it away because the novelty of playing with it had worn off quickly for her toddler. Her alligator head also had some competition in the weird giveaways department — she recounts how one person gave away ﬁve pounds of Himalayan salt and gallons of apple cider vinegar after “a project to make homemade hygiene products didn’t work out.” Sometimes, the groups serve another CONTINUES ON PG. 12

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purpose as a place to borrow items or to solicit services like dog walking or lawn mowing. Gibsons says this gives people options that help them save both money and time. “I recently loaned someone a steam cleaner for a small clean-up job, and she was so grateful to just not have to bother with a rental cleaner and returned it later that day,” says Gibson. While well-meaning, Buy Nothing groups aren’t without their challenges, especially for those tasked with running them. Yvette Menase volunteers as an administrator for the Buy Nothing Highland Park/Morningside/Stanton Heights/ Larimer group, along with two other people. She says her group initially belonged to one that included Lawrenceville, Garfield, Friendship, Bloomfield, and East Liberty, and it had over 2,000 members. But within a year, it quadrupled in size, meaning they had to “sprout,” or split the group up into three, more hyper-localized groups, which required a fair amount of work. Menase, who works professionally as a product manager for the Pittsburghbased podcast hosting company Libsyn, says that while some members were dismayed over the sprouting at first, the move has actually resulted in less “competition” for giveaways, as well as other

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advantages. “Instead of ten people wanting something, usually only a few will,” says Menase. “Also, each group’s surface area is smaller, so that encourages people to pick up items more conveniently.” Like Gibson, Menase says her Buy Nothing group has people trading food, both for humans and for cats, as well as clothes or items people can use for Do It Yourself projects, crafting, or gardening. She cites seltzer water as a popular one, with people giving away ﬂavors they don’t like. “No gives are strange to me,” says Menase. “We have people giving away undergarments, single socks, custom-made furniture, sinks, broken mirrors, plastic salad containers. Anything you would normally trash, you can post on the group and, chances are, someone can use it.” But because this is Facebook, there’s always the risk of social media drama entering the group. To avoid this, Menase says they don’t allow discussions of political candidates and parties, and even giving away political yard signs is prohibited. Still, she admits that there have been instances of people who “get aggressive with other members.” “Usually people are kind, but an item

will sometimes spark a debate,” says Menase. “I try to intervene, but people can be stubborn. There is a point where we will remove someone, but given the community, people are perfectly capable of starting a similar debate on other platforms, which we have no control over.” Still, while disagreements are expected, abusive or hateful speech is not, which has led Menase to delete a few comments. As for why the Buy Nothing movement grew so quickly, Menase believes the COVID-19 pandemic has a lot to do with it. She says being stuck at home has led some people to declutter their living spaces. Access to free, mostly useful items also appeals to the many people who have lost employment over the last year. And, as opposed to shopping at a grocery store or retail space, where the risk of contracting the coronavirus is higher, Buy Nothing seems like a safer bet, as people can usually do contactless porch or stoop pickups. Menase says Buy Nothing groups also offer personal connections and neighborly kindness in a time when so many are feeling isolated and helpless. “I’ve had members give my cat and

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me rides in a blizzard to go to the vet, and others who go to Costco and pick up items,” says Menase. “I’ve borrowed items at the last minute, and had people lend me space heaters when my furnace broke. I’ve seen people give items away of deceased family members — despite their grief, they wanted the items to have a second chance instead of going to the landﬁlls.” As the Pittsburgh Buy Nothing movement grows, Menase wants to ensure that it strives for inclusivity. She stresses that the organization “supports the LGBTQ and BIPOC communities, and other human rights,” adding that they “seek accessibility and equity for all and welcome ideas on how to improve.” At its core, though, Gibson believes Buy Nothing offers people a chance to do something good for themselves and for other people. “For me, it’s really easy to ﬁnd a handful of things I no longer have use for, but would be a hassle to pack up and drive to give away at Goodwill or a similar donation drop off,” says Gibson. “It’s a quick way to feel accomplished and generous because after you’ve cleared some clutter, someone else immediately comes along to appreciate the effort.”

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Adult Diaper Companies Panic as New Bladder Pill Slashes Pad Use In just weeks, study participants were amazed to report a jaw dropping decrease in diaper use. Pharmacies may now consider carrying it in lieu of adult diapers.

s researchers, when running new clinical trials, we never know what to expect. Most of the time they are complete failures, forcing us back to the drawing board. But in very rare cases, results far exceed our expectations and these product work better than we could have ever imagined. This is the case with the most recent breakthrough in Urology called Urivarx™, a new bladder control pill which has performed extraordinary in every test. From dramatic reductions in urgency and frequency… dribbling and leaking…nighttime bathroom trips…and even diaper use…the improvements men and women are seeing with this nonprescription pill have been phenomenal. Why so effective? We asked its developers that same question.

STRENGTHENS THE BLADDER MUSCLES & PREVENTS THEM FROM RELEASING Until now, many within the medical community ì including myself ì believed it was impossible to strengthen the muscles that control the bladder without drugs, surgery, or exercises. Remarkably, it has now been proven this can be achieved with a tiny a pill. Albeit, a natural one. The secret? A revolutionary discovery that helps the bladder create a tighter seal...while also preventing your bladder from releasing involuntarily. Research shows that as we age, the muscles surrounding the bladder can deteriorate. This is triggered by hormonal changes in the body which results in muscle atrophy, the medical term for muscle shrinking. When these muscles get too small and weak, they cannot seal the bladder shut. That’s why you may leak, dribble, and experience uncontrollable accidents. Worse, because the bladder fails to empty completely, you feel like you need to go all the time! And as old urine just sits there, it can seep into your blood stream, causing painful infections which need multiple rounds of antibiotics to get rid of.

“URIVARX TARGETS A FAILING BLADDER IN A WHOLE NEW WAY” In its most recent clinical trial, scientists discovered a trio of science based compounds that actually strengthen the tiny muscles surrounding the bladder. So effectively that they were shown to decrease adult diaper use by a staggering 400%.

Even more surprising, these three compounds also had a rejuvenating effect on the bladder, allowing it to work like it was years younger. The result? All the worries you have about your overactive bladder can mnally be put to rest! And you can enjoy a new level of comfort of conmdence that you once had before. And it starts happening in minutes.

IMPRESSIVE CLINICAL RESULTS The exciting clinical results published on the government clinical website clinicaltrials.gov show that UriVarx™ can strengthen your bladder fast, signimcantly reducing the urine urgency and leaks. In a new double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical study, 142 men and women with bladder control issues were separated into two groups. The mrst group was given a placebo while the other received UriVarx™. The results were incredible. The participants who received UriVarx™ saw major improvements in leaking, pressure, and the urgency to go ì all without the usual side effects seen in prescription drugs! They also reported fewer trips to the bathroom both day and night.

STUDY RESULTS:

The group taking Urivarx saw dramatic improvements. • • • • •

56% Reduction in Urge Incontinence 66% Reduction in Stress Incontinence 61% Reduction in Urgency 33% Reduction in Frequency 46% Reduction in Nighttime Bathroom Trips

Additionally, at the end of clinical trial and after seeing the results, 84% of the participants taking UriVarx™ said it signimcantly improved their quality of life. “The clinical mndings are incredible, but people still wonder if it will really work” explains lead developer for Urivarx. “It’s normal to be skeptical, but we’ve seen thousands of UriVarx™ users get results exactly like the participants in the study. It’s an amazing product.”

EXCITING RESULTS FROM URIVARX USERS

Many UriVarx™ users say their bladders have never been stronger. For the mrst time in years, they are conmdent

YOUR BLADDER

BEFORE

AFTER

No More Peeing!

“Stopping bladder leaks is now like turning off a faucet,” says Dr. Stephen Klayman. “Your ‘faucet’ is this little pipe known as your bladder’s Sphincter Valve. It controls your ﬂow of urine. Strengthening weak bladder muscles literally turns off this valve so you can’t leak – and that’s exactly what this pill is formulated to do.” and in complete control. Adult pads and diapers are no longer a big worry. “It’s exciting to hear all of the positive feedback” explains a spokesperson for the company. “Its also helps to gain perspective. These people will share how embarrassed they’ve become over the situation. How uncomfortable it makes social outings and the interruptions it causes in daily life. They can’t believe the change Urivarx has made. The fear is gone. They are back to feeling in control”

HOW IT WORKS

UriVarx™ is a pill that’s taken just once daily. It does not require a prescription. The active ingredients are patented natural extracts. Research shows that as we get older, the muscles which surround the bladder weaken. This is caused by hormonal changes in the body that causes the muscles to atrophy and weaken. When they become too small and weak, they cannot seal your bladder shut, which causes leaking, accidents, among other incontinence symptoms. It also prevents your bladder from fully emptying, which can result in persistent bacterial infections and UTIs. UriVarx’s™ active ingredient targets the muscles around the bladder, making them stronger. Supporting ingredients in UriVarx™ support kidney function and overall urinary health.

BLADDER PROBLEMS GONE

With daily use, UriVarx™ can restore strong bladder control and help users overcome leakage without the negative side effects or interactions associated with drugs. Leakage sufferers can now put an end to the uncontrollable urges, the embarrassing accidents, and enjoy an entirely new level of comfort and conmdence.

HOW TO GET URIVARX

This is the ofmcial release of UriVarx™. As such, the company is offering a special discounted supply to anyone suffering from bladder issues who calls within the next 48 hours. A special hotline number and discounted pricing has been created for all residents. Discounts will be available starting today at 6:00AM and will automatically be applied to all callers. Your Toll-Free Hotline number is 1-800-750-3531 and will only be open for the next 48 hours. Only a limited discounted supply of UriVarx™ is currently available in your region.

THESE STATEMENTS HAVE NOT BEEN EVALUATED BY THE FDA. THIS PRODUCT IS NOT INTENDED TO DIAGNOSE, TREAT, CURE, OR PREVENT ANY DISEASE. RESULTS MAY VARY. CONSULT YOUR PHYSICIAN BEFORE TAKING THIS SUPPLEMENT. URIVARX IS NOT A DRUG. 328120_9.8_x_10.5.indd 1

3/19/21 5:41 PM

PITTSBURGH CITY PAPER MARCH 31 - APRIL 7, 2021

(ADVERTORIAL)

2021 pittsburgh Camp Fitch Camp Fitch’s century-old classic sleep-away summer camp provides kids, ages 6-17, with a holistically safe, values-driven community where they discover friendship and achievement. Kids feel like they belong among the camp’s committed and caring staff, who create transformative experiences on the shore of Lake Erie. Camp Fitch YMCA (814) 922-3219 12600 Abels Rd N Springfield, PA 16430 campfitchymca.org

Jewish Community Center JCCPGH Day Camps Ages 4-16. Where else can you have so much fun? Safety is a priority – successfully run in 2020. So many things to do! STEM, SPORTS, SWIM, NATURE, THEATER, ARTS & CRAFTS, ADVENTURE & MORE! Traditional, performing arts, specialty camps. Monroeville, Squirrel Hill, South Hills. Learn more: jccpghdaycamps.com JCC J&R Day Camp (James and Rachael Levinson Day Camp) (Monroeville) Rachael Speck, 412-697-3537 (summer only: 412-829-7707) 261 Rosecrest Drive, Monroeville, PA 15146

We had such a great time last summer— We can’t wait for camp to start again!

J C C P G H DAYC A M P S.C O M 14

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JCC Specialty Camps (Squirrel Hill and Monroeville) Rachael Speck, 412-697-3537 (summer only: 412-829-7707) 5738 Forbes Ave., Pittsburgh, PA, 15217 261 Rosecrest Drive, Monroeville, PA 15146

JCC Performing Arts Camps (Squirrel Hill and South Hills) Squirrel Hill: Rachael Speck, 412-697-3537 (summer only: 412-829-7707) 5738 Forbes Ave., Pittsburgh, PA, 15217 JCC South Hills Day Camp (South Hills) South Hills Camps: Emma Litwak, 412-278-1975 345 Kane Blvd., Pittsburgh, PA 15243

Autism Society of Pittsburgh “S.P.E.A.K.” S.P.E.A.K. is an Extended School Year program developed to prevent or reduce summertime regression in students ages 5-21 with Autism Spectrum Disorder. S.P.E.A.K. is held at St. Therese of Lisieux in Munhall during the month of July, and our dedicated program leadership returns every year making each year better than the last. Contact: Mark Simone (724) 454 9566 simone2582@comcast.net St. Therese of Lisieux School Munhall 3 St. Therese Court Munhall, PA 15120 Autismsocietypgh.org

Pittsburgh Center for Arts & Media Each summer, our goal at Pittsburgh Center for Arts and Media is to create outstanding art-focused camps for schoolaged children (6-17). These camps are taught by talented, experienced teachers; and managed by an efficient, collaborative administrative team, all at our Shadyside campus. 1047 Shady Ave, Pittsburgh, PA 15232 (412) 361-0455 pghartsmedia.org

(ADVERTORIAL)

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A program of the Autism Society of Pittsburgh

Sarah Heinz House Summer Camps with Sarah Heinz House are in person and a lot of fun! Join us on the North Side or our resident camp, both options will not disappoint for all school aged youth. Games, STEM, and leadership training are all some of the great opportunities for kids in Pittsburgh! 1 Heinz St, Pittsburgh, PA 15212 (412) 231-2377 sarahheinzhouse.org

Assemble PGH Assemble summer camps are a weeklong STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, & Math) exploration for students in grades 1-9! This summer, students will be building skills, collaborating with friends, and gaining confidence either at home or at the Penn Avenue studio. Camps run from June-Aug and include all materials needed to participate. Camps are offered at sliding scale rates and free for Garfield neighborhood residents. 412-661-6111 4824 Penn Ave Pittsburgh, PA 15224 Assemblepgh.org

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PITTSBURGH CITY PAPER MARCH 31 - APRIL 7, 2021

CP PHOTO: KAYCEE ORWIG

Katrina Moussa, author of Wellness Wally’s Delicious Journey

.LITERATURE + FOOD.

YOU ARE WHAT YOU READ BY KIMBERLY ROONEY 냖㵸蔻 KIMROONEY@PGHCITYPAPER.COM

PGHCITYPAPER.COM

HEN AN ELF APPEARS in your bedroom and offers to magically teleport you to countries around

the world, showing you foods from various cultures, the polite thing to do is accept. So begins Wally’s journey with Billy the elf in Karina Moussa’s children’s book Wellness Wally’s Delicious Journey. Parents of picky eaters might recognize their children in Wally, a young boy who only wants to eat candy and chips. But in first-time author Moussa’s book, Wally tries — albeit reluctantly at first — a variety of delicious, healthy foods from seven countries, including Syria, Bulgaria, Japan, Nigeria, and Mexico. Moussa drew inspiration from her life and her experiences in her parents’ Pittsburgh restaurants, Madonna’s Mexican Food and Madonna’s Mediterranean Cuisine. “Last summer, when quarantine happened and everything was kind of shutting down and I had a lot of downtime, I had always told myself that I would write some sort of book,” Moussa says. “I’m not one to sit around and do nothing. So I came up with this Wellness Wally idea.” After Moussa finished writing the book, she put the finished product together with the help of a freelance illustrator, Lekshmi Bose, and a freelance editor, who asked not to be named.

Moussa grew up in Mt. Lebanon and now works in health insurance sales while pursuing a PhD in instructional management and leadership at Robert Morris University. Her parents are from Syria, but they moved to Bulgaria, where Moussa was born, so her father could pursue his PhD in electrical engineering. They came to the U.S. in 1998 to visit a relative and decided to stay on an investment visa. They bought a Mexican restaurant in Oakland to fulﬁll the visa requirements, and Moussa’s father, Mario, learned to cook Mexican food — with his own twists. While they lost some business when they changed the name from Pollo Rey to Madonna’s Mexican Food — named for Mario’s second daughter, who shares a birthday with the day her parents bought the restaurant — they soon regained customers, which Mario attributes to their dedication to cleanliness and treating their customers like guests in their home. “[The customers] come to the restaurant because we are the restaurant,” Mario says. “They trust us. They trust the job we are doing, me and my wife.” Mario and his wife, Mahassen, moved the restaurant downtown in 2001. In 2013, after several relocations, they reopened as Madonna’s Mediterranean Cuisine, although its origins as a Mexican restaurant can be found in Moussa’s book. “When Wally goes to Mexico in the book, he does try guacamole,” Moussa says. “When I was younger, I

WELLNESS WALLY’S DELICIOUS JOURNEY karinamoussa.com

MADONNA’S MEDITERRANEAN CUISINE 408 Smithfield St., Downtown. Search “Madonna’s Mediterranean Restaurant” on Facebook

would spend time downtown with my parents in the summer, and my dad would let me make the guacamole a lot of the time.” Moussa has experience with many of the other foods Wally and Billy try, from shopska salata, the national salad of Bulgaria, to kibbeh, her favorite Syrian food. She says she wanted Wally and Billy to experience cultural highlights from each of the countries they visit, such as learning phrases in different languages, or seeing famous sites like Aleppo Castle in Syria and Disneyland in Tokyo. She also wanted to focus on countries that she says “maybe aren’t always seen in the best light.”

“For example, Syria … all we hear about is the wars in Syria and stuff like that,” says Moussa. “But I went to Syria in summer of 2019 … and it’s nothing like you see in the news. It’s really peaceful, and people are living their day-to-day lives, like we are living here.” The book is part of a series of seven books Moussa will write as part of her PhD program. She plans to use them as part of a curriculum to teach kids about different forms of wellness, such as physical, social, emotional, and spiritual wellness. Wally and Billy will visit a different set of seven countries in each subsequent book and learn how different countries approach those wellness dimensions.

“I’m trying to promote a really important message, especially right now with this whole pandemic,” Moussa says. “The one thing about these wellness dimensions is they’re all intertwined. So let’s say like I’m suffering in my physical wellness dimension — that’s just going to create a domino effect.” To help further engage kids, Moussa wrote a cookbook to complement the ﬁrst Wellness Wally book, along with supplementary materials including free coloring pages and mazes. She is also selling a Wellness Wally lunchbox to encourage kids to bring healthier lunches to school, and she plans on bundling similarly relevant items with future books to help kids learn about and engage with their health and wellness. “It’s so much easier to be preventative than it is to try to ﬁx a problem after it occurs,” Moussa says. “If kids can learn how to take care of themselves early on, learn about these wellness dimensions, learn about how they can manage different aspects of their wellness and be healthy and happy overall, I think that’s the most important part.” Although her parents didn’t know about Wellness Wally’s Delicious Journey until after it was published, her father plans on reading the book to his grandson when he turns 5 years old later this year. “It was a very nice surprise. We are proud of her,” Mario says. “I want her to feel like she is responsible for everything. She is responsible, you know. I want her to be proud with herself.”

•

Follow staff writer Kimberly Rooney 냖㵸蔻 on Twitter @kimlypso

FREE TO Connect your student to remote one-on-one learning support and live homework help, to language learning resources and virtual storytimes, we’ve got learners of all ages and stages covered. It’s a school year like no other and the Library is here to help! CLP – Homework Help/Learning Support Call: 412-622-3114 Text: 412-775-3900 carnegielibrary.org/kids-teens

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PITTSBURGH CITY PAPER MARCH 31 - APRIL 7, 2021

but also relatively easy drinking. They also aren’t too sweet, which I found refreshing. The Swamp Monster, though loaded with several different ﬂavors, might be even more approachable than the distillery’s other spirits. Gin is not something many people drink straight up, but the Swamp Monster tea gin adds enough extra ingredients that I could see enjoying a glass on the rocks. There are hints of juniper, licorice, green tea, and cinnamon that roll through each sip. 4Four6 suggests adding it to lemonade and has a cocktail called the Palmer Daly, named after golfers Arnold Palmer (who loved to mix iced tea with lemonade) and John Daly (who loves to drink booze.)

.DRINK.

BEGINNER’S BOOZE Woman-owned 4Four6 Distillery in Sharpsburg offers an approachable and flavorful intro to craft liquor BY RYAN DETO RYANDETO@PGHCITYPAPER.COM

HE IDEA OF SLOWLY sipping a

glass of bourbon or scotch or any hard liquor isn’t appetizing for everyone. It can take years to appreciate the very strong flavors and high-alcohol content of straight booze, and for some, the spirits are just too strong. But a new distillery in Sharpsburg offers a good variety of spirits that seem tailor-made for people looking to step into the waters of drinking hard liquor straight up. 4Four6 Distillery opened last year in the borough along the Allegheny River and operates out of a small building on Sharpburg’s Main Street. It was started by owners/sisters-in-law Marcy Sunday and Maria Yeater. The building hosts a small bar and a handful of tables in a comfortable setting up front, with the distilling equipment in the back and on the second floor. The distillery is currently selling gin, rum, and a specialty gin called “tea gin.” The menu offers cocktails, flights, and bottles. Bottles and cocktails can be purchased to-go. Their Clementine Gin is their best seller and is a delicious mix of sweet citrus and herbal gin. A total crowd pleaser. On a recent visit, I sampled 4Four6’s American Dry Gin, the white and white spiced rums, and the Swamp Monster

4FOUR6 DISTILLERY 703 Main St., Sharpsburg. Thu-Fri. 4-8 p.m. Sat. 12-8 p.m. 4four6distillery.com

CP PHOTO: KAYCEE ORWIG

Cranberry Clementine Car at 4Four6 Distillery

tea gin. Each was very approachable and lacked that strong, sometimes overpowering, alcohol aroma up front, and little to no burn going down. All would serve as good introductions for people looking to enjoy spirits straight up or on the rocks. The American Dry Gin is smooth and has no burn up front, which was a pleasant surprise because many gins tend to

have a strong burn. I took several whiffs of the gin before drinking without even a semblance of wince, which allowed me to pick out some of the gin’s sweet and herbal notes. The dry gin also has a strong herbal ﬁnish and is hazy, which provides a bit more body than typical clear gins. The two white rums share a similar quality to the gin. Both are ﬂavorful,

Follow news editor Ryan Deto on Twitter @RyanDeto

Both Swamp Monster and Snow Queen tea gins are made with tea and spice blends sourced from Tupelo Honey Teas in Millvale. 4Four6 also offers a wide array of cocktails, and I tried the Gin Fizz on my visit. The beverage was a mix of Snow Queen tea gin, cream, lime, and soda water. It had a nice frothy head topped with nutmeg, and tasted like key lime pie in a glass. It was pretty sweet and satisfying, but left me wishing it was a bit stronger with the booze. What really stands out about 4Four6 is just how approachable all their spirits are. Nothing really kicks you in the face, and all the ﬂavors are easy and enjoyable to taste. At times, the distillery also makes bourbon and whiskey. While I haven’t tried those spirits yet, I expect they will be smooth and ﬂavorful, like the rest of 4Four6’s offerings.

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.FASHION.

CLOTHES MAKE STACEE PEARL BY TERENEH IDIA // CPCONTRIBUTORS@PGHCITYPAPER.COM

jumpsuits, and they can go from meeting to rehearsal to teaching class.

TAYCEE PEARL IS the co-artistic director of PearlArts Studios (pearlartsstudios.com) and STAYCEE PEARL dance project (stayceepearl.com), where she creates artful experiences through dance-centered multimedia works in collaboration with her husband and artistic collaborator, Herman Pearl.

How has COVID-19 changed the way you dress? I know you went from virtual to in-studio work over the past few months. It hasn’t much. Just committed me more to the sweat suit thing. I don’t worry about matching tops and bottoms any more since no one ever sees me below the waist in Zoom.

Tell me what you’re wearing? I’m wearing a green stretchy jumpsuit from FreePeople and an oversized pink V-neck tee also from Free People. I’m also wearing old school Adidas.

What are you looking forward to this spring and summer? Are there new works coming out soon?

Is there something you wear every day or often that is a special gift to yourself? When and why did you get it? What does it mean to you?

To wear? Dresses! But we will be performing live in front of people for the ﬁrst time since COVID-19 in May on the 21st out at the Pittsburgh Ballet Theater’s stage at Flagstaff Park. We will be sharing the stage with our friends of Sidra Bell Dance New York. In the Fall, we’re planning our ﬁrst indoor event. Kelly-Strayorn Theater and August Wilson Center for African American Culture will jointly present our world premiere of CIRCLES.

Every day, I wear a variation of this outﬁt. This is the warmer weather version. When it’s cooler, I wear men’s sweats and hoodies. We have company sweats that match. It’s become a uniform for the dancers and I. It has the name of the company on each leg. STAYCEE PEARL dance project and Soy Sos on one leg and PearlArts Studios on the other. The back of the hoodie has an illustration of Jessica Marino and PAS.

If you want to share, can you talk about your health journey and your recent public request for a kidney donor?

Is there something you wear every day or often that is a special gift from someone else? What does it mean to you?

I’m feeling good and strong, hopeful, and a bit exposed as I most recently appealed to my friends and fam on social media to sign up for live kidney donorship. This is something I’ve never done before, as my ﬁrst kidney transplant in 2001 came very fast. I waited on the national list for maybe nine months while on hemodialysis. This time the situation is a little different as my antibodies are high preventing such an easy match. But again, I’m hopeful and healthy and just got my COVID vaccination!

I have a wedding ring that my motherin-law gave me. She split the stones with me and my sister-and-law, so it’s a half of a baguette. I used to own a purple sweatshirt given to me by [Pittsburgh dancer and choreographer] Kyle Abraham. I’m not sure where that has gone. I wore it ALL THE TIME.

•

How does being a choreographer impact the way you dress? I feel like I never wear real clothes any more. Now that I’m not dancing on stage myself, I can’t get away with any old sweats and dance clothes. I would change out of them after class or rehearsal to jeans, dresses, and tops. Now, I try to pick outﬁts like sweat suits that match or

PHOTO: KITOKO CHARGOIS

Staycee Pearl

March is Kidney Month. For more information on Kidney Donation: UPMC Living Donor: livingdonorreg.upmc.com; Kidney Fund: kidneyfund.org; and, National Kidney Foundation: kidney.org.

Follow featured contributor Tereneh Idia on Twitter @Tereneh152XX PITTSBURGH CITY PAPER MARCH 31 - APRIL 7, 2021

SEVEN DAYS IN PITTSBURGH

PHOTO: TOM PAWLESH FOR THE PENNSYLVANIA TROLLEY MUSEUM

^ An open car trolley, one of the relics and artifacts included in Remarkable Relics: PA Trolley Museum

THU., APRIL 1

FRI., APRIL 2

SAT., APRIL 3

THEATER • VIRTUAL

LIT • VIRTUAL

MARKET • IRL

For those who miss raucous after-work drinks with pals, join Dixie Longate for Dixie’s Happy Hour, hosted by Pittsburgh CLO. The new streaming show stars the drag persona of actor, writer, and comedian Kris Andersson. Dixie, known from the off-Broadway tour of Dixie’s Tupperware Party, will mix cocktails while telling stories and encouraging people to find their own personal happy hours. The four basic food groups — gin, rum, vodka, and tequila — will make appearances. 7:30 p.m. $35. trustarts.org

Author and Guggenheim fellow Ada Limón is holding a virtual reading to celebrate the 15th anniversary of the release for her first book, Lucky Wreck, published by Pittsburgh-based publishing house Autumn House Press. Limón will read from the collection and discuss how her writing process has grown over the years, followed by a Q&A. The event will also feature poets Jennifer L. Knox and Jason Schneiderman and will stream on Crowdcast. 7 p.m. Free. Registration required. facebook.com/AutumnHousePrs

If you miss outdoor markets but worry about the still lingering threat of COVID-19, the Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership has an event for you. The city’s first-ever Car Bazaar invites shoppers to visit local vendors selling second-hand gifts, vintage items, and more out of the trunks of their vehicles on multiple levels of the Sixth and Penn parking garage. There will also be brunchtime drinks and food because searching for cool, one-of-a-kind gems can really build up an appetite. Face masks and social

PGHCITYPAPER.COM

distancing will be required. 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Sixth and Penn parking garage. Downtown. Free. carbazaarpgh.com

KIDS • IRL Looking for hidden eggs is one way to celebrate Easter, but why not try gazing at the fantastic sights along Pittsburgh’s three rivers instead? The Gateway Clipper Fleet is hosting a river sight-seeing cruise on Easter weekend. The Three Rivers Sightseeing with Easter Bunny event allows parents to enjoy the water and relax, and gives kids an opportunity to meet the famous bunny and receive special treats. There are three different sailing times. 11 a.m., 1 p.m., and 3 p.m. 350 W. Station Square Drive, Station

PHOTO: VANESSA GERMAN

^ vanessa german’s nothing can separate you from the language you cry in, sculptures altarpieces to George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, and Elijah McClain, part of Reckoning: Grief and Light at The Frick Pittsburgh

Square. $25 for adults. $15 for children. gatewayclipper.com

SUN., APRIL 4 ART • IRL The Frick Pittsburgh will debut Reckoning: Grief and Light, the first of a three-part series by local artist vanessa german. Part of a multi-year partnership between german and the Frick, the show includes “nothing can separate you from the language you cry in,” an installation in the Frick Art Museum addressing the trauma of police violence against Black Americans. The work combines sculptural glass altars and symphonic music inspired by the history of enslaved Africans on Southern U.S. rice plantations. Continues through 2023. 7227 Reynolds St., Point Breeze. Free. Timed ticketing registration required. thefrickpittsburgh.org

MON., APRIL 5 LIT • VIRTUAL Bernardine Evaristo, author of Girl, Woman, Other and winner of the 2019 Booker Prize for Fiction, is giving a lecture as part of Pittsburgh Arts and Lectures’ Ten Evenings series. Evaristo’s polyphonic book connects the lives of 12 central characters who, despite their vastly different lives, share intersections of identity across age, race, sexuality, and class. Evaristo is the author of eight books and writes across many genres, including

poetry, verse fiction, literary criticism, radio, and theatrical drama, and her projects are based around her interest in the African diaspora. 7:30 p.m. $15. pittsburghlectures.org

TUE., APRIL 6 HISTORY • VIRTUAL Pittsburgh’s trolley history is vast. The region once sported several streetcar lines headed north, south, east, and west from the city. Most of those trolleys no longer exist, but you can learn more about their history during the Remarkable Relics: PA Trolley Museum virtual event hosted by several public libraries in Allegheny and Washington counties. View artifacts from the museum’s collection and learn more about why the region’s thriving suburban communities owe their existence to the streetcar. 5-6 p.m. Free. facebook.com/pennsylvaniatrolleymuseum

WED., APRIL 7 SENIORS • IRL It’s National Walking Day, and who better to celebrate with than the local nonprofit Venture Outdoors. Seniors 50+ will be led on a slow-paced walk through Highland Park trails for Fit with a Physician, during which a local medical professional will be available to answer questions during the walk and share health tips at rest stops along the way. 1 p..m. Highland Park. Free. ventureoutdoors.org • PITTSBURGH CITY PAPER MARCH 31 - APRIL 7, 2021

FOOL ME ONCE

BY BRENDAN EMMETT QUIGLEY // BRENDANEMMETTQUIGLEY.COM

ACROSS 1. ___ de gallo (burrito filling) 5. Effect felt by astronauts 10. “That’s the best you can do?” 13. Goes up and down in the pool 14. [Mic drop, flashes devil horns] 15. The ___ (2020 plague) 16. Throwing art 17. Red head? 18. Guesses on some driving apps: Abbr. 19. Lesbos poet probably gonna fail at open mic? 22. “This puzzle sucks!” 25. Park place? 26. More open 27. Theme in many a Philip Roth story 29. Baylor University city 32. Mahmoud Abbas’s grp. 33. Good physical condition needed to swim in a shallow bay? 37. “Hear me out,” initially 38. Pain relief brand 39. Pound the keyboard 42. One who makes counterfeit lift tickets? 45. Turn bad 47. “I’m through with this one” 48. It’s not that one

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49. Standing upright 51. Fold cry 53. Approves 54. “Hey Ronstadt, you want this sheepskin?” 59. Deal (with) 60. Sharp flatscreen brand 61. Steelers wide receiver ___ Smith-Schuster 65. Hebrew A 66. Script instruction for a transition 67. Minor prophet of the Old Testament 68. Pricing word 69. Actress Zoe of The Plot Against America 70. Storm team?

DOWN 1. Twoingredient sammy 2. Deferred payment agreement, briefly 3. Medicinal oil derived from marijuana 4. Los ___ de peluches (Spanish teddy bears) 5. Lighter brand 6. Blow up 7. Handler who invented the Barbie doll 8. Bit of this, bit of that 9. Dapper dude 10. 1965 Russ Meyer movie about a biker gang 11. Crown coverer

12. Twister maker 15. 1988 eponymous country album 20. Choir singer 21. Instrument with a flared bell 22. Wrinkled fruit with an apt name 23. Westernmost point of the United States 24. One with spirited lifts in their gait 28. “Over there” 29. Life in Pieces actress Dianne 30. Off-roaders’ rides, briefly 31. Popular tech news website 34. A redneck has a red one 35. Source of oil 36. WARP or ERA+, e.g.

40. Hide-and -seek violation 41. Goes wrong 43. Involved with 44. Touring band’s milieu 45. He’s got a lot of baggage at work 46. AL East player 50. Treble symbol 51. Regional plant and animal life 52. Jay who wrote The Amityville Horror 55. Truck name 56. Light blue 57. Skating jump with a backwards takeoff 58. Cleaning brand in a blue can 62. “Wow! Lemme think ...” 63. True Blood actor Manganiello 64. Seal’s org. LAST WEEK’S ANSWERS

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SERVICES AT&T TV - The Best of Live & On-Demand On All Your Favorite Screens. CHOICE Package, $64.99/mo plus taxes for 12months. Premium Channels at No Charge for One Year! Anytime, anywhere. Some restrictions apply. W/ 24-mo. agmt TV price higher in 2nd year. Regional Sports Fee up to $8.49/mo. is extra & applies. Call IVS 1-877-350-1003

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

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Metro Community Health Center offers full mental health services to everyone regardless of identity, income, insurance status, or the ability to pay. Make an appointment by calling 412-247-2310 and visit our website, www.metrocommunityhealthcenter.org, to learn more.

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

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

IN The Court of Common Pleas of Allegheny County, Pennsylvania: No. FD16-9038-002, In re petition of Robert Sklarsky, Jr. parent and legal guardian of Mia Diane Taslov for change of name to Mia Diane Taslov-Sklarsky. To all persons interested: Notice is hereby given that an order of said Court authorized the ﬁling of said petition and ﬁxed the 4th & 5th day of May, 2021, at 9:30 a.m., as the time and the Family Courthouse via Remote Hearing, Pittsburgh, PA, as the place for a hearing, when and where all persons may show cause, if any they have, why said name should not be changed as prayed for. Hilary Benolik, Esq. Attorney for Petitioner Address 564 Forbes Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15219. Phone (412) 281-5336

IN The Court of Common Pleas of Allegheny County, Pennsylvania: No. GD-19-16987. In re petition of Kaitlin Therese Mausser for change of name to Kaitlin Therese Muczyk. To all persons interested: Notice is hereby given that an order of said Court authorized the ﬁling of said petition and ﬁxed the 29th day of April , 2021, at 9:30 a.m., as the time and the Motions Room, City-County Building, Pittsburgh, PA, as the place for a hearing, when and where all persons may show cause, if any they have, why said name should not be changed as prayed for.

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1789 S. Braddock Ave, #410 Pittsburgh, PA 15218 To make an appointment: (412) 247-2310

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

PITTSBURGH CITY PAPER MARCH 31 - APRIL 7, 2021