July 3, 2024 - Pittsburgh City Paper by Pittsburgh City Paper

THE WEATHER

BY: RACHEL WILKINSON

AMANDA WALTZ

WHATEVER THE WEATHER

Pittsburgh’s National Weather Service station provides around-the-clock science, service, and a little social media fun

BY: RACHEL WILKINSON // RWILKINSON@PGHCITYPAPER.COM

At the National Weather Service in Pittsburgh, someone is always watching.

“Mother Nature doesn’t take weekends, midnights, holidays off, so we can’t,” NWS warning coordination, meteorologist Fred McMullen, often says.

He’s part of a team of 20 meteorologists and staff that runs the weather office in Moon Township in 24-hour rotating shifts, making forecasts, collecting data, and issuing public watches and warnings.

When your cell phone blares with an emergency weather alert, it’s because they pushed a button, notifying a targeted area. NWS staff wait to hear their own phones to confirm that an alert’s gone out successfully — “it’s almost instantaneous,” McMullen says.

geofencing.

On May 8, three tornadoes touched down near Pittsburgh overnight — including the first-ever tornado in Hancock County, W. Va. on the Pennsylvania border, which swept through with 130-mile-per-hour winds — and they had to make the call on who to wake up in the early hours.

“There was talk, you know, it’s one in the morning,” McMullen remembers. “Is this storm going to strengthen, weaken? Should we pull the polygon into the city of Pittsburgh, making 1.2 million phones go off?”

City Paper visited NWS Pittsburgh following the recent spate of severe weather. After an onslaught of tornadoes, including one striking the Pittsburgh Zoo — the first tornado within city limits since 1998 — and other unusual and intensifying weather, NWS seems to have been

“THEY HAVE A ‘COMMON PHRASE’ IN THE BUSINESS, HE EXPLAINS: “WEATHER IS YOUR MOOD, CLIMATE IS YOUR PERSONALITY.”

One of 122 regional NWS offices in the United States and its territories, the Pittsburgh weather service station covers not only Pittsburgh, but 35 counties with a total population of 3.5 million. The office’s “county warning area” spans three states including eastern Ohio, southwest Pennsylvania, and the northern panhandle of West Virginia.

The scope of their responsibility, according to McMullen, means they take great care when they draw a polygon, also known as a “threat box,” the red or orange shape that appears in their graphics. The polygon represents the area forecasted to be in the path of dangerous weather, which then gets an emergency alert reaching every phone in the area through

catapulted into the spotlight. I was curious to see if their work and its stakes are changing alongside Pittsburgh’s weather and climate change as a whole.

The first thing to know about meteorologists, McMullen says, is “we’re big fans of data.” Historic data at NWS Pittsburgh dates back to 1870, making it one of the region’s longest-standing climate sites. (Fun fact: the station now uses the shortcode PBZ to distinguish itself from PIT, the airport, which takes additional readings to inform air travel).

Every day, the weather station office, converted from a threebedroom house in 1980, collects data from the region’s only radar tower (a white dome that looks like

a volleyball), a temperature sensor, and a rain gauge that’s checked every four hours. In winter, they measure snowfall duration and depth with a big ruler and use a dowel rod to test ice accretion. And every morning and evening in the station’s detached garage, someone fills a weather balloon with hydrogen, ties it to a parachute — “like playing Army guys,” McMullen says — and launches it 100,000 feet into the stratosphere to compute humidity, pressure, and wind.

The consistency and longevity of their data collection enables NWS meteorologists to determine when records are broken and closely observe “the anomaly of the weather events.”

Ask an NWS meteorologist about the connection between Pittsburgh’s recent extreme weather and climate change, and you’re liable to get a multi-pronged answer with several data points.

Rain rates are increasing, McMullen confirms. In April, Oakdale, Pa. suffered a 20-year flood, its second in three years. After days of torrential rain, the borough’s former fire chief, who oversaw cleanup after Hurricane Ivan, described it as “one of the worst I’ve seen.” When it comes to the region’s tornadoes, which normally occur seasonally May through July, the potential for “tornadic events” now stretches almost year-round. The Pittsburgh warning area has seen more than triple its yearly average of tornadoes before July this year. “So the weather is getting crazier,” McMullen says. “And it’s definitely something that we keep our eye on.” Ongoing climate studies have long shown warming temperatures, and NWS Pittsburgh has issued more heat-related alerts over the past decade.

“There’s probably a factor of that,” McMullen says, “But to what level, you can’t [say].”

CP PHOTO: MARS JOHNSON

Meteorologist Jason Frazier secures string to a hydrogen-filled weather balloon at the National Weather Service in Coraopolis, Pa.

They have a “common phrase” in the business, he explains: “Weather is your mood, climate is your personality.” Loosely interpreted, though there is a visible pattern of climate change, you can’t necessarily attribute a single, or even several, extreme weather events to it directly.

“One tornado in Western Pennsylvania in May or June or April or February does not mean climate change,” McMullen asserts. “It’s got to be prolonged … so that’s [important], to realize the scales of everything.”

When I visit the NWS Pittsburgh office, the city is still buzzing about tornadoes. But weather being infinitely changeable, predictions about a historic heat dome set to hover for days are pouring in. Storms, tornadoes, and “precip,” as the meteorologists call it, are temporarily in the rearview again.

Surrounding the office’s operations floor, which McMullen says is the smallest on the Eastern seaboard, are screens showing the Northeast’s predicted heat risk. As the seven-day forecast progresses, the color-coded counties in western Pennsylvania brighten from orange (moderate, category 2) to red to a frightening magenta (category 4, extreme).

“European’s got 600 decameter heights over Pa.!” McMullen declares, referring to a weather forecasting model measuring how much the heatwave could expand the atmosphere itself. Meteorologists call out other models’ predictions: 597 decameters, 598.5 — all rare to see on a weather map. They also use atmospheric pressure to forecast surface temperatures, clocking a run of days in the upper 90s.

Meteorologist Colton Milcarek sifts through climate data: the last time Pittsburgh logged five consecutive days above 95 degrees was 1994 (we ultimately didn’t break this record, but blew past some single-day highs).

“That’s hot!” McMullen says.

“We try to find the most interesting model to talk about and we just shake our heads.”

Though they’re scientists, McMullen emphasizes that, as federal employees, they’re also public servants, quoting the NWS mission to protect life and property.

“People don’t realize heat is the number one killer in the country,” McMullen says. “It’s not lightning, it’s not tornadoes, it’s not flooding. It’s heat.”

Though Pittsburghers tend to have a “high weather IQ” with few weather fatalities in the region — which McMullen attributes in part to residents’ love of local TV news — safety is always of paramount concern.

Milcarek messages a Slack channel with media members, emergency managers, and other NWS partners about the upcoming heat risk. Communicating over Slack is much more efficient than earlier methods, says McMullen, who’s worked at NWS Pittsburgh for 15 years, allowing them to embed pictures and links and transmit essential information quickly.

“It’s just really important that we make the forecast and then communicate that message out to the public,” Milcarek tells CP . “Because even if we get some people to change their actions, potentially reschedule outdoor events, then that can be helpful … and keep people safe.”

The City of Pittsburgh, county governments, and other organizations all rely on NWS information to make decisions like whether to open cooling centers. The office also tracks a running list of events that might be affected by the weather: Pirates games, outdoor concerts and music festivals, motocross races.

The staff takes turns posting to NWS Pittsburgh’s social media, though McMullen makes a point of using yinz in his tweets “so people always know when I’m working.” On

“MOTHER NATURE DOESN’T TAKE WEEKENDS, MIDNIGHTS, HOLIDAYS OFF, SO WE CAN’T.”

WHATEVER

CP PHOTO: MARS JOHNSON

The Doppler Radar tower in Coraopolis, Pa., stands about 100 feet tall with the dome itself measuring 39 feet tall, according to the National Weather Service.

quiet, temperate days, he likes to focus on the positive and play up the nice weather.

On April 19, the NWS Pittsburgh Twitter account posted photos of the sunrise: “If you are up, hope yinz caught the sunrise! If you were still [sleeping emoji], no worries, I captured it here from our office n’at.”

Every meteorologist has their specialty — climate, hydrology, winter weather, severe weather, storm data — and these days, McMullen says, his is public outreach.

“I tell my kids I took one public speaking class in college and that’s all I do now,” McMullen laughs.

Meteorologists seem to know everyone has a formative weather experience, and McMullen’s memorized past events as public interest in climate has piqued. For Pittsburghers, that event might be the 1988 heatwave, the historic 1996 flood

that jammed the Monongahela River with ice, or 2010’s Snowmageddon.

“Because that’s a question we get asked a lot,” McMullen says. “How was this compared to the norm?”

NWS always encourages think ing ahead, and CP’s visit is scheduled before McMullen leads an office tour for two families and 46 ham-radio operators, known to get informa tion out during severe weather. He’s also preparing for a public weather spotting class at a library (part of NWS’s SKYWARN program) and a presentation at Nemacolin. After a tornado passed nearby, the resort in the Laurel Highlands asked NWS to conduct a tornado tabletop exer cise walking through its emergency preparedness.

Lee Hendricks, a meteorologist and hydrologist who, at the time of our visit, was two weeks from retirement after nearly 40 years,

CP PHOTO: MARS JOHNSON

Meteorologist Jason Frazier hands a rubber band ball to Ashley Yantis, 10, during a tour of the National Weather Service.

or you were busy dialing it up on a phone and entering data manually into the system. It wasn’t a great way of doing business.”

Now, NWS receives river readings every hour, which “has helped in leaps and bounds on being able to do this ob.” omputer modeling has also progressed to where rainfall can be “reliably” predicted close to seven days out when endricks started, it was 24 hours.

Many Americans are fortunate to have dental coverage for their entire working life, throughemployer-provided benefits. When those benefits end with retirement, paying dental bills out-of-pocket can come as a shock, leading people to put off or even go without care.

Simply put — without dental insurance, there may be an important gap in your healthcare coverage.

When you’re comparing plans ...

 Look for coverage that helps pay for major services. Some plans may limit the number of procedures — or pay for preventive care only.

 Look for coverage with no deductibles. Some plans may require you to pay hundreds out of pocket before benefits are paid.

 Shop for coverage with no annual maximum on cash benefits. Some plans have annual maximums of $1,000.

Medicare doesn’t pay for dental care.1

That’s right. As good as Medicare is, it was never meant to cover everything. That means if you want protection, you need to purchase individual insurance.

Early detection can prevent small problems from becoming expensive ones. The best way to prevent large dental bills is preventive care. The American Dental Association recommends checkups twice a year.

Previous dental work can wear out.

Even if you’ve had quality dental work in the past, you shouldn’t take your dental health for granted. In fact, your odds of having a dental problem only go up as you age.2

Treatment is expensive — especially the services people over 50 often need.

Consider these national average costs of treatment ... $222 for a checkup ... $190 for a filling ... $1,213 for a crown.3 Unexpected bills like this can be a real burden, especially if you’re on a fixed income.

That said, “It’s fun,” eonardi adds. “That’s why we’re here. And it is kind of cool sometimes being in the know. I’m out getting a haircut and [someone says], ‘They’re saying we’re going to get six inches of snow.’ I’m like, how little do you know ”

“It’s not so much a power, but it’s a feeling of importance,” eonard says. “It’s a feeling of inclusion, because everyone relates to the weather … It affects everybody. So you always feel like you’re part of the conversation. veryone talks about the weather.” •

Meteorologist hris eonardi adds that machine learning and artificial intelligence have the potential to further evolve the personally. So our goal is to always learn from everything.”

One October night back in the hazy ‘80s when I was 10 years old, my mother roused me and my brother from our beds and tucked us under a blanket on the couch to watch Night of the Living Dead According to her, it may have been the first time she ever watched it. This explains why she expected the black and white movie to be campy and not outright terrifying. But it is scary, and the scariest part? For me, it was the moment she hit pause, pointed to one of the ghouls (they’re not referred to as zombies) dressed in a pretty nipwaisted outfit, e claimed, “That’s Mommy!” and grinned. I screamed. We laugh about it now.

BEING EXTRA

BY: RACHAEL NARINS

That’s right my mother, Sharon Carroll, was a teenage zombie. Or, more accurately, she played a esheating, undead ghoul in Pittsburgh’s most famous movie. It wasn’t until 2024, though, that anyone outside of our family knew the name of the specter of a woman referred to by fans as “The ousedress houl.” That was mom.

uick synopsis of the 1 film for the uninitiated, with spoilers: the dead have risen and are looking for people to eat. As the nightmare unfolds, several strangers find themselves trapped in a Pennsylvania farmhouse fighting to survive, hurtling towards a truly shocking conclusion. The film was made for less than $100,000 and earned more than 250% back in the original theatrical run. It was scary and apocalyptic and it had a social message and an eternally uotable line “They’re coming to get you, Barbara.”

CP ILLUSTRATION: JEFF SCHRECKENGOST Ghouls from Night of the Living Dead

This movie, made in an almost guerrilla fashion, was groundbreaking not only for being one of the first scary movies to have the protagonist die; but Duane Jones, a graduate of the University of Pittsburgh, was also the first Black actor to lead a horror film. Today, it’s a cult classic and is in the National Film Registry.

For a tiny dose of local flair, the movie included 1960s Pittsburgh legends, including reporter Dave James, who was covering the shoot for the local news and ended up as an extra. Late night horror movie show host Bill “Chilly Billy” Cardille was an extra, too. Bob Harvey, a real helicopter reporter at the time, is heard in a pivotal scene when survivors

Over the decades, as with any popular film or TV show, dedicated fans have searched for and consumed any and all information they can find about Night of the Living Dead . For the casual viewer to the superfan, there’s lots out there about this movie that was shot in less than 30 days. Documentaries have been made, and there are conferences put on around the country to bring together people who appreciate the work of director George Romero and his franchise of movies.

The latest Living Dead Weekend took place at the Monroeville Mall last month, taking up a few available storefronts. More than 1,000 people attended the three-day event. Conventions dedicated to auteurs like Romero tend to be smaller and more intimate, and this followed that trend. Lines were reasonable and the vibe in Monroeville was convivial. The panel discussions were well attended, and Facebook fan groups were flooded with pictures of happy attendees.

John Vullo of New York, who works with the original film production company, Image Ten, has spent years tracking down every person related to the film, even down to extras like my mom. are trying to get information about what is going on. The inclusion of local color adds to the eerie terror for Pittsburgh viewers. This nightmare could happen to you. At your house.

CP PHOTO: MARS JOHNSON

Sharon Carroll, featured in Night of the Living Dead, signs an original poster from the film.

The challenge is interesting. Start with an incomplete list of background actors, and scan scenes of them roaming in a graveyard, but without many ways to put names to faces. The quest becomes more difficult when trying to track down women since many of them have different names now.

It was the film’s credits that led my mom, now Sharon Brubach Rapone (Sharon Carroll at the time the movie was filmed , to the convention. er former full name was all they had to go on.

Sharon is a retired senior who lives a quiet life. She swims every day and enjoys reading and painting. She no longer lives in Pittsburgh but misses it. It’s a city she is grateful to have grown up in.

Vullo tracked her and other extras

through serious sleuthing. Like many women her age, she doesn’t have an online presence, so finding her was a challenge. Vullo searched through records, found obituaries, connected her maiden name to her current married name, requested documents, and kept searching.

Less than three weeks before the convention in Pittsburgh, to her surprise, Sharon got a call from Image Ten asking if she wanted to appear as a guest. She didn’t even know anyone was looking for her, but it made her smile. A polite stranger asked if she had at one time been Sharon Carroll and if she had been in the movie. She spent some time trying to decide if it was a scam. She replied saying that attending a nostalgic convention wasn’t really for her, but after some thought, she asked for a few

accommodations that were graciously met, and off she went on a new adventure.

One of the film’s producers, uss Streiner, tells Pittsburgh City Paper he vaguely recalls Sharon was a friend of his e -wife, but didn’t know anything more.

Indeed, in 1967, while studying and working at Pitt, Sharon became friends with Jackie Steiner, wife of Russ, who lived in the same apartment building. One day, Jackie asked if Sharon was busy and if she wanted to be in a movie. To Sharon, it seemed like a fun time. She was told to bring her own wardrobe, and for the first day of shooting, picked out what became known as the “ ousedress” that we both agree was quite sweet and a bit more chic than something a person would be

CP PHOTO: MARS JOHNSON

Sharon Carroll, featured in Night of the Living Dead, greets Living Dead Weekend atendees at Monroeville Mall.

wearing while cleaning the house) and spent two days filming. That was it. She had no aspirations of being an actress, and she wasn’t there for the money, since she got $25 total — about $225 in today’s dollars. She was there because, why not? She was young and thought it sounded like an amusing way to pass the time.

During that weekend, one of the actors, Karl Hardman, took out his camera to document the goings-on. Fortunately for the world, but not so great for Sharon, those now famous, copyrighted images that included her have been used on dozens of products without her knowing, from T-shirts to a VHS release of the movie, to the Konami game Zombies Ate My Neighbors, and a Living Dead-themed board game.

Arriving at the conference, my

mom was utterly charmed that people lined up to get a signed photo and take pictures with her. She was bemused that people had flown from as far as Texas and Tennessee just to give her a hug. (I can attest, it’s a fantastic hug.) She posed and smiled, and was so grateful when someone conjured a slice of Mineo’s pizza.

“Best pizza I’ve had in a decade,” she said. The bonus was that she not only spent the day meeting a whole litany of fans, but she made more in the first hour than she made for two days of work on the movie. Worth it.

She gets a giggle out of this whole situation. “I feel like I met family. Everyone was so nice to me.”

Now, she is part of the fold, and looking forward to getting more involved in future events. •

CP PHOTO: MARS JOHNSON

Mandy Davis poses for a photo while in zombie makeup applied by Ali Fleeman during Living Dead Weekend at the Monroeville Mall.

CP PHOTO: MARS JOHNSON John Wilson poses for a photo during Living Dead Weekend at the Monroeville Mall.

THERE’S NOTHING “BLAH” ABOUT BLAWNOX

The small borough has transformed from an industrial suburb to a cozy food and nightlife destination

BY: MATT PETRAS // INFO@PGHCITYPAPER.COM

Inside Old Thunder Brewing on Blawnox’s main street, framed photographs of the construction from a few years ago line the walls and give customers a glimpse of its transformation from an old post office to what’s now the hottest spot to hang out in the borough.

To the left of the entrance, the owners have kept the former postmaster’s office mostly intact. nearby window has a view of a recently completed mural depicting Blawno . nd then, through the back windows, there’s a view of the site of two storied former steel mills — Blaw Collapsible Steel Centering Company and Knox Pressed and Welded Steel Company, which later merged into Blaw-Knox and served as the inspiration for the borough’s name.

CP PHOTO: MARS JOHNSON Mayor of Blawnox, Anthony Gross, poses for a portrait at his home.

Rob Dillman, co-owner and cofounder of the brewery, looks out the window as he shows Pittsburgh City Paper around the place.

“It’s kind of what our image is, you know? It’s like a little bit of old and a little bit of new,” Dillman says. “And so you’re standing here in this newer brewery space, and you can see the original businesses that used to be here.”

About 10 miles northeast of downtown Pittsburgh, Blawnox has transformed from a steel town to a quiet suburb with a vibrant, growing main street. Next year, the borough will pull out all the stops to celebrate its 100th anniversary.

of industry … what worked in the past in more of an urban setting just doesn’t work for today’s indus trial needs.”

Powers, a resident of O’Hara Township, has been paid by the borough to write a book detailing the history of Blawnox in conjunction with the town’s upcoming centen nial. He promises some new, exciting revelations about the borough that he won’t yet detail. After its indus trial crisis, the borough struggled but eventually found a new identity, according to Powers.

“It’s turned into basically a suburban community with shops. There is a town there,” Powers says.

“IT’S KIND OF WHAT OUR IMAGE IS, YOU KNOW? IT’S LIKE A LITTLE BIT OF OLD AND A LITTLE BIT OF NEW.”

The borough, closely associated with neighboring O’Hara Township, curves into a bend of the Allegheny River and fits within Fox Chapel School District. For decades after the Blaw-Knox company merger in 1917, steel manufacturing defined the borough, but in the late ’60s, the company began to change owners and continued a steep decline in its prominence.

“[Blawnox] was certainly affected by losing a Fortune 500 company. Any small municipality would be, and Blawnox is no exception,” says local historian Tom Powers. “Sharpsburg is another community that was hurt when their industries moved out in the early ’50s. That’s the nature

“The town has been traditionally seeded with businesses along the main strip. But it’s basically an extension of suburbia.”

Old Thunder Brewing, the most prominent of the borough’s new businesses, opened in a limited capacity in December of 2020, before its taproom opened the following year. In addition to its three co-owners, the brewery employs four full-time employees.

“It’s great,” Dillman says. “We’re not making a ton of money, but we’re paying the bills, taking care of our people, keeping the lights on. We’re able to make the beers we want to make, and that’s kinda what it’s all about … we’re slowly growing the way that we want to year over year over year.”

CP PHOTO: MARS JOHNSON Blawnox, Pa., on June 28, 2024

CP PHOTO: MARS JOHNSON

Josh Taylor, co-owner and co-founder of Old Thunder Brewing Company in Blawnox.

He’s happy to see success for neighboring businesses, as well,

“Having multiple successful businesses only benefits everybody. You know, if there was one shitty business and one cool business, it might bring the other one down,” Dillman quips. “But if we’re busy, everybody’s busy, and vice

In addition to the brewery, Freeport Road includes N Stuff Music, a large music shop in business for more than 50 years that also features small concerts and instrument lessons; Maenam Thai, a favorite of Pittsburgh sweetheart Rick Sebak, opened in 2018; a new location for coffee and ice cream joint The Black Canary, added in 2022; and several locally beloved spots for live music, among them Dietch’s, Moondogs, and Starlite Lounge.

Business growth in recent years comes after an intentional effort by Mayor Anthony Gross and the borough council. It became clear to them that Blawnox needed to be more hospitable for business in order to thrive, so within the past five years, local government has reorganized decades-old zoning laws to accommodate those looking to open restaurants and shops, according to Gross.

“It was old. It was from the ’60s, and some things then just needed to be changed,” Gross says of the borough’s zoning policy. “Maybe it was okay 50 years ago, but it’s not okay anymore. You know, things have to change. And you definitely get held back with people who

don’t like change.”

Gross, a 67-year-old man who grew up in Wilkinsburg, says he’s resistant to change, too, but has been happy to oversee Blawnox’s transformation. Decades ago, he met his wife while they both worked at the University of Pittsburgh and around the time her family moved to Blawnox from Aspinwall. In the early ’90s, he and his wife moved into Blawnox.

“It’s beautiful. For a long, long time, we were a, so to speak, hidden little gem,” Gross says. “‘Blawnox? Where’s Blawnox? Never heard of that. What’s that near?’ It was the easiest to describe as, ‘well, it’s in the Fox Chapel School District.’ ‘Well, do you know where the Waterworks Mall is?’ Some people, they know different things, so that they could relate to this little town as you drove up the road.”

In 2022, a driver said to have road rage shot and killed a police officer in the borough. Then, this past March, a shooting at a warehouse in Blawnox that left one dead and another seriously injured again interrupted the peaceful suburbia of Blawnox. These incidents shocked residents, Gross says.

“That impacts a community like this, it’s small,” he says. “Because it’s never had that [type of incident].”

Typically, interactions in Blawnox prove incredibly friendly, according to Gross. He and his wife know and have a good relationship with their neighbors. Two of them, couple Amber Fontenot and Aaron Horsting, both 44-year-olds who

CP PHOTO: MARS JOHNSON

Old Thunder Brewing Company in Blawnox, Pa.

CP PHOTO: MARS JOHNSON Max Flowers pours a beer at Old Thunder.

LIVE PODCAST

LYNN CULLEN LIVE

parent a 9-, 16-, and 18-year-old, have lived in a house in Blawnox since 2 1 . Blawno seemed like a nice enough area and provided an affordable price for a house for mber, who does administrative work at Pitt while she pursues a Ph. ., and aron, a food service supervisor at a hospital.

“When we moved in, our neighbor across the street, it was une, so it was very hot, so we’re moving everything, we’re real sweaty, and she just came over, introduced herself and offered us some beers,” orsting says. “It was ust very friendly from the beginning, and that was a really nice memory. It was a nice introduction to the neighborhood.”

“She ust brought us beers out of her fridge in a grocery bag,” ontenot adds. “She’s like, this is what I have.’ ust came over with cold beer. reat.”

The borough seemed emptier when they first moved, but they’ve been happy to see it fill with new businesses. They’d like to see more sidewalks added but find themselves happy to stay in town for fun.

“We don’t go anywhere. We go to Old Thunder,” ontenot says, laughing. •

CP PHOTO: MARS JOHNSON Blawnox, Pa., on June 28, 2024

FOURTH OF JULY ALTERNATIVES

BY AMANDA WALTZ // AWALTZ@PGHCITYPAPER.COM

No matter where you stand politically, 2024 promises to be a rough one. The upcoming presidential election offers two less-than-inspiring candidates (to put it mildly), and the consensus is that American democracy is holding on by a thread. Prices are up, spirits are down, and everyone is big mad.

So, who could be blamed for feeling less than patriotic this July Fourth? The simple joys of hot dogs and fireworks are hardly a salve for those watching multiple national crises unfold.

If grilling out and donning American flag regalia are no match for your justified cynicism, here are some other ways to make the holiday at least somewhat pleasurable.

PARTY DIFFERENT

Admit it, the Fourth of July is just an excuse to party and enjoy a federally mandated day off. Head to Spirit XDiamond Beach Fourth of July Spectacular , where live music, pro wrestling, and more await. Hear sets by the West Coast skate punk band The Spits and by local groups Living World, Beyond Damaged, and Snarling Dogs. The event unfolds at Certain Death II , a marina-turnedvenue where you can rock out near the water. 4 p.m. 7775 Lock Way E, Highland Park. $22 in advance, $25 at the door. 21 and over. spiritpgh.com

Bottlerocket Social Hall has a festive after-party for revelers attending the Big Blast at Grandview summer celebration on the Hilltop. DJ Ron Mist provides the music to the post-fireworks fete in the retro Allentown bar. 10 p.m. 1226 Arlington Ave., Allentown. Free. bottlerocketpgh.com

EAT, DRINK, AND BE MEH

Pittsburgh bars and restaurants have special Independence Day food and drink deals for those lacking the will to fire up the grill. The rooftop Biergarten at Hotel Monaco ( 620 William Penn Pl., Downtown) presents its Red, White, and Blue Rooftop BBQ with alcoholic and zero-proof cocktails, lawn games, music, and chefcrafted burgers and dogs.

The PA Market ( 108 19th St., Strip District ) invites guests to enjoy wood-fired pizza and special drinks, including the Polar Plunge South of the Border margarita and the meme-inspired Just Got Rick Rolled, which comes with a housemade cherry lime popsicle.

For dessert, Khalil’s ( 4757 Baum Blvd., Oakland) puts a “Syrian twist on an American classic” with its Apple “Pie” Baklava.

HEALING IS NATURE

If the current political climate makes you want to do away with society and go off the grid, why not start by sampling local wilderness life? The southwestern Pa. region boasts a wealth of natural wonders to get lost in, including the Allegheny National Forest , the Laurel Highlands, and Cook Forest State Park . Plus, these places are guaranteed to be open on the Fourth of July, meaning you can recreate to your heart’s content. Those planning on staying overnight should visit park websites to reserve campground spaces, which are available for a small fee. •

PHOTO: COURTESY OF PA MARKET Fourth of July drinks at The PA Market

SEVEN DAYS IN PITTSBURGH

JULY

THU., JULY 4

CONVENTION • DOWNTOWN

Anthrocon. 12:30-11 p.m. Continues through Sun., July 7. David L. Lawrence Convention Center. 1000 Fort Duquesne Blvd., Downtown. $65 for pre-registration, $80 at the door. anthrocon.org

FESTIVAL • ALLENTOWN

Find free Independence Day fun for the whole family when Bottlerocket Social Hall and the Pittsburgh Parks Department present Big Blast at Grandview: A Hilltop Summer Celebration. Play yard games, check out a local artist and vendor market, cheer on participants at a hot dog eating contest, or take a Burgh Bus shuttle to see live music at the Grandview Park bandshell. After dark, get a scenic view of the Downtown fireworks display. 3-9:30 p.m. 1226 Arlington Ave., Allentown. Free. All ages. bottlerocketpgh.com

PARTY • NORTH SIDE

July 4th: Explosive Science! 6-11 p.m. Carnegie Science Center. One Allegheny Ave., North Side. $71-139. carnegiesciencecenter.org

FRI., JULY 5

ART • HILL DISTRICT

Hill Dance Academy Theatre presents A Day of Art in the Hill District. 10 a.m.-3 p.m. 2900 Bedford Ave., Hill District. Free. All ages. facebook.com/5678hdat

COMEDY • DOWNTOWN

Unique: An Improv Show About Disabilities and Mental Health 7 p.m. Arcade Comedy Theater. 943 Liberty Ave., Downtown. $10-15. 16 and over. arcadecomedytheater.com

MUSIC • SOUTH SIDE

Wes Parker with Indré and I Swallow Ghosts. 8 p.m. Doors at 7 p.m. Club Cafe. 56-58 South 12th St., South Side. $10. opusoneproductions.com

COMEDY • STRIP DISTRICT

Comedy In The Loft. 8-10 p.m. Kingfly Spirits. 2613 Smallman St., Strip District. $30-90. kingflyspirits.com/events

SAT., JULY 6

FILM • DOWNTOWN

Even if you’re not attending this year’s Anthrocon, the furries have a wonderful habit of showing up at various events throughout Pittsburgh. The convention joins Harris Theater to co-present a screening of The Secret of N.I.M.H., a 1982 animated feature about a mother mouse on a dangerous quest to save her children. Anthrocon attendees and kids 12 and under pay only $5 to get in. 4 p.m. Harris Theater. 809 Liberty Ave., Downtown. $5-11. trustarts.org

THROUGH JULY 7

MUSIC • SOUTH SIDE

53 Thieves with Rachel Ana Dobken and Sherry CD-ROM. 6:30 p.m. Doors at 6 p.m. The Smiling Moose. 1306 E. Carson St., South Side. $16. druskyentertainment.com

MUSIC • STRIP DISTRICT

Rahsaan Patterson. 6:30 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. City Winery. 1627 Smallman St., Strip District. $60-70. citywinery.com

FILM/COMEDY • LAWRENCEVILLE

Coconut Night: Monty Python & The Holy Grail with The Harvey Wallbangers 10 p.m. Row House Cinema. 4115 Butler St., Lawrenceville. $17. rowhousecinemas.com

SUN., JULY 7

DRAG • STATION SQUARE

Showgirl Sundays Drag Brunch. 11 a.m. Hard Rock Cafe. 230 West Station Square Dr., Station Square. $10-20. facebook.com/ssproductionspgh

PHOTO: COURTESY OF WARNER BROS. Purple Rain at The Oaks Theater

CP PHOTO: MIKE SCHWARTZ Anthrocon at David L. Lawrence Convention Center

MON., JULY8

MON., JULY 8

MUSIC • NORTH SHORE

The Used with The Year and Amira Elfeky. 6 p.m. Stage AE. 400 N Shore Dr., North Shore. $49.50-99. opusoneproductions.com

MUSIC • DOWNTOWN

Norah Jones: Visions Tour with Sasha Dobson 7 p.m. Heinz Hall. 600 Penn Ave., Downtown. $59.50-323.75. pittsburghsymphony.org

MUSIC • LAWRENCEVILLE

Steel & Bone Productions takes over Cattivo to present what’s described as “an evening of progressive death metal malignity.” The Toronto-based trio Tomb Mold stops in as part of a tour for their fourth album The Enduring Spirit, which Pitchfork called “an ambitious and deeply human suite that touches the sublime.” Also playing is Horrendous from Philadelphia and local act Genital Shame. 8 p.m. Doors at 7 p.m. 146 44th St., Lawrenceville. $20. facebook.com/cattivopgh

TUE., JULY 9

MUSIC • DOWNTOWN

Aurora 5 p.m. Agnes Katz Plaza. 667 Penn Ave., Downtown. Free. trustarts.org

LIT • MILLVALE

Pittsburgh Poetry Collective presents Steel City Slam. 7:30 p.m. Sign-ups at 7 p.m. Poetry Lounge. 313 North Ave., Millvale. $5. poetrymillvale.com

THEATER • DOWNTOWN

The Music Man. 7:30 p.m. Continues through Sun., July 14. Benedum Center. 237 Seventh St., Downtown. $35-98. pittsburghclo.org

WED., JULY 10

FILM • OAKMONT

Purple Rain. 8 p.m. Doors at 7 p.m. The Oaks Theater. 310 Allegheny River Blvd., Oakmont. $10. theoakstheater.com

MUSIC • NORTH SIDE

Drum & Bass Night. 9 p.m. The Government Center. 715 East St., North Side. Free. thegovernmentcenter.com

PHOTO: JOELLE GRACE TAYLOR Norah Jones at Heinz Hall

HELP WANTED ADMINISTRATIVE

ASSISTANT NEEDED

Full or P/time position open for an Administrative Assistant to help track and prepare proposals for projects. Excellent organization and communication skills as well as experience with editing in Microsoft Word and Excel needed. Hours are flexible (M-F only) but must fit within our daily shop schedule. Starting pay is $25 or higher, depending on experience. Email resume to applyandresumes@gmail.com or text (213) 935-0504.

ESTATE NOTICE

ESTATE OF MILLER, JEAN E. DECEASED OF WHITE OAK, PA

Jean E. Miller, deceased, of White Oak, PA. No. 022402928 of 2024.

Thomas Miller, Jr.,

Adm. P.O. Box 53, McKeesport, PA 15135.

MARKET PLACE

PUBLIC AUCTION

Need Help with Family Law? Can’t Afford a $5000 Retainer? Low Cost Legal Services- Pay As You Go- As low as $750-$1500Get Legal Help Now! Call 1-844-821-8249 Mon-Fri 7am to 4pm PCT (AAN CAN) https://www.familycourtdirect. com/?network=1

ESTATE NOTICE ESTATE OF DONALD L. FILLMORE, LATE OF SHALER TOWNSHIP, PENNSYLVANIA, (DIED: FEBRUARY 28, 2024) Notice is hereby given that Letters Administration on the above Estate have been granted to Janeen Walker, Administrator. All persons indebted to the said Estate are required to make payment and those having claims to present the same without delay to the Administrator named herein, or to Lawrence A. Durkin, Esquire, Durkin MacDonald, LLC, Attorney for this Estate, 536 East Drinker Street, Dunmore, Pennsylvania 18512.

Extra Space Storage, on behalf of itself or its a iliates, Life Storage or Storage Express, will hold a public auction to sell the contents of leased spaces to satisfy Extra Space’s lien at the location indicated: 110 Kisow Drive, Pittsburgh, PA 15205 on July 17, 2024 at 11:15 AM. Ambrosia Preston 427, D Towers 38, Michael Luckett 68. The auction will be listed and advertised on www.storagetreasures.com. Purchases must be made with cash only and paid at the above referenced facility in order to complete the transaction.

Extra Space Storage may refuse any bid and may rescind any purchase up until the winning bidder takes possession of the personal property.

ESTATE NOTICE ESTATE OF BISHOP, BRETT

G. DECEASED OF PITTSBURGH, PA

Brett G. Bishop, deceased, of Pittsburgh, PA. No. 04200 of 2024.

Matthew A Bishop, Extr., 13969 NE 31st Place Bellevue, WA 98005.

Extra Space Storage, on behalf of itself or its a iliates, Life Storage or Storage Express, will hold a public auction to sell the contents of leased spaces to satisfy Extra Space’s lien at the location indicated: 111 Hickory Grade Rd, Bridgeville, PA 15017, July 17, 2024 at 12:30 PM. Patrick Jones 3377. The auction will be listed and advertised on www.storagetreasures.com. Purchases must be made with cash only and paid at the above referenced facility in order to complete the transaction. Extra Space Storage may refuse any bid and may rescind any purchase up until the winning bidder takes possession of the personal property.

PUBLIC AUCTION

Extra Space Storage, on behalf of itself or its a iliates, Life Storage or Storage Express, will hold a public auction to sell the contents of leased spaces to satisfy Extra Space’s lien at the location indicated: 141 N Braddock Ave, Pittsburgh PA, 15208 on July 17, 2024 at 11:00 AM. Rosa Armijo Jofre 2044, James Barnhart 4022, Delores Johnson 4044. The auction will be listed and advertised on www.storagetreasures.com. Purchases must be made with cash only and paid at the above referenced facility in order to complete the transaction. Extra Space Storage may refuse any bid and may rescind any purchase up until the winning bidder takes possession of the personal property.

Extra Space Storage, on behalf of itself or its a iliates, Life Storage or Storage Express, will hold a public auction to sell the contents of leased spaces to satisfy Extra Space’s lien at the location indicated: 1212 Madison Ave, Pittsburgh, PA 15212. July 17, 2024 at 1:30 PM. Tonita Henderson 4130. The auction will be listed and advertised on www.storagetreasures.com.

Purchases must be made with cash only and paid at the above referenced facility in order to complete the transaction.

Extra Space Storage may refuse any bid and may rescind any purchase up until the winning bidder takes possession of the personal property.

PUBLIC AUCTION

Extra Space Storage, on behalf of itself or its a iliate’s Life Storage or Storage Express, will hold a public auction to sell the contents of leased spaces to satisfy Extras Space’s lien at the location indicated: 902 Brinton Road, Pittsburgh, PA 15221 on July 17, 2024 at 11:30am. Shequayla Bey 2299. The auction will be listed and advertised on www.storagetreasures.com

Purchases must be made with cash only and paid at the above referenced facility in order to complete the transaction. Extra Space Storage may refuse any bid and may rescind any purchase up until the winning bidder takes possession of the property.

AM. Charmaine Charles 4143, John Patton 8107. The auction will be listed and advertised on www.storagetreasures.com.

PUBLIC AUCTION

Extra Space Storage, on behalf of itself or its a iliates, Life Storage or Storage Express, will hold a public auction to sell the contents of leased spaces to satisfy Extra Space’s lien at the location indicated: 880 Saw Mill Run Blvd Pittsburgh, PA 15226, July 17, 2024, at 1:15 PM. Arianna Taylor 3017. The auction will be listed and advertised on www.storagetreasures.com.

Sealed proposals shall be deposited at the Administration Building, Bellefield Entrance Lobby, 341 South Bellefield Avenue, Pittsburgh, Pa., 15213, on July 30, 2024, until 2:00 P.M., local prevailing time for:

THE BOARD OF PUBLIC EDUCATION of the SCHOOL DISTRICT OF PITTSBURGH ADVERTISEMENT FOR BIDS PGH. OBAMA 6-12 (JR./SR. HIGH SCHOOL) (*REBID*) • Bleacher Demolition and UST Removal • General Primes

Project Manual and Drawings will be available for purchase on June 30, 2024, at Modern Reproductions (412-488-7700), 127 McKean Street, Pittsburgh, Pa., 15219 between 9:00 A.M. and 4:00 P.M. The cost of the Project Manual Documents is non-refundable. Project details and dates are described in each project manual.

FINANCIAL

MISCELLANEOUS

INDEPENDENCE DAY

Struggling With Your Private Student Loan Payment? New relief programs can reduce your payments. Learn your options. Good credit not necessary. Call the Helpline 888-670-5631 (Mon-Fri 9am-5pm Eastern) (AAN CAN)

STUDY SMOKERS WANTED

The University of Pittsburgh’s Alcohol & Smoking Research Lab is looking for people to participate in a research project. You must:

• Currently smoke cigarettes

• Be 18-49 years old, in good health, and speak fluent English

• Be right handed, willing to not smoke before two sessions, and to fill out questionnaires

Earn up to $260 for participating in this study.

ACROSS

1. Wearing a disguise, for short 6. Jump during The Nutcracker

10. Jump

13.

Reach the limit

o , as player’s salaries in pro sports

15. Easily

o ended sort

16. “Honest” historical figure

17. Fake bro?

19. Heated fight

20. Rival of BMI and SESAC

21. Trick taking card game

23. Shithead?

26. Beggar ___ neighbor

27. Precisely meaningful

28. Equatorial Guinea’s capital

30. “The only kind of varmint sets his own trap, baits it, then steps in it,” per Steinbeck

31. Cobras from 9-Down

34. Scotch-Brite sponge brand

35. Simply hasta

37.

Large Kenyan export

38. Time for barbecuing, and a cryptic hint to what’s added twice to the theme answers

41. Fish with a species named after Alessandro Volta, inventor of the electric battery

42. Technique used in mooring

43. With a clump of feathers

44. Charon crosses it

46. It runs AirDrop

47. Locked-in cost

48. Knock ‘em back

50. Way o in the distance

51. Stat for Patrick Mahomes

52. Didn’t let go

54. Game played by settlers

56. Transfusion rm.

57. Deceitful sprite?

62. “___ Came to Stay” (1943 Simone de Beauvoir novel)

63. Game that goes from 1-80

64. Opening of Return of the Jedi, e.g.

65. Vegan’s protein source

66. Makes a decision

67. Stir from slumber

DOWN

1. Violent J and Shaggy 2 Dope’s rap act, initially

2. “I’ll pass”

3. Naval rank: Abbr.

4. Woman’s name that means “lamb”

5. Inn registry

6. Genre for AKB48

and Perfume 7. “Welp, this is awkward”

8. Makes a connection with

9. See 31-Across 10. Durable plush animal toy?

11. Woodwind instrument 12. Where the congregation sit 14. Danish astronomer Brahe 18. Rural allergen 22. “Now I got it!” 23. Overacts 24. Pouch of perfumed powder

25. Stalwart cartoon dog?

27. Lines on a trail map

29. Clausen who scored The Simpsons

30. Rival of Tree Top and Eden Foods

32. Hit, as with a water balloon

33. Agree to 35. Guardians of the Galaxy character voiced by Vin Diesel

36. A while later

39. Strike negotiator

40. Stick (out)

45. Crossed (out)

47. Party animal?

49. Smashing, in show biz

50. Steak leftovers?

52. Sound from 31-Across

53. Sound reply?

54. Budget specialists: Abbr.

55. Moon unit?

58. Insect with cooperative skills

59. Gag reflex

60. Have second thoughts

61. Strong desire

LAST

WEEK’S ANSWERS

For more information, call (412) 407-5029

NAME CHANGE

IN The Court of Common Pleas of Allegheny County, Pennsylvania: No. GD-24-5207 In re petition of Jamey Thomas Walsh for change of name to James Thomas Zimbicki. To all persons interested: Notice is hereby given that an order of said Court authorized the filing of said petition and fixed the 10th day of July, 2024, 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.

Compare 20 A-rated insurances companies. Get a quote within minutes. Average savings of $444/year! Call 844712-6153! (M-F 8am-8pm Central) (AAN CAN)

NAME CHANGE

IN The Court of Common Pleas of Allegheny County, Pennsylvania: No. GD-24-004463, In re petition of Mark Shankle, parent and legal guardian of Cody Allan Phillips, minor, for change of name to Cody Mark Shankle. To all persons interested: Notice is hereby given that an order of said Court authorized the filing of said petition and fixed the 24th day of July 2024, 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.

NAME CHANGE

IN The Superior Court of California, County of Los Angeles: Glendale Courthouse, 600 East Broadway, Glendale, CA 91206 No. 24NNCP00199

In re petition of Ebby Carin Anderson for change of name to Erika Carin Anderson. To all persons interested: Notice is hereby given that an order of said Court authorized the filing of said petition and fixed the 17th day of July, 2024, at 8:30 a.m. THE COURT ORDERS that all persons interested in this matter appear before this court at the hearing indicated below to show cause, if any, why the petition for change of name should not be granted. Any person objecting to the name changes described above must file a written objection that includes the reasons for the objection at least two court days before the matter is scheduled to be heard and must appear at the hearing to show cause why the petition should not be granted. If no written objection is timely filed, the court may grant the petition without a hearing.

Saluted as a military-friendly workplace for the third consecutive year.

Pittsburgh Regional Transit is proud to be recognized as a 2024 Military Friendly® Employer for its continued commitment to supporting veterans in their transition from the military to civilian life.

This marks the third consecutive year PRT has received this distinguished honor and we remain committed to hiring, retaining and promoting career advancement in the workplace for active military employees and veterans, as well as, assisting military families in other capacities.

More than 200 active military employees and veterans are currently employed at PRT and we look forward to growing that number in the future. Learn more about a career with Pittsburgh Regional Transit.