December 20, 2023 - Pittsburgh City Paper

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PGHCITYPAPER.COM DEC. 20–DEC. 27, 2023 // VOL. 32 ISSUE 51 Editor-in-Chief ALI TRACHTA Director of Advertising RACHEL WINNER Director of Operations KEVIN SHEPHERD A&E Editor AMANDA WALTZ News Editor COLIN WILLIAMS Staff Writer RACHEL WILKINSON Photographer MARS JOHNSON Audience Engagement Specialist STACY ROUNDS Editorial Designer JEFF SCHRECKENGOST Graphic Designer SAM SCHAFFER Sales Representatives SIERRA CLARY, ALEISHA STARKEY, JACOB VILCEK Digital Coordinator MORGAN BIDDLE Marketing Coordinator LEE HOOD Circulation Manager JEFF ENGBARTH Contributors KAHMEELA ADAMS-FRIEDSON, REGE BEHE, LYNN CULLEN, MEG ST-ESPRIT, MATT PETRAS, JORDANA ROSENFELD, JORDAN SNOWDEN National Advertising Representative VMG ADVERTISING 1.888.278.9866 OR 1.212.475.2529 Publisher CARS HOLDING, INC. GENERAL POLICIES: Contents copyrighted 2023 by CARS Holding, Inc. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced without written permission of the publisher.

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PITTSBURGH’S PEOPLE OF THE YEAR AWARDS

PITTSBURGHERS WHO MADE A DIFFERENCE

P

ittsburghers are, at our core, neighborly. It’s simply part of who we are — we’re bred to look out for one another, whether that means helping a friend dig their car o t o the sno or spea ing p or so eone ho needs a fighter in their corner. In big and small ways, Pittsburghers show up.

It’s a big reason why we at Pittsburgh City Paper love our annual People of the Year issue, in which we honor locals who have done especially impactful work for their communities, inspiring all of us to be better neighbors along the way. This manifests in all sorts of ways through all sorts of people, all of whom have made Pittsburgh a bit brighter this year in the realms of activism, creativity, politics, and much more.

In this year’s edition, we celebrate Karla Boos, whose more than 30-year-old Quantum Theatre is still pushing boundaries; along with rapper Frzy who’s taking his craft to new audiences and new heights. We’re spotlighting Mel Larrick, who’s soon to be the re ers ild s first o an leader as ell as ara nna orato ho s set to be llegheny o nty s first o an e ec tive. e re also honoring labor acco plish ents fierce leadership in reprod ctive rights note orthy or s co ing ro so e o ittsb rghs ost e citing artists and ore. e hope yo en oy reading these profiles as ch as e en oyed riting the and that yo ta e ti e to re ect on the ealth o good neighbors e have here in town.

Happy holidays, yinz.

— Ali Trachta, Editor-in-Chief

4 Activism: Tanisha Long 6 Business: Heather Conroy 8 Food + Drink: Mel Larrick 10 Health: Sydney Etheredge 12 Labor: United Museum Workers 14 Literature: Virginia Montanez 15 Performing Arts: Karla Boos 16 Music: Frzy 18 Politics: Sara Innamorato 20 Visual Arts: Mikael Owunna

PITTSBURGH CITY PAPER DECEMBER 20 - 27, 2023

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TANISHA LONG PEOPLE OF THE YEAR: ACTIVISM

ABOLITIONISTLAWCENTER.ORG Scrutiny of the Allegheny County Jail has been high in recent years, with a group of journalists, politicians, and activists — among them Abolitionist Law Center community organizer Tanisha Long — maintaining pressure on the county to improve conditions. Long has been at the center o an ongoing fight or people in the carceral system who face poor conditions, long waits for trials, and a lack of legal representation.

“We see a ton of people falling through the cracks,” she says, “so we try to catch them.”

Whether she’s attending Jail Oversight Board meetings or helping incarcerated people prepare to return to nor al li e all o ong s efforts are abo t p tting aces names, and stories to the statistics. Her commitment co es partly ro firsthand e perience ong as brie y incarcerated hen she as yo nger and her other re ains nder state s pervision a ter a di fic lt life of mental illness and jail time.

Long says her struggles navigating the system have helped her be a voice for “people who are crying out and trying to write, and trying to make calls and tell us what’s going on” inside the jail. ith a ne co nty e ec tive and a ne arden — in place, Long says she plans to continue her work by advocating for easier access to books, an end to juvenile strip searches, a diversion of mentally ill people to care facilities, and the improvement of living conditions she says “made that place just unbearable beyond what jail already is. ther efforts incl de scr tinizing plans to reopen the Shuman Juvenile Detention Center and a bid to make policy inroads on homelessness. ong says these efforts have otivated ore people in the justice system to get in touch with her, a sign that her work is having a tangible impact on the people who need it most. “They’re not afraid to reach out anymore.

They know that we want to help,” she says. “We’ve got a busy 2024 coming up.”

BY COLIN WILLIAMS COLIN@PGHCITYPAPER.COM

CP PHOTO: MARS JOHNSON

ALC community organizer Tanisha Long poses for a portrait at the Museum of Illusions

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PITTSBURGH CITY PAPER DECEMBER 20 - 27, 2023

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HEATHER CONROY

PEOPLE OF THE YEAR: BUSINESS

EVOLVE-COACHING.ORG

Heather Conroy has run Evolve Coaching for more than a decade, providing job coaching services and support to autistic, disabled, and neurodiverse job seekers, college students, and artists. She has plans to make Pittsburgh “autism’s most livable city,” transform the region’s workforce, and open a coaching inclusion center in arfield the ne t physical ani estation o volve s big vision.

“I want people to be in community with neurodivergent folks,” Conroy tells Pittsburgh City Paper.

Last year, the Bureau of Labor Statistics found the unemployment rate is twice as high for people with a disability. Research shows that up to 85% of autistic adults are unemployed or underemployed.

“That’s just so unacceptable, especially because we walk beside these people every day,” Conroy says. “It’s really important that that number shifts.”

A native Pittsburgher, Conroy began her career as a social worker and therapist, thinking she would ultimately become a psychologist. Working in support services at Carnegie Mellon University, she saw autistic and neurodivergent students, and found they were often facing a workforce with inequitable hiring practices, and that she wasn’t able to provide them with all the resources they needed.

“Those students were graduating from this prestigious school, who did really well by them,” Conroy tells City Paper. “But at the same time, they weren’t prepared for employment.”

Along with co-founder Joe Farrell, Conroy launched Evolve Coaching, which has since supported more than 700 clients, growing year over year since 2015. The organization also works with universities, employers, and community groups to raise disability and autism awareness and foster inclusive workplace practices.

Evolve has largely operated out of co-working spaces, where, as Conroy points o t it s so eti es di fic lt to provide privacy and create an opti al sensory e perience or clients.

Slated to open in 2024, the Evolve Coaching Inclusion Center at 5025 Penn ve. ill be a lly accessible three story b ilding. first oor p blic gallery ill showcase neurodivergent artists’ work year round. The building will also house volve s per anent o fices a hybrid capable con erence roo or incl sion training, a media lab with paid job opportunities, and a “unique” independent living training space equipped with a kitchen and laundry facilities.

The building’s renovation and ambitious mission have attracted statewide attention, with Pa. Rep. Jessica Benham (who is autistic) recently taking a tour.

To Conroy, there are only win-win outcomes for the region’s businesses; tho sands o people are needed to fill ittsb rgh s ob gaps hich have only grown since the onset of COVID. here is definitely a need or both a tistic people to be e ployed and or e ployers to find ne people to or or the onroy says. o let s st fig re this out and work together.”

CP PHOTO: MARS JOHNSON

BY RACHEL WILKINSON // RWILKINSON@PGHCITYPAPER.COM

Evolve Coaching co-founder and executive director Heather Conroy poses for a portrait at the Museum of Illusions

PITTSBURGH CITY PAPER DECEMBER 20 - 27, 2023

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MEL LARRICK PEOPLE OF THE YEAR: FOOD + DRINK

Hop Farm brewer and incoming Brewers Guild executive director Mel Larrick poses for a portrait at the Museum of Illusions

PITTSBURGHBREWERIES.COM

Mel Larrick has done more than most to grow Pittsburgh’s craft beer scene beyond beards and flannel.

First as a taproom manager, then as a marketer, and now as a brewer at Hop Farm and the incoming executive director of the Pittsburgh Brewers Guild, she has helped facilitate important conversations about inclusivity while continuing to advance the city as a craft beverage destination. Larrick has big plans to increase equity and responsiveness even as the local market adapts to shifting habits and the economic consequences of COVID. “If there’s one thing that I can say Pittsburgh breweries are good at, [it’s] adapting,” she tells Pittsburgh

City Paper.

One of the guild’s most recent efforts is a code of conduct for all guild-sanctioned events such as Three Rivers Beer Week. Larrick says the code of conduct is intended as a “living document” that offers a decision tree for dealing with inappropriate behavior, and she notes that it can be adapted by individual breweries for their staff and patrons if needed.

With the code of conduct implemented, Larrick and the guild plan to tackle other issues affecting industry insiders. This includes alcohol abuse, something she says can be a struggle when booze is your livelihood.

“When we’re not making it or serving it, we’re enjoying

it or supporting others at their breweries,” she says. “We need to make sure that we’re checking in with our people and making sure that mental health is a top priority.”

Guild members have also been discussing ways to serve a growing number of sober and sober-curious customers with low- or no-alcohol brews and a broader range of events. Larrick says Pittsburgh is making better beer than ever, but the Brewers Guild’s work is as much about meeting patrons where they are as it is about putting local breweries on the map.

“We want to take care of these people and make sure that we’re staying relevant in a market that’s everchanging,” Larrick says.

BY COLIN WILLIAMS // COLIN@PGHCITYPAPER.COM

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PITTSBURGH CITY PAPER DECEMBER 20 - 27, 2023

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Sydney Etheredge of Planned Parenthood of Western Pennsylvania poses for a portrait at the Museum of Illusions

SYDNEY ETHEREDGE PEOPLE OF THE YEAR: HEALTH

PLANNEDPARENTHOOD.ORG Sydney Etheredge has been with Planned Parenthood for over a decade, but in many ways, she’s just getting started.

“I’m very much in a new phase,” she says of her role as CEO of Planned Parenthood of Western Pennsylvania — a position she took on in January 2022 after 10 years with the national office in Washington, D.C., and about six months before Roe v. Wade was overturned.

Still, she tells Pittsburgh City Paper, “It feels like I’m here in a ‘moment,’ and I try to ask, ‘how am I seizing the moment?’”

Even before taking the reins here in Pittsburgh, the writing was on the wall in terms of Roe, so Etheredge was aware she’d

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have this region’s top job in reproductive rights at an incredibly fraught time.

“Honestly, though, it didn’t change my thinking about the role or being in Pennsylvania,” she tells City Paper. In fact, it spurred her on. She knew that relocating to Pittsburgh would only bolster her ability to be effective in her role.

Eth e re d ge h a s a h i s to r y wi th Pittsburgh, having studied sociology at the University of Pittsburgh before going on to obtain a master’s degree in public health from George Washington University. Her husband is also from the area and has family here. That matters to her, and allows her to “show up,” she says.

“To do this fight and this work, you need people around who can ground you,” she says. “I couldn’t imagine doing this anywhere else.”

Over her long career with Planned Parenthood, Etheredge has had the opportunity to meet with leadership teams at a variety of affiliate offices, and one thing was unfortunately consistent: “None of them were really looking like me.”

That was true in terms of race and age, she says, but also experience. “A lot of people were lawyers or advocates or in the reproductive space, and I had more of a health systems background … so I wanted to take this role to show young

people in particular … young people of color, young people from marginalized communities, that there is a space in this fight for you.”

“I see how engaged they are,” Etheredge says of young Millennials and Gen Z, who she credits with accelerating the reproductive rights movement. “I want them to see that [Planned Parenthood does reflect them] and can inspire them to do this work, because that’s the only way our organization and so many like ours can continue this fight.”

BY ALI TRACHTA // ALI@PGHCITYPAPER.COM

PITTSBURGH CITY PAPER DECEMBER 20 - 27, 2023

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CP PHOTO: MARS JOHNSON

Members of the United Museum Workers’ bargaining unit at the Museum of Illusions in the North Shore

UNITED MUSEUM WORKERS PEOPLE OF THE YEAR: LABOR

UMWPGH.ORG

When workers from the Carnegie Museums of Pittsburgh kicked off their unionization drive in June 2020, it was already “a bit of an experiment,” says admissions senior representative and bargaining unit secretary Jim Kappas. COVID restrictions compelled the group to organize virtually, and they had to reach more than 500 workers employed across four museums (the Andy Warhol Museum, Carnegie Museum of Art, Carnegie Museum of Natural History, and Carnegie Science Center).

Today, after joining up with the United Steelworkers, the United Museum Workers is the largest museum union in the country. In June, they celebrated ratifying their first contract after 18 months of negotiation — a landmark agreement that included raising the Museums’ base hourly wage from $9 to a livable $16,

new health and safety protections, additional pay raises, increased sick pay, and floating holidays for both fulland part-time employees.

“It significantly improved people’s lives immediately,” Jenise Brown, co-chair of the union bargaining committee and a museum educator, says.

“This groundwork has been laid,” Kappas tells Pittsburgh City Paper. “We’ve hopefully [made] the museums [a] more sustainable and healthy place to work and to visit for years to come.”

Kappas and the union are also aware they’ve changed the Carnegie Museums’ legacy. “[Andrew] Carnegie’s museums… were built in no small part off of profits extracted from steelworkers,” Kappas says. “[So] to have the Steelworkers’ name on [them] now … I think is so poignant and meaningful.”

Even as they’ve created a more equitable workplace, Kappas and Brown say the work is ongoing and remains part of a larger labor movement.

“We found, truly, that it wasn’t just our fight,” Brown says. UMW are part of Amalgamated Local 9562 alongside the Persad Center Staff Union and union workers at HCL, a Google contractor. They also continue to stand in solidarity with union workers throughout the region, appearing at actions for Pittsburgh Starbucks Workers United, the Union of Pitt Faculty, and striking Pittsburgh Post-Gazette workers (affiliated with the Newspaper Guild of Pittsburgh).

To anyone thinking of unionizing or who are part of a unionization effort, “this is not an easy fight. It’s not an easy thing to do,” Kappas says. “But it’s one of the most important things you can do.”

BY RACHEL WILKINSON //RWILKINSON@PGHCITYPAPER.COM

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PITTSBURGH CITY PAPER DECEMBER 20 - 27, 2023

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Pittsburgh writer Virginia Montanez poses for a portrait at the Museum of Illusions

VIRGINIA MONTANEZ PEOPLE OF THE YEAR: LITERATURE

VIRGINIAMONTANEZ.COM

s a child irginia ontanez developed a een sense o h or thro gh atching The Carol Burnett Show and ar rothers ovies. he had a gi t or a ing ad lts la gh not ith year old h or b t ith pointedly nny observations and o es.

She says that gift helped her deal with having a hearing i pair ent in a big chaotic a ily here she co peted ith o r sisters or attention. e re all t o years apart. n the one side co ldn t be part o conversations. co ldn t constantly be saying hat did yo say hat did yo say ontanez tells Pittsburgh City Paper. n those o ents o a ily chaos tended to be little inny and gre this ay hereas everyone else tends to gro that ay. o spent a lot o ti e in y head. he realized that her sense o h or and riting ability co ld be co bined and sed the talents to beco e one o ittsb rgh s boldest voices.

Montanez, who published her debut novel Nothing.

Everything. inding oad tories in ne first e erged in 2009 as the author of Burgh Blog. Writing under the pse dony itt irl ontanez s acerbic and ic edly h oro s criti es notably o or er ittsb rgh ayor e avenstahl dre tho sands o readers. hen she ad itted a thorship o the blog ontanez as fired as the director o ar eting and co nications or the nonprofit hich had avenstahl s s pport. ontanez ho has ritten col ns or the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette and Pittsburgh Magazine is c rrently st dying or a aster s degree in history. ecent essays on her s bstac reathing pace range ro sings on the single se plastic bag ban in ittsb rgh to an open letter addressing controversial edia personality arty ri fin part o hich reads o ve been doing so e terrible things lately and those are the ones

ll oc s on here. espite going a ter local p blic fig res ontanez tries to stay balanced e plaining that she doesn t sit do n and say going to trash this person and it s going to be epic. or e a ple hen avenstahl declined to see re election in ontanez rote so eti es the good snea s in and de ses the bad noting that he had dined at her a ily s resta rant in ar et are and as ind and s pportive. ind o s bscribe to the ed asso school o tho ght hich is everyone has o ents o rede ption everyone has o ents o h anity she says. nd loo or those. loo or that in politics. do eel politically there s ore bad than good b t eel that politics corr pts good people. thin it s hard to stay gen ine in politics. specially in local politics al ays on the loo o t or the o ent hen things t rned and the person ay have ad ired beca e in ected.

BY REGE BEHE // INFO@PGHCITYPAPER.COM

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KARLA BOOS

PEOPLE OF THE YEAR: PERFORMING ARTS

QUANTUMTHEATRE.COM

Karla Boos admits that, when she founded Quantum Theatre in 1990, she never thought it would become her life’s work. Over 30 years later, few things have changed from the company’s original mission: taking theater beyond the stage and into unorthodox venues.

“We were just looking for any place to make a show once upon a ti e in the first year she tells Pittsburgh City Paper. “The places that we found were not theaters, and then there was such a big reaction to that … And the thought of going into a theater, when we co ld afford it as st so li iting co pared to hat e had done in these places that ere inade ate.

While Quantum has staged numerous inventive, immersive shows, 2023 marks an especially progressive year. Boos and her crew returned to Carrie Blast Furnaces — the site of Quantum’s 2019 King Lear production — for a Hamlet like no other, featuring a powerful lead in Treasure Treasure, who was given the space to play the Danish noble as a trans woman.

Audiences were also treated to The Devil is a Lie, a tech-age Faustian tale written by Asian American playwright Jennifer Chang and directed by Kyle Haden, a local Black theater professional and educator. The year closed with The Flying Lovers of Vitebsk, a musical about famed Jewish painter Marc Chagall that was staged at Rodef Shalom and done in collaboration with Violins of Hope, a touring exhibition of instruments rescued from the Holocaust.

Boos explains that, while Quantum plays are chosen not based on hat a diences ant to see b t on hat re ects her li elong o rney in the theater they do not e ist in a vac . or e a ple The Devil is a Lie, she says, came as a response to the Black Lives Matter movement — rather than put out a statement, like many other organizations had done, Boos says they reached out to Black artists in the city and asked if they wanted to develop a work.

Boos also expresses gratitude for Pittsburgh playing a major role in the works, adding, “the city is such a partner in us pulling off hat e do.

As Quantum heads toward 2024, and the already announced production Scenes from an Execution, Boos sees herself nearing the end of a career that created a platform she hopes will remain intact a ter her ti e. ach or is very precio s to e right no she says. don t no i ll do another ha espeare and that s hy Hamlet was s ch an invest ent. don t ant to aste a in te and hope to be communicating my lifelong values as an artist in every single work, incl ding in the people s pport the people ho give the reins to.

CP PHOTO: MARS JOHNSON

Karla Boos of Quantum Theatre poses for a portrait at the Museum of Illusions

BY AMANDA WALTZ // AWALTZ@PGHCITYPAPER.COM

PITTSBURGH CITY PAPER DECEMBER 20 - 27, 2023

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CP PHOTO: MARS JOHNSON

Frzy poses for a portrait at the Museum of Illusions in the North Shore

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PEOPLE OF THE YEAR: MUSIC

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On his debut 2016 album, God King Slave, rapper Frzy set his sights high: “Now I ain’t gon’ stop / Until they say I won … May not have birthed hip-hop / But it’s my godson,” he declared on the song “Headed 4 the Crown.”

Since thenFrzy (given name Harvey Daniels) has made good on his promise.

Over the past seven years, he’s performed on stages around the country, been recognized by the Allegheny City Council with “Frzy Day,” and set a Guinness World Record for the longest freestyle rap.

You may think the fame has gotten to his head, but on his new companion albums, Popularity and Success, released Nov. 1, Frzy confronts the short-lived trends that he sees other rappers falling for.

“I would see these people that are hot for like, two months. They’ll hit a number one and then be gone just as fast as they came in,” Frzy tells Pittsburgh City Paper.

“So I would go like, ‘Okay, well, let me write about that. I’m gonna write some dope st ff in Success.’ But then I go, but that’s what they want, right? So I would write a Popularity song to like, match them. I’d always try to balance it out and give each side of myself some type of inspiration.”

On Popularity, Frzy takes on the role of the hyped-up entertainer, claiming his fame over booming beats. “End up in a box if you surround me / I keep money on me, pay for my own bounty,” he raps on “FU.” Success showcases the other side of Frzy's lyrical skills. Samples from artists such as Nina Simone and Little Richard fill the alb highlighting the lac artists who Frzy says were foundational

in his East Liberty upbringing.

“We had the classic — I call it Family Matters — Black household. I didn’t grow up knowing that I wanted to do music, b t had those in ences in e and just loving that soul music that you can really feel.”

On Nov. 8, Frzy claimed another accolade beco ing the first hip hop artist to perform an original collaboration with the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra. Inspired by his hero Jay-Z’s 2006 show at the Royal Albert Hall, “The Glorious Succession of Frzy with the Pittsburgh Symphony” mixed grand orchestration with the rapper’s commanding stage presence.

The unprecedented collaboration might have made some PSO purists raise an eyebrow, but seeing the enthusiastic crowd rap along to songs like “You Ain’t ot o oney confir ed the sho s demographic-bridging success, Frzy says.

“When the lights go up, and you see it almost sold out, you know, little Black kids dancing with little white kids, 80-year-olds next to 20-year-olds dancing and rapping the lyrics to the songs together, it was like a harmony that Mariah Carey couldn’t pitch.”

As he prepares for a Popularity vs.

Success tour, Frzy says looking back, he’s happy with the time he took to craft the new albums. “As my career has progressed thro gh those years y definition of success has changed,” he tells City Paper. “This is gonna sound weird to say, but it made me feel like all the waiting was right on time.”

BY MATTHEW MONROY // INFO@PGHCITYPAPER.COM

PITTSBURGH CITY PAPER DECEMBER 20 - 27, 2023

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CP PHOTO: MARS JOHNSON

County Executive-elect Sara Innamorato poses for a portrait at the Museum of Illusions in the North Shore

SARA INNAMORATO PEOPLE OF THE YEAR: POLITICS

ALLEGHENYFORALL.COM

Allegheny County Executive-elect Sara Innamorato didn’t originally plan to r n or o fice. s she shi ted ro a b siness career to nonprofit or and cons lting nna orato o nd hersel both intrig ed by local policy a ing and dis ayed by the lac o o en in arrisb rg. tho ght as going to be the person ho helped o en r n or o fice she tells Pittsburgh City Paper. ocals ith political e perience ho she tried to recr it told her to r n instead so a ter the ate l election nna orato finally ent or it. ind o tho ght o ysel as a little bit o an e peri ent o li e ell i can go thro gh this process can essentially be y o n test s b ect.

That experiment led her through t o and a hal ter s as a state representative to the top ob in ennsylvania s second largest co nty. he ll be the first o an to hold the role. nna orato s ca paign is gro nded in the pro ise o b ilding a co nty or s all. hat incl des voters a ong the so e tic et splitting e ocrats ho avored her ep blican opponent oe oc ey she has detailed plans to invite people into the de ocratic process and engage the in a civic sense once she ta es o fice on an. . art o this ill be p shing bac on the recent election s any attac ads hich nna orato says is sy pto atic o the ood o oney po ring into races nation ide and a ing her goals clearer to voters. hese incl de ore accessible and affordable

ho sing cleaner air and ater and stronger pipelines to obs or those lo er on the econo ic ladder. hat s great that e ve reinvented o rselves to be the place o innovation and tech and eds and eds nn orato says b t it hasn t helped e it hasn t helped y a ily generationally. nd so it s not eno gh to st say loo at this prosperity i e re not being intentional in the realm of the public policy space. nna orato has since asse bled a large diverse transition tea to g ide the early phase o her ter and prepare or a hiring spree. he plans specific roles or ho sing e perts and environental advocates and e phasizes that transitioning to less carbon intensive ind stries ill lti ately benefit llegheny o nty by creating obs that ill be aro nd a generation ro no . nna orato s tea is gearing p or p blic acing events and a s eeping s rvey o area residents to ha er o t all the details in tande ith co nity e bers. e re going to sho people hat an nna orato ad inistration is going to loo li e ho it s going to be o t in the co nity ho it s going to engage ith people ho it s going to accept criticis and eedbac she says and really have this t o ay dialog e ith the people that have the privilege o representing.

BY COLIN WILLIAMS COLIN@PGHCITYPAPER.COM

PITTSBURGH CITY PAPER DECEMBER 20 - 27, 2023

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Mikael Owunna poses for a portrait at the Museum of Illusions in the North Shore

MIKAEL OWUNNA PEOPLE OF THE YEAR: VISUAL ARTS

MIKAELOWUNNA.COM

How do you guarantee that your art won’t be ignored? Putting it on billboards along one of Pittsburgh’s busiest routes is one way. Not that Mikael Owunna, a queer Nigerian-Swedish American multimedia artist, needs to always resort to such tactics, as his striking experimental prints easily draw viewers in.

His work focuses less on promoting himself, however, and more on making visible the Black experience in Pittsburgh and beyond. A previous Pittsburgh City Paper article reports that Infinite Essence: Celestial Liberation, the 2021 project that posted Owunna’s breathtaking photos along Route 28 and other areas, served as a response to “negative stereotypes and pervasive images of Black death depicted in the media.”

His work has, over the years, expanded beyond the galleries and into projects that directly support local artists. This year, he co-founded Rainbow Serpent,

a nonprofit organization described as advancing the culture, healing, and empowerment of the Black LGBTQ community. He also serves as the current president of the City of Pittsburgh Public Art and Civic Design Commission.

“One of the big transformations for me has been really having the opportunity to work collaboratively with other Black LGBTQ artists and thinking about how to build infrastructure for Black queer artists, technologists, and healers in the city and the region at large,” Owunna tells City Paper.

These collaborations have led to more visible projects, including installations produced with the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra and The Andy Warhol Museum. Owunna, whose own artistic practice seeks to revive endangered knowledge systems based around a “queer African myth of creation,” believes

these public art projects, done collectively through Rainbow Serpent, “multipl[y] the impact of any individual’s work.”

Owunna reveals that, for 2024, Rainbow Serpent will continue its work with the debut of a group exhibition at the Pittsburgh Glass Center featuring 16 sculptures that bring “little-known queer African deities into a contemporary context.”

Owunna says that, as a native Pittsburgher who grew up in Highland Park, he has noticed the city investing more in Black artists. However, he notes that a lot of work still needs to be done in order to retain and support this community, and hopes to contribute significantly to those efforts.

“Long term, when I am gone as an individual, what is the legacy that I’ve left behind?” he says.

BY AMANDA WALTZ // AWALTZ@PGHCITYPAPER.COM

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ESTATE OF McMICHEAUX, EULA, M., DECEASED OF PITTSBURGH, PA

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ESTATE OF TOMEDOLSKY, JOSEPH, B., DECEASED OF GLASSPORT, PA

Eula Mae McMicheaux, deceased, of Pittsburgh, PA. No. 022307741 of 2023. John Robert Morgan, Adm., 911 Oranmore Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15201.

Joyce E. Schmidt, deceased, of Jefferson Hills, PA. No. 02230775 of 2023.

Frederick C. Schmidt, Jr., Ext., 320 Wray Large Road, Jefferson Hills, PA 15205, Or to D. Scott Lautner, Esquire.

68 Old Clairton Road, Pittsburgh, PA 15236.

Joseph B. Tomedolsky, deceased, of Glassport, PA. No. 04347 of 2023.

Troy Tomedolsky, Ext., 309 Meadowbrook Rd., Burlington, NC 27215., And Tracy Lindberg, Ext., 160 Leech Rd., Greenville, PA 16125. Or to Danielle Barozzini Markovic, Esq. 886 Clifton Road, Bethel Park, PA 15102.

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ESTATE OF TUREK, JR., DONALD, J., DECEASED OF BUNOLA, PA

Donald J. Turek Jr., deceased, of Bunola, PA. No. 022308164 of 2023. Sarah Turek, Adm., 2955 Cherylane Blvd. Columbus, OH 43235. Or to D. Scott Lautner, Attorney.

68 Old Clairton Road, Pittsburgh, PA 15236.

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Mary G. Lautner, deceased, of Pleasant Hills, PA. No. 022306962 of 2023.

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ESTATE OF LONGMORE, WILLIAM, F., DECEASED OF PLEASANT HILLS, PA

William F. Longmore, deceased, of Pleasant Hills, PA. No. 022305923 of 2023. Kami Gavran, Ext., 335 Meadow Street, Ford City, PA 16226. Or to D. Scott Lautner, Attorney. 68 Old Clairton Road, Pittsburgh, PA 15236.

Extra Space Storage, on behalf of itself or its affiliates, 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.

January 3, 2024 at 1:30 PM. Nicole Allen 1023. 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.

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Extra Space Storage, on behalf of itself or its affiliates, 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: 6400 Hamilton Ave, Pittsburgh, PA 15206 on January 3, 2024 at 1:45pm. 2142 Keith Douthett, 3051 LaTasha Thorne, 5011 Amya Tigner. 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 affiliates, 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. January 3, 2023 at 12:30 PM. Blake Bosetti 3399. The auction will be listed and advertised on www.storagetreasures.com.

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Extra Space Storage, on behalf of itself or its affiliates, 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 January 3, 2024 at 11:00 am. 1059 Shawna Jemison, 3175A Eldolia Weir, 4018 Ellektra Rowland, 4042 Rochelle Spratley, 4048 Keith Neal, 6048 Earl Clark.

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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 affiliates, 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, January 3, 2024, at 1:15 PM. Jeannette Sowell 1110, Rashad Dent 2012, Michelle Ledford 3116, Taylor Washington 4176, Emily Standridge 4234. 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 affiliates, 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: 700 E. Carson St. on 01/03/2024 at 12:15pm. Olivia Wells unit 2032, Lashona Kennedy unit 2177, Riccardo Weaver unit 3000, Peggy Smith unit 4025, and William Moses unit 4205.

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.

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Extra Space Storage, on behalf of itself or its affiliates, 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: 1005 E Entry Drive Pittsburgh, PA 15216 on 01/03/2024 at 11:30 AM. 3165 Toree Hemer. The auction will be listed and advertised on www.storagetreasures.com.

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Extra Space Storage, on behalf of itself or its affiliates, 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.

January 3, 2023 at 11:15 AM. David Serkerski 123, Stephanie Tate 311, Deborah Stevens 397.

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.

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Extra Space Storage, on behalf of itself or its affiliates, 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: 902 Brinton Road, Pittsburgh, PA 15221 on January 3, 2024 at 11:30 AM. 2017 Eugene Wallace, 3049 Shaquana Grant, 3200 Meagan Holt. 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 its affiliates, Life Storage or Storage Express, will hold a public auction to sell the contents of leased space’s lien at the location indicated: 3200 Park Manor Blvd, Pittsburgh, PA, 15205 on 01/03/2024 at 1:00pm 4005 Dennis Fron, 3245 Michael Miller. 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.

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NAME CHANGE

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IN The Court of Common Pleas of Allegheny County, Pennsylvania: No. GD-23-009844 In re petition of Elizabeth McGuire for change of name to Maryann McGuire. 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 January, 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.

IN The Court of Common Pleas of Allegheny County, Pennsylvania: No. GD-23-11678 In re petition of Korina Alexandra Mikhonin for change of name to Korina Ines Karpov.

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 January, 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.

IN The Court of Common Pleas of Allegheny County, Pennsylvania: No. GD-23-011405 In re petition of Byron Diehl Burger for change of name to Raven Byron Burger. 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 January, 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.

OFFICIAL ADVERTISEMENT

TOY DIVISION

BY BRENDAN EMMETT QUIGLEY // BRENDANEMMETTQUIGLEY.COM

THE BOARD OF PUBLIC EDUCATION of the SCHOOL DISTRICT OF PITTSBURGH

ADVERTISEMENT FOR BIDS Sealed proposals shall be deposited at the Administration Building, Bellefield Entrance Lobby, 341 South Bellefield Avenue, Pittsburgh, Pa., 15213, on January 09, 2023, until 2:00 P.M., local prevailing time for:

PGH. CONROY

• Finish Floor Replacement and Miscellaneous Work • General and Asbestos Abatement Primes

PGH. FULTON, SPRING HILL, BANKSVILLE, AND CRESCENT ECC • Replace EM Generator • General, Electrical, and Asbestos Abatement Primes

ACROSS

1. Food brand with a paw print in its logo 5. National Eye Exam mo.

8. Reserve cash 14. Thunder star Holmgren 15. ___-Seal (leather protection brand) 16. Spondulicks 17. Healthy leafy green 18. Words said holding your sweetie’s hands 19. Checked (out) 20. Relative through remarriage 23. Teamed up 24. Chemist Joliot-Curie 25. Sushi bar fish 27. “Om mani padme hum,” e.g.

29. Runoff winners 30. Leave a lasting impression 34. Insider’s slang 35. Volcano between Messina and Catania 36. Really bad 37. With it, to a jazz cat 38. Element #67 41. The White Lotus channel 42. Starting from 44. Thai restaurant drinks 45. Unmatched 47. Epic that takes place in Middle

Earth, initially 48. Not willing to mix 49. Whole Foods employees 50. Its right on Google Maps 52. Rio Grande do Norte’s capital 53. Chopped down 56. Caulking stops them 59. Heartthrob on streaming, say 61. JFK’s assassin’s inits.

62. Like hand-me-downs 64. Met fellows 65. Actor who was once Muhammad Ali’s bodyguard 66. Caesar’s rebuke 67. Class with a lot of makeup exams 68. Be litigious 69. Rountable, for short

10. Went over the line?

11. Default action?

12. Bit of foreshadowing 13. Just out of the strike zone 21. Australian city named after a Scottish city 22. Court date activity?

26. Hairy twin of the Old Testament 27. Place, in Hindi 28. “You ___ Not Invited to My Bat Mitzvah” 29. “Totally depends” 31. Island nation whose capital is Dili 32. Grumpy old man 33. Casting decisions?

35. Makes a choice 39. Moving walkway company 40. Island nation near Sicily 43. Bill of Rights topic 46. Baseball divisions 49. Breakfast at Tiffany’s author 51. Love to bits 52. Indian nationalist movement leader Jawaharlal 53. Letters before w?

54. For all time 55. Cooking ___ 57. Street-lining trees 58. Brings down, in bridge 60. Trippy stuff 63. “Do you think I’m stupid?”

Project Manual and Drawings will be available for purchase on December 06, 2023, 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.

We are an equal rights and opportunity school district.

LAST WEEK’S ANSWERS

DOWN

1. “Gross!”

2. Breakthroughs in solving 3. The US, metaphorically 4. Point in the direct of, in a car 5. Carrier to Incheon 6. Excessive, as punishment 7. “Why stop now!”

8. Word processors, briefly 9. Orange County area, for short

PITTSBURGH CITY PAPER DECEMBER 20 - 27, 2023

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