November 30, 2022 - Pittsburgh City Paper

BY JORDANA ROSENFELD // JORDANA@PGHCITYPAPER.COM

florid vibrato of many solo ists. Hwang and Dortch deliver masterful and moving renditions of two of musical theater’s most dramatic and ambitious ballads “On My Own,” and “I Dreamed a Dream,” respectively, that are at once lovely and wrenching.

NOV., 22

BY JAMIE WIGGAN // JAMIE@PGHCITYPAPER.COM

IORDER the CG Classic Sandwich combo, which comes with fries and a drink. Yes, I know this concept emphasizes its chicken tenders and sauces but, to me, boneless chicken strips in batter are not a serious

AMONG the performers, who are all skilled and well-cast, Christine Heesun Hwang stands out as Éponine, one of the play’s most tragic characters, in part because her more contemporary vocal style cuts through the sometimes monotonous, >>

food for people over the age of 10. But throw them in a sandwich with the right balance of toppings and I’d take them over any of the pretentious offerings vaunted in the fine-dining world.

MORAN-FUNWELA

MORGAN BIDDLE

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COVER PHOTO: JARED WICKERHAM

PHOTO: MATTHEW MURPHY AND EVAN ZIMMERMAN FOR MURPHYMADE North American national tour of Les Misérables

CP PHOTO: JAMIE WIGGAN

Chicken Guy! CG Classic Sanwich combo

2022 WarnerMedia Direct, LLC. All Rights Reserved. HBO Max™ is used under license. © 2022 Comcast. All rights reserved. NPA243803-0001 NED-LGBTQ-Black Friday-V5

NO WALK IN THE PARK

BY BILL ZLATOS // INFO@PGHCITYPAPER.COM

WEARING A WOOL CAP and zipped-up coat, Jerome Jackson nurses a cup of coffee to ward off the cold as he shows off Baxter Park in Homewood. The trees are bare, the windows of a nearby building are broken out and boarded up, and a faded mural on a con crete wall displays scenes of Africa.

The playground, renovated two years ago by the city with slides, swings and climbing wall, is devoid of children on a glum fall day with a thick cover of pasty white clouds blotting out the sun. But Jackson, executive director of Operation Better Block, sees what the city could have done.

“We’re not saying the equipment they put up isn’t nice,” he said. “There’s not enough here.”

Baxter is ground zero for a dispute between the Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy and Mayor Ed Gainey. In its nearly $2.9 million request, the Conservancy ranked Baxter as its number one priority for this round of money from the Pittsburgh Parks Tax. In denying this request, critics argue, the mayor rewards less needy neighborhoods like Oakland’s Schenley Park and leaves needy neigh borhoods like Homewood out in the cold.

The decision on how to spend the funds generated by this new and conten tious revenue stream has been no walk in the park.

The mayor excluded Baxter and every other project recommended by the con servancy from his proposed 2023 budget and instead listed projects in other parks, many of which rank low on the equity scoresheet, a system approved by both parties for fairly divvying up parks money.

Conservancy officials responded like a date invited to the prom but not asked to dance.

“As a valued partner to the City for nearly 26 years, we were disappointed to learn that the Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy did not receive an alloca tion from the dedicated Parks Tax as part of the Mayor’s 2023 budget allocation, particularly because we were invited to submit a proposal for such an allocation,” wrote Catherine Qureshi,” president and CEO of the Conservancy, in an email.

She added, “The Parks Conservancy believes in the equitable investment of funds into parks that have not seen investment in decades, which is pre cisely what we presented in our proposal to the City.”

But Maria Montano, press secretary for the mayor, says the city first needs to invest in the department’s equipment and resources.,

“We need to have the tools and per sonnel to do the work of caring for and maintaining our parks. This helps set us up for the long-term care of these prized city assets.”

Pittsburgh’s parks date back to the late 19 th century when Public Works direc tor Edward Bigelow convinced wealthy widow Mary Schenley to donate the land that became Schenley Park. Now, the city’s Departments of Public Works and Parks and Recreation, known together as CitiParks, oversee 3,800 acres in 163 parks.

The Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy was created in 1996 to help restore dete riorating city parks. In 2019, a joint city and conservancy study disclosed a $400 million backlog in fixing the infrastruc ture of parks and an annual shortfall of $13 million in maintaining them.

Later that year, city residents nar rowly approved a referendum dedicat ing a 0.5 mill parks tax, or $50 on every $100,000 of assessed valuation to fix and maintain the parks, invest in sites, and provide programming. Among the other purposes of the referendum is to “equi tably fund parks in underserved neigh borhoods” and “secure matching funds and services from a charitable city parks conservancy.”

On Jan. 7, 2022, the city and the con servancy signed a 10-year partnership outlining the responsibilities of each party. One of the Conservancy’s duties is to submit a list of projects to be funded by the parks tax by May 15 of every year.

Both sides agreed to use a system that equitably divides the money. The scoresheet considers such factors as poverty, the proportion of youths and senior citizens, and the health of resi dents in the neighborhood, and the con dition of the park. The tax is expected to

raise an extra $10 million a year for the parks.

This year, the conservancy’s $2.875 million request calls for:

– $2 million for shovel-ready projects in Allegheny Commons on the North Side and McKinley Park in Beltzhoover

– $350,000 for planning and design of five projects in Baxter, Spring Hill, McKinley, Kennard and Heth Run parks

– $225,000 for programming in Frankie Place Park in the Lower Hill District

– $150,000 for staffing in climate resil iency, horticulture and forestry; and – $150,000 for developing green jobs for youths.

The mayor released his proposed 2023 budgets of $658.4 million for operations and $164.1 million for capital improvements on Nov. 14. The operat ing budget covers daily expenses such as salaries and the capital budget, and long-term expenses such as buildings,

CP PHOTOS: JARED WICKERHAM

Jerome Jackson, executive director at Operation Better Block, poses for a portrait at Baxter Parklet in Homewood.

“We’re not saying the equipment they put up isn’t nice. There’s not enough here.”

vehicles, and equipment. City Council must approve the budgets by the end of the year.

The operating budget for the parks tax proposed spending $2.6 million and the capital budget, $13.4 million. The latter rebuilt parks, replaced equip ment, and bought 28 vehicles. Montano said the mayor supplemented the parks tax budgets with unused money from other years.

The mayor did earmark $1 million for two projects in McKinley Park, the second highest ranking park on the equity scoresheet, and $664,000 for Kennard Park in the Hill District, the fourth highest.

However, two big-ticket items were $2.5 million for two projects in Brookline’s Moore Park, which the metric ranked 83 rd among 142 sites, and $1.3 million for equipment at the Schenley Park ice rink (Schenley ranks 95th)

The city proposal left the conservancy and community leaders scratching their heads.

In letters dated Oct. 19 to the mayor, Martha W. Isler, president of the Squirrel Hill Urban Coalition’s board, supported the conservancy’s request for funds and criticized Gainey’s proposal for using the parks tax money.

When looking at the millions of

dollars in 2023 earmarked for Public Works trucks and equipment, she wrote, “it appears that the fear of opponents of the tax is being realized: that the City would simply substitute tax monies meant for parks and pave roads or buy equipment.”

The coalition further lambasted the city’s poor maintenance of Wightman Park. The lack of cleanup at its bathrooms this year forced the coalition to hire a contractor to do the job.

“That’s been glitchy for everyone,” said Maria Cohen, executive director of the Coalition.

The Northside Leadership Conference also supported an allocation to the con servancy and questioned the city’s pro posed budget.

“It’s most likely not what the voters had in mind when they approved that referendum for the parks tax money,” said Dana Fruzynski, interim executive director of the conference.

She speculated that the Gainey administration was shocked by the state of Public Works vehicles when it took office and saw the parks tax as a fix.

“I appreciate what they’re trying to do to build the infrastructure of Public Works, but at the same time, there’s so much needed projects in the parks

This exhibition has been organized by the American Folk Art Museum, New York. Generous support for this project provided by Art Bridges.

Originally curated for installation at the American Folk Art Museum, February 11, 2020–January 3, 2021, by Stacy C. Hollander, Independent Curator. Tour coordinated by Emelie Gevalt, Curator of Folk Art, the American Folk Art Museum.

Image: Presidents Quilt (detail). Clara J. Martin (1882–1968). Mount Clemens, Michigan. 1964. Wool with painted cotton canvas appliqué and cotton flannel back. 88 x 72 in. Collection American Folk Art Museum, New York. Gift of Marta Amundson; great-granddaughter of Clara J. Martin, 2015.2.1. Photo by Kristine Larsen.

CP PHOTO: JARED WICKERHAM Baxter Parklet

themselves,” she said. She suggested a balanced approach between vehicles and infrastructure and projects in the parks.

Montano said the administration put Schenley in the budget to take advantage of a $2 million grant from the Allegheny Regional Asset District. “It’s really critical for us to do that project to keep the city’s ice rink open,” she said.

The lack of money for Baxter grated Homewood leaders.

“This is not just on this mayor but every mayor who’s been in office and has said that they have this love for Homewood and Homewood is a priority,” Jackson said. He also wondered what the absence of money for the Conservancy says about its relationship with the city.

Defending the various low-ranked projects, Montano called the equity scoresheet the Conservancy’s metric. “It’s not the sole metric we’re using to decide the capital projects,” she said. Conservancy officials countered that the scoresheet was devised by them and the administration of former Pittsburgh Mayor Bill Peduto.

“If I was a partner with someone and there was no role or a limited role, then I would question why are we still doing this,” Jackson said.

Particularly jarring to the Conservancy was the mayor’s lack of money that could have been leveraged to obtain matching funds from foundations, corporations, and other sources. That’s essentially free

“I appreciate what they’re trying to do to build the infrastructure of Public Works, but at the same time there’s so much needed projects in the parks themselves.”

money for taxpayers.

Qureshi noted that the conservancy has raised $130 million from outside sources to renovate the parks during its history. But Montano argued that secur ing matching funds was not a require ment of the parks tax.

Among its biggest supporters, the Richard King Mellon Foundation has given the conservancy about $3 million over five years; The Heinz Endowments $2.3 million over four years; and The Pittsburgh Foundation nearly $2.1 million over the past 10 years.

“The Foundation is a longtime sup porter of the Parks Conservancy and its mission, but we do not opine on the allocation of city tax dollars,” said Mellon director Sam Reiman in an email. “We defer to the city’s elected leaders on those matters.”

Jackson complained that Homewood residents had no input into the last reno vation of Baxter. As a result, they couldn’t ask for more benches and baby swings or different equipment. “Community

engagement is truly at the forefront of our work,” said Alana Wenk, the Conservancy’s director of philanthropy and public engagement.

From his spot behind the counter of Dorsey’s Records Shop, Marcus Dorsey, 44, of Penn Hills glances through the storefront window for a commanding view of Baxter. As the store's general manager, he has worked here for 30 years. He used to play at Baxter while his father minded the store.

Dorsey said the park used to attract a lot of children after it was first renovated, but that has dwindled. “Now one family and a couple stray kids even in the nicest weather,” he said.

Jackson said an expanded park could benefit businesses on Frankstown Avenue like Dorsey Records. Until then, he says Homewood residents see a pattern in city government.

“It doesn’t matter which mayor is in there,” he said, “people feel the affluent neighborhoods get what they need before others do.” •

HOLIDAY MARKET™

Open Daily at 11 A.M.

More vendors than ever! The shelves are fully stocked at this favorite Pittsburgh tradition.

HouseSanta’s

HEINZ HALL COURTYARD OPEN THROUGH DEC. 23

Wednesday - Friday: Noon - 3 p.m. & 4 - 7 p.m.

Saturday: Noon - 8 p.m.

Sunday: Noon - 6 p.m.

CP PHOTOS: JARED WICKERHAM Baxter Parklet

GENERATION RADIO

BY MATTHEW MONROY // INFO@PGHCITYPAPER.COM

EVERY SATURDAY MORNING

since 1978, you can turn the radio dial to 88.3 FM and listen to the Saturday Light Brigade, a kid-friendly broadcast centered around highlighting youth voices from the Pittsburgh area. Now, SLB wants to help train the next generation of podcasters, audio editors, and NPR hosts.

Open Studio at the Youth Media Center was launched by SLB as a free after-school program for teenagers in grades 6 to 12. Its goal is to provide the technology and space for teens to learn about all steps of creating a podcast, from recording to editing to publishing.

Tucked away in the lower level of the Children’s Museum of Pittsburgh, the newly renovated SLB Youth Media Center space features microphones, record ing booths, keyboards, computers, and more. Open Studio, which operates from Monday to Thursday and on Saturday, is a drop-in program, so no sign-up is required to visit (though, if it is your first time coming to Open Studio, SLB asks

that you fill out an online form prior to attending).

Open Studio is designed to be a relaxed program where kids can feel comfortable, even to use it as a time to do homework or play a board game after a long school day.

Larry Berger, the creator and host of SLB’s live show, says kids are encouraged to tinker with the audio equipment and create something that they’re proud of.

“When you get down to it, [radio] all starts with words and language. It really gives you a chance to sharpen that,” Berger says. “You have incredible control — there’s a lot of payoff in learning to create and edit audio correctly.”

The days of portable radios and fireside chats may be long gone, but, to Berger, the idea of audio as a conduit for self-expression remains very much alive. Berger says that, when spoke with stu dents at a Woodland Hills High School career day about radio as a medium, he was happy to hear them praise its “oldschool” qualities.

“I’m always concerned I might hear deficits: ‘There is no video, there is nothing to watch, it limits your creativ ity because you only have half of what is there,’” Berger says. “But to the contrary I heard things like, ‘You can be a little more anonymous, you don’t have to be seen, and everyone listening creates their own image and picture, so it ends up being

OPEN STUDIO AT THE YOUTH MEDIA CENTER

Children’s Museum of Pittsburgh.

10 Children’s Way. North Side. slbradio.org/openstudio

a more intimate form of engagement.’”

Taking away the visual element can help remove a level of self-consciousness, which is helpful when broaching personal topics. Recently, four high-school girls read their poetry live on air as a part of the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh’s Ralph Munn Creative Writing Competition. Their poems dealt with issues such as body image and toxic relationships.

“Audio eliminates bias you might have,” Berger says. “How a person is dressed, what shape they’re body is, what they’re race is, what kind of clothing they’re wearing. And teens, they really get that.”

Two 17-year-old girls created an audio documentary at SLB’s studio in 2015 that dealt with the issue of the “schoolto-prison pipeline” as it relates to Black girls. The piece ended up being so suc cessful that it was picked up by a station and broadcast nationally.

Berger says that collaboration in a team setting is key to SLB’s mission. Their website describes radio as a “tremendous equalizer,” a medium that can eliminate bias and give kids the confidence to work together.

“When we’re working with teams, it’s all about developing confidence, learning to work as a team, sharpening skills and communicating, learning how to meet deadlines,” Berger says.

On the Saturday morning that Pittsburgh City Paper visited SLB’s Open Studio, a toddler and his father came

PHOTO: COURTESY OF SLB RADIO

Saturday Light Brigade Open Studio at the Youth Media Center in the Children’s Museum of Pittsburgh

from the museum upstairs and poked their heads into the room. Soon, the toddler waddled into the recording studio, intrigued by the bright red foam micro phone covers. It took some patient ques tion-repeating and microphone adjust ments, but before long, Berger had a short recording of the child saying his favorite food (spaghetti) and animal (elephant).

productions and distribution, says that Open Studio’s drop-in format allows stu dents whose interest might have been piqued at a school program to easily play around with equipment.

“If a teen that we’ve worked with in a school really enjoys what we talked about, they’re more than welcome to come to our space on their own time to continue

Taking this kind of hands-off, “tryit” approach with kids at Open Studio is often the best way to teach them, Berger stressed. Hovering over someone (Berger calls this being a “mousegrabber”) robs them of an “aha” moment, he says.

“Sit on your hands if you have to,” Berger says. “I mean, we’re not gonna make things difficult, but especially with technology, people need to try things and might need to ‘fail.’ We don’t want to eclipse people’s self-discovery. We can’t.”

In addition to activities in their studio, SLB often visits local schools and runs programs teaching kids about audio. Chad Green, SLB’s manager of

building the skills or interests that we introduced them to,” Green says.

Microphones and input levels may not be everyone’s idea of an after-school program, but Berger hopes that Open Studio can be a place for teenagers to form unlikely connections with their peers and feel comfortable enough to experiment, especially for those who don’t have the privilege of a relaxing home life.

“Kids don’t have many safe spaces to talk to people they’ve never met. Kids are discouraged from doing that,” says Berger. “The idea is to create a showcase space to teach people how all this works.” •

“We don’t want to eclipse people’s self-discovery. We can’t.”

PHOTO: COURTESY OF SLB RADIO

Saturday Light Brigade Open Studio at the Youth Media Center in the Children’s Museum of Pittsburgh

Magee-Womens Research Institute Challenges the Status Quo in Women’s Health

I magine entering a doctor’s office for help with a medical problem. You learn that every tool the doctor has to treat you — every avail able drug therapy, the recommended course of treatment, even the diagnosis itself — is based on a best guess culled from studying these techniques in people who share some, but not all, of your characteristics. Would you feel confident about your outcome?

In fact, that’s exactly how science has ap proached women’s health for centuries: by studying diseases and remedies in men, then broadly applying that information to the popu lation as a whole. Science considered women too complex to study because of hormone fluctuations in the menstrual cycle, and they were reluctant to expose women to risky ex periments during childbearing years. Unfortunately, this historic practice — as well as the mistaken belief that women respond the same way to treatments as men — has led to significant gaps in science’s understanding of women’s health.

Magee-Womens Research Institute (MWRI) is dedicated to changing that status quo by embracing the not-quite-so-radical idea that women’s health is everyone’s health: when women thrive, so do entire communities.

Founded in 1992, the institute was well ahead of its time. It wasn’t until 2001 that the Insti tute of Medi- cine, now the National Academy of Sciences, asked the key question: Does sex matter in health research? The answer, of course, is yes. From basic cell biology to the way we think, behave, respond to outside forc es such as chemicals and infectious disease, men and women are fundamentally different — and science needs to recognize that fact. Today, MWRI is the largest research institute in the United States devoted solely to the health of women and reproductive biology. The in stitute receives more National Institutes of Health (NIH) funding than anywhere else in the U.S. for reproductive health research, and projects are varied and vital, including:

• HIV prevention for some of the world’s most vulnerable populations

• Noninvasive prenatal testing

• Clinical trials that allowed a pregnant breast cancer patient safely deliver a healthy baby

• Techniques to preserve the fertility of childhood cancer survivors

Development of a nasal spray to prevent COVID-19 without a vaccine

Its location directly across the street from UPMC Magee-Womens Hospital makes MWRI ideally situated for bringing the latest research discoveries directly to patients, a practice known as “bench to bedside.”

In addition to federal support, the generos ity of donors is essential to MWRI’s ability to continue pushing boundaries in scientific re search. Through its affiliated foundation, the institute benefits from the contributions of philanthropic organizations, corporations, and private individuals. It also hosts several events throughout the year to raise money for its re search, including a partnership with Women Who Rock, an annual concert that is founded, produced and fronted by women.

This year’s Women Who Rock show at Stage AE in Pittsburgh featured headliner and Ameri can Idol winner Jordin Sparks and gathered an audience of fans committed to rock the future of women’s health. Honored with the Women Who Rock Impact Award at the event was MWRI’s own Dr. Lisa Rohan, for her re search addressing understudied problems in women’s health, changing the status quo, and transforming lives around the world. The Wom en Who Rock team is already busy cooking up what’s next for 2023, and in the meantime, you can visit the Women Who Rock Pop Up shop located in South Side Works (address). A por tion of proceeds of all merchandise goes to support women’s health research at MageeWomens Research Institute & Foundation.

Visit MageeWomens.org for more information on events and other ways to support MWRI’s mission.

We provide individualized, innovative care and ongoing support for more than 200 people in our community with complex physical and intellectual challenges.

Our facilities are located throughout western Pennsylvania, and offer community living, residential homes, intermediate care facilities, adult training services, rehabilitation services, health services, and much more.

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This holiday season, we are thankful for those who support the entire Verland community.

With your help, together, we can continue to make the lives of those at Verland wonderful. Donate today by scanning this code or visiting raisedonors.com/verland/wonderful-life

At Verland, we believe that every person deserves a safe, enriching, and stable environment in which to thrive with dignity and respect.

Exceptional People Compassionate Care

MEET SAINT

BY ZARA LIVINGSTON // INFO@PGHCITYPAPER.COM

HEYAO, I’M ZARAH. You know, I never know where to begin with words about myself. In summary, I’m a Black queer femme born and raised in the ‘Burgh with so many ideas and so little time.

My goal in life is truly to carve a posi tive dent in a world full of once-in-alifetime events. That currently includes ongoing mutual aid coordination, sup porting hospital workers’ rights, and networking with other organizations along the way.

There is so much that goes on in this

community that I’ve wanted for a long time to give those who do the work “their flowers.” Especially doing this work in the midst of an ongoing pandemic, concur ring attacks on marginalized people(s), and more. In this column, you’ll find stories and lives I want to share authentically and straight from our friends’ mouths.

I want to give our neighbors, friends, comrades, and workers the shine they deserve and need in this community. Too often our neighbors have only received their accolades posthumously. Let's change that.

Good morning, neighbors! I want to introduce you to Saint (he/they), someone I’ve seen in action personally. When thinking of the first group of folks to include in this series, I wanted to start with someone who not only focuses on uplifting the youth, but also has proven time and time again that earning the trust of the communities you want to work with should be at the forefront of what you want to accomplish. I personally have seen Saint at events and gone with Saint to distribute food on the North Side.

Zarah Livingston: When and how did you become involved in this social change work? What inspired you?

Saint : In 2020, I went to my first protest, and ever since then I have been embraced by Black queer organizers in the city of Pittsburgh. I eventually sub merged myself into the world of mutual aid and have been doing that as the majority of work I do.

ZL: This answer brought me back to a question I ask myself quite often, when asked to describe myself and “titles” I’d like to be called. That question being do you consider yourself an activist? Why or why not?

Saint: I would not consider myself an activist. Activism is praised due to the lack of participation from the majority of the general public. We as people should be a part of roles that make our neigh borhoods the places they should be.

ZL: While holding that thought in my head, I wanted to get more into Saint’s work and why they enjoy what they do. So I ask, What do you enjoy best about your work in the community(ies) you go to?

Saint:. What I enjoy the most from the

work I do is meeting people. Whenever we go into these neighborhoods and connect with individuals, we are creat ing a community network. This network includes plumbers, electricians, teach ers, and other people with skills and con nections that we can use to lean on each other when in need instead of politicians, who do not have our best interest.

ZL: What organizations or individuals do you interact with in the commu nity? Have you started an organization yourself? How did you get started?

Saint: To start with, Food Not Bombs and the BYOC (Black Youth Organizing Coalition) are who I work with the most, yet we have solidarity with numerous other groups! I am a part of BYOC. BYOC is made up of YVAC-PA (Young Voices Action Collective PA Chapter) , BACC (Black Anarchist Community Council) , and BLAC (Black Liberation Autonomous Collective. I am one of the “founding” members of both BACC and BLAC. None of these groups are organizations, just groups of people that want to help our neighbors.

The group itself formed due to the lack of Black mutual aid groups within the city, plus the lack of action from Black organi zations that claim to help their commu nities and broken promises they were supposed to fulfill. Therefore, BLAC was formed in 2021 and BACC later in the year.

ZL: Now, I do have one question left to ask you. What are ways you think that the youth can take effective action for change in the community?

Saint: Look at your community and get feedback from members of that com munity. We know what is best for our folks. Start where you are at and don’t be afraid to reach out to local mutual

aid groups for help. There is so much love and solidarity among mutual aid groups. We might have different names but we are all one large group of common, working-class people who

take the time out when we can to help folks who need it. Once people realize that no one is going to do the work for us, the sooner we can unite to bring about change. •

PHOTO: COURTESY OF SAINT

BY

AFEW LINES in Halsey Hyer’s poem “Boy & I” reflect the journey the writer and poet went through writing about their trans orientation.

I want to double down on multiplicity/ Name each part of me/fall in love with & honor all my forms

Hyer said the poem was a response to a question they were asked during a grad uate workshop at Florida International University: “Where are you in your poems?”

“As I came to know myself and under stand my political position in relation ship to gender because I would also consider myself a gender abolitionist in some sense — and I think that there is a serious tension that exists within the ways in which the content is presented on the page, like my personal politics,” Hyer says. “I think that ‘Boy & I’ was an attempt to talk about the fact that the `I’ deserves to be deconstructed. I think that the `I’ is much more plural than a lot of people give it credit to be. So, ‘Boy & I’ was an attempt to integrate, say I’m myself but ‘boy’ is also part of me, and both of these things can exist in tandem.”

Hyer, who serves as an editorial assis tant for Seven Kitchens Press, a collec tive member of The Big Idea Bookstore, and events coordinator at White Whale Bookstore, recently released [deadname] (Anhinga Press), their first full-length poetry collection. A quote from fellow poet Denise Duhamel on Anhinga’s website describes the book as “a poetic tour de force describing the trans experi ence,” adding that Hyer “dares us — then double dares us — to rethink gender through these exquisite, sometimes funny, and always tender poems.”

The foundation for Hyer’s poetry was formed while they were a student at the Community College of Allegheny County on the North Side. Under the tutelage of instructor and writer Kayla Torgerson, and influenced by the work of Jennifer

"Whenever I approach the page, I try to never lift my hand up.”

PHOTO: ELWYN BROOKS

Halsey Hyer

PHOTO: ELWYN BROOKS Halsey Hyer on right

Jackson Berry, Hyer found a voice to express their ideas.

“It wasn’t until I realized I was occupy ing this identity and gained a lot of the language around it that I was able to fully articulate it,” Hyer says.

BY HALSEY HYER

While Hyer’s poetry is both autobio graphical and observational, the work is also anecdotal. Hyer read works by Paul Preciado, Jack Halberstam, and Aaron Smith to flesh out their understanding about trans issues. They also had conver sations with other trans people, and talked to feminists, “mostly because there’s a very clear tension sometimes between feminist women and trans people.”

Hyer mentions a disagreement they had with a group of women about whether “boys could get periods” as an example of an issue that sparked further discussion and exploration.

“It invited the question to come alive in me, to ask, what else can boys do that

other people don’t think they can’t?” Hyer says, “and how does that intersect with the feminist socialization experience that is so common in contemporary America. I think a lot of it came from dialogue I was having in my communities. So, it was in some sense observational, but a lot of it was a rhetoric I was saying to them. So, some of these poems are a response I would give to somebody in poetic form.”

Pursuing poetry taught Hyer to observe and notice “every single tiny detail, like a body movement or a facial expression.” They also studied psychology to gain a “grounded understanding” of how memory works.

Poetry emerged for them from both seeing, and feeling, the world

“We can’t pay attention to all the observations we’re making,” Hyer says. “Whenever I approach the page, I try to never lift my hand up. I try my best to free associate without any sort of recoil, or self-editing, so that I can allow the unconscious to bleed on to the page.

“Once it bleeds onto the page, I can pay attention to it and choose what I pay closer attention to, and nurture that.” •

Follow featured contributor Rege Behe on Twitter @RegeBehe_exPTR

[DEADNAME]

anhingapress.org

PHOTO: ANHINGA PRESS

INDIE BOOKSELLER SPOTLIGHT

BY AMANDA WALTZ // AWALTZ@PGHCITYPAPER.COM

Indie Bookseller Spotlight is a regular column listing new releases at Pittsburgh book shops. Support local businesses and find your next favorite read.

The Light Pirate

CITY BOOKS

908 Galveston Ave., North Side. citybookspgh.com

Lily Brooks-Dalton (Grand Central Publishing)

A Florida woman gives birth to Wanda, an unusual child who grows up in and adapts to a world ravaged by environmental catastrophe. Told in four parts, the book follows Wanda as she remains in Florida, a state abandoned by civilization, and, in the process, “loses family, gains community, and ultimately, seeks adventure, love, and purpose in a place remade by nature.”

A History of Fear

Luke Dumas (Simon & Schuster)

Described as a “propulsive foray into the darkness of the human psyche, marrying dread-inducing atmosphere and heart-palpitating storytelling,” this debut novel from Luke Dumas examines the truth behind a University of Edinburgh grad student who claims that the Devil made him kill his classmate.

A Dash of Salt and Pepper

Kosoko Jackson (Penguin Random House)

Fans of romantic comedies should check out this story about Xavier, who returns to his small Maine hometown after a string of misfortunes. When he takes a job as a prep cook at a hip new restaurant, he forms a connection with his boss, Logan O’Hare, a chef and single dad to a tween daughter. When things get hot, will Xavier and Logan give into their feelings for each other, or keep it professional?

A World of Curiosities

Louise Penny (Macmillian Publishers)

Author Louise Penny continues her series about Chief Inspector Armand Gamache, a Canadian detective with a knack for solving mysteries. Gamache returns to the small village of Three Pines, where he and an associate must investigate a strange case involving a murdered woman, a 160-year-old letter, and a bricked-up attic room waiting to be unsealed.

Roses, in the Mouth of a Lion

Bushra Rehman (Macmillian Publishers)

This coming-of-age tale set in 1980s New York City follows Pakistani-American teen Razia as she grapples with becoming the person her conservative family wants to be versus her true self. The situation becomes more difficult when she attends a prestigious high school in Manhattan and falls in love with a female classmate.

SEVEN DAYS IN PITTSBURGH

THU., DEC. 1

FILM • DOWNTOWN

Local A24 fans, rejoice! Harris Theater has Aftersun, the latest drama from the acclaimed indie studio. The debut film from writer/ director Charlotte Wells follows Sophie as she recalls the last holiday she spent with her father 20 years before at a “fading vacation resort.” A synopsis describes the story as a “powerful and heartrending portrait of their relationship, as she tries to reconcile the father she knew with the man she didn’t.” 5:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Continues through Wed., Dec. 7. 809 Liberty Ave., Downtown. $11. trustarts.org

KIDS • HILL DISTRICT

Life finds a way during Mad Science of Pittsburgh presents Dinosaurs at the Carnegie Library-Hill District. Mad Science, described on its website as a “science enrichment provider,” will lead a kid-friendly exploration into those “terrible lizards” that terrify and intrigue us. Visitors will leave with an understanding of dinosaur habits, the fossilization process, and how big creatures like the T. rex really were. You’ll also have the hands-on opportunity to play archeologist

and make a cast of a dino’s tooth. 3-4 p.m. 2177 Centre Ave., Hill District. Free. carnegielibrary.org/events

ART • OAKLAND

A Pittsburgh-based artist and prisoner advocacy nonprofit will give a talk at the Carnegie Museum of Art. James “Yaya” Hough and Let’s Get Free: The Women and Trans Prisoner Defense Committee will speak during Refractions, an event series presented as part of the 58th Carnegie International exhibition. Hough’s site-specific mural, “A Gift to the Hill District,” was produced as part of the exjhibition and can now be seen along the 2300 block of Centre Avenue. 6:30-7:30 p.m. 4400 Forbes Ave., Oakland. Free. Registration encouraged. cmoa.org

FRI., DEC. 2

MUSIC • BLOOMFIELD

Frontman Andre Costello has played with his band Cool Minors for the last decade, but recently, the group reinvented itself as Forestry Division. The Pittsburgh indie rockers recently released a new single “Are We Ready?,” described as a “dreamy indie-pop

song that’s the first taste of an album due at a later date.” See them take the stage at Brillobox during a show that includes sets from fellow locals acts Mariage Blanc and Century III. 9 p.m. Doors at 8:30 p.m. 4104 Penn Ave., Bloomfield. $10. brilloboxpgh.com

MUSIC • NORTH SIDE

Pay your respects to the High Priest of Pop, or, at least. the likeness of him, during the Prince tribute show Purple Reign at Rivers Casino. Starring Jason Tenner as the hitmaker behind songs like “When Doves Cry,” “1999,” and “Kiss,” Purple Reign promises an experience that “captures the imagination and seamlessly recreates the blistering performances and raw energy of Prince in his prime.” Don your second-hand store berets and check it out. 7 p.m. 777 Casino Drive, North Side. $19-79. 21 and over. riverscasino.com/pittsburgh

SAT., DEC. 3

MARKET • DOWNTOWN

Support local Black small business owners during a speical pop-up market. The Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership and Shayla Hawkins Events will present the third annual

Black Market: Holiday Edition, described as a showcase for Black-owned businesses from around the Pittsburgh region. Visit during the event’s opening weekend and grab some unique gifts for friends and family. 11 a.m.6 p.m. Continues on weekends through Sun., Dec. 11. 623 Smithfield St., Downtown. Free. downtownpittsburghholidays.com/blackmarket

WORKSHOP • HIGHLAND PARK

Spice up your tree, or the tree of a loved one by making your own ornament during a workshop at Union Project Ornament Extravaganza provides guests with the opportunity to shape, fire, and paint their own clay ornaments. Take them home and add them to your decorations, or wrap them up for someone special. The community center will also host a clay Gingerbread House workship on the following day. Spots sell out fast so get them before they’re gone. 12-1 p.m. and 1-2 p.m. 801 N. Negley Ave., Highland Park. $30. unionproject.org

KIDS • EAST LIBERTY

Discover your new favorite picture book from one of the 25 writers for children and teens during Kate’s Kid Book Bash at The

PHOTO: COURTESY OF A24 ^ Aftersun

Kingsley Association. Held in remembrance of the late writer Kate Dopirak, and led by the Buzzword literacy initiative, the event will feature various authors reading from their works. Pittsburgh writers such as Sharon G. Flake (Skin I’m In) and Nick Courage (Snow Struck and co-founder of Littsburgh) will be in attendance. 11 a.m.-4 p.m. 6435 Frankstown Ave., East Liberty. Free. kateskidbookbash.com

SUN., DEC. 4

MUSIC • GARFIELD

Experience a robust lineup of music when the Don’t Let the Scene Go Down on Me! Collective presents a new show at Mr. Roboto Project. See the Colunbus, Ohiobased hardcore band En Love and Brooklyn act Rabbit, along with local bands Cutting Ties, Gloom Doom, and Princess 7:30 p.m. Doors at 7 p.m. 5106 Penn Ave., Garfield. $10. All ages. dltsgdom.com

MON., DEC. 5

HOLIDAY • DOWNTOWN

Don’t shout or cry, just crawl during a fun, adult-oriented event in Market Square. The Downtown Krampuslauf and Krawl invites guests to samples drinks in various bars and socialize with holiday Krampen demons. The Krampen will terrorize the Peoples Gas Holiday Market, all of which will culminate in a trip to the Miracle on Liberty pop-up bar. Bring your naughty self to this boozy seasonal festivity. 6:30 p.m. Market Square, Downtown.

Free to attend. Search “Pittsburgh Krampuslauf and Krawl” on Facebook

TUE., DEC. 6

HOLIDAY • ALLENTOWN

Stave off winter gloom with a dose of December joy at Happy Holidays in Pittsburgh with Rick Sebak at Bottlerocket Social Hall. The ‘70s-relic-turned-retro-bar is screening Sebak’s classic 2002 WQED documentary about the way Pittsburghers celebrate the holiday season, from Christmas to Kwanzaa. Stick around after the film for a Q&A with Sebak. Can’t make it? Don’t worry, Bottlerocket is hosting the same event on Tue., Dec. 20. 7 p.m. 1226 Arlington Ave., Allentown. $5. bottlerocketpgh.com

WED., DEC. 7

THEATER • DOWNTOWN

Get swept up in the magic and romance of Rodgers + Hammerstein’s Cinderella at Pittsburgh Playhouse. Presented by Point Park University’s Conservatory Theatre Company, the show follows the classic tale of a young woman made to serve her wicked stepmother and step-sisters. Yearning for a better life, she, with a little help from her fairy godmother, manages to attend the royal ball, lose a shoe, and attract the attention of a handsome prince. 7:30 p.m. Continues through Sun., Dec. 11. 350 Forbes Ave., Downtown. $23-55. playhouse.pointpark.edu

listen now at wyep.org

PHOTO: SEAN EATON/COURTESY OF CARNEGIE MUSEUM OF ART ^ “A Gift to the Hill District” by James “Yaya” Hough

MODERN-DAY MONSTERS

BY BRENDAN EMMETT QUIGLEY

Many Americans are fortunate to have dental coverage for their entire working life, through employer-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 ... $217 for a checkup ... $189 for a filling ... $1,219 for a crown.3 Unexpected bills like this can be a real burden, especially if you’re on a fixed income.

“I don’t worry”

Colleen W., MO

PUBLIC AUCTION

Extra Space Storage will hold a public auction to sell the contents of leased spaces to satisfy Extra Space’s lien at the location indicated: 7535 Penn Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15208, 11:00am December 08, 2022.

2101 Shervon Thompson; 4080 Tyleta Howell; 6049 Malcolm Williams; 6051 Amy Branch and 6054 Donna Patterson.

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 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 December 8, 2022, at 1:00 PM. 1091 Henry Reid, 1115 Shianne Brown, 2025 Terence Washington, 2043 Martin McKinley White, 2049 Calvin Beck, 2115 Patty Carnovale, 2119 Scott DiDolce, 3125 Nakia Nelson, 3177 Anthony Beck, 3205 Kristy Sabina, 4034 Joshua Watkins, 4076 Selena Watson, 4080 Robert Thompson III, 4210 Paulette Thomas. 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 transac tion. Extra Space Storage may refuse any bid and may rescind any purchase up until the win ning bidder takes possession of the personal property.

PUBLIC AUCTION

Extra Space Storage will hold a public auction to sell the contents of leased spaces to satisfy Extra Space’s lien at the location indicated: 902 Brinton Rd Pittsburgh, Pa 15221, December 8,2022 at 1:30 PM.

Bijani Davis 3190. 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 will hold a public auction to sell the contents of leased spaces to satisfy Extra Space’s lien at the location indicated: 6400 Hamilton Ave, Pittsburgh PA 15206 December 8, 2022 at 1:15 PM.

1020 Kyna Kearney, 1025 Sadie Moore, 1035 Charmaine Moore, 2049 Sharnina Grayson, 3041 Vince Rae , 3052 Moses Marquis Nelson, 4052 Jazmine Jones, L013 Taylor Earle. 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 will hold a public auction to sell the contents of leased space to satisfy Extra Spaces’ lien at 3200 Park Manor Blvd, Pittsburgh PA 15205 on the December 8 at 12:45pm.

4019 Cinquez Griffin. 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 and bid and may rescind any purchase up until the winning bidder takes possession of the personal property.

PUBLIC AUCTION

Extra Space Storage 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 Road, Bridgeville, PA 15017, 12/8/2022, 12:30 PM.

Heidi Lockett 1009, Brianne Watson 2208, Tony Armstead 2293, Jon Galante 3376.

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.

NAME CHANGE

PUBLIC AUCTION

PUBLIC AUCTION

Extra Space Storage will hold a public auction to sell the contents of leased spaces to satisfy Extra Space’s lien at 110 Kisow Drive, Pittsburgh, PA 15205 on December 20th, 2022 at 11:15 am. Eric Mascellino 78, Sheradan Wright 462. The auction will be listed and adver tised 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

IN The Court of Common Pleas of Allegheny County, Pennsylvania: No. GD-22-013947,

In re petition of Justina Fuller parent and legal guardian of Josslyn Aurora Fuller for change of name to Josslyn Aurora Shash. To all persons interested: Notice is hereby given that an order of said Court authorized the filing of said petition and fixed the 22nd day of December 2022, 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 per sons may show cause, if any they have, why said name should not be changed as prayed for.

IN The Court of Common Pleas of Allegheny County, Pennsylvania: No. GD-22-10833

In re petition of Horace Elwood Daniels for change of name to Horace Edward Topeck, Sr. To all persons interested: Notice is hereby given that an order of said Court authorized the filing of said petition and fixed the 16th day of December, 2022, at 9:30 a.m., as the time and the Motions Room, City-County Build ing, 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.

Franklin L. Robinson, Jr., Attorney for Petitioner.

Address: 5907 Penn Avenue, Suite 200, Pittsburgh, PA 15206.

Phone: (412)363-6685

Extra Space Storage will hold a public auction to sell the contents of leased spaces to satisfy Extra Space’s lien at the location indicated: 700 East Carson Street, Pittsburgh PA 15203 December 8, 2022 at 12:15 PM. 1047 Shontae Bell, 1080 Barbara Thomas, 137 Kimberly Fitzpatrick, 146 Connie Dixon, 2089 Freddy Bank, 2144 Talonda Simpson, 3107 Larry Gilmore. 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

Extra Space Storage will hold a public auction to sell the con tents of leased spaces to satisfy Extra Space’s lien at the location indicated: 1005 E Entry Drive Pittsburgh PA 15216, December 8, 2022 at 11:30 AM. 4108 Courtney Mullen, 5103 Kerri Kowalski, 5180 Shelby Lundy, and 7111 Tevor Frazier. 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.

ACHIEVEMENT CENTER

UPMC for Life is the only plan in PA to earn an excellent 5 out of 5 overall star rating for 2023 from Medicare and receive Accreditation from NCQA for both our HMO and PPO plans! And, we’re also the lowest priced, 5-star plan in PA. If you’re looking for better Medicare coverage, with affordable premiums, low out-of-pocket costs, and great extra benefits, UPMC Health Plan has a plan for you.

Medicare Annual Enrollment ends Dec. 7.

To find your “best” plan, call us toll-free at 1-844-692-9141 seven days a week from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. TTY: 711. Visit upmchealthplan.com/medicare

MEDICARE ADVANTAGE PROGRAM

Paid Actor Portrayal. Every year, Medicare evaluates plans based on a 5-star rating system. For more information on UPMC Health Plan’s awards visit upmchealthplan.com/best. UPMC for Life is the lowest priced, 5-star plan in PA based on premium and maximum out-of-pocket costs. UPMC for Life has a contract with Medicare to provide HMO, HMO SNP, and PPO plans. The HMO SNP plans have a contract with the PA State Medical Assistance program. Enrollment in UPMC for Life depends on contract renewal. UPMC for Life is a product of and operated by UPMC Health Plan Inc., UPMC Health Network Inc., UPMC Health Benefits Inc., and UPMC Health Coverage Inc.

Rocky Bleier Former Pittsburgh Steeler 4x Super Bowl Champion