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LIFESTYLES
Urban
Out & About
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Let’s see who’s
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Black males B
B8
MARCH 10-16, 2010
B5
www.newpittsburghcourier.com
Debbie Norrell
Lifestyles
Report
In the
news
Listening and watching
the news is better than fic-
tion; it is full of things that
make you go hmmmm.
The recent debate over
the number of days that
mail will be delivered has
me concerned.
INVESTING IN GWEN’S GIRLS—Susan Wagner, Lonnie Silver, Denise McGill and Lynn Knezevich, ex-
I like to receive mail
ecutive director.
every day. I’m sure I’m not
the only person that feels
PHOTOS BY DEBBIE NORRELL
this way. There is just
something about looking in
that box and finding maga-
zines, letters and yes, even
that unwanted bill.
Celebrating Gwen’s Girls
SUPPORTING GWEN’S GIRLS—Diane Richard and Maurita
Bryant, board member.
Many people don’t re-
member this but way back
when, during the Christ-
mas holiday, mail was de-
by Debbie Norrell
livered twice in one day.
Courier Staff Writer
Reportedly, the United
The invite in a beautiful
States Post Office says
shade of purple, Gwen’s fa-
there is less mail to deliver
vorite color, simply stated
due to the Internet. People
“One Girl In One Neigh-
don’t mail bills like they
borhood, With One Chance
used to, they don’t send
to get it right.”
cards and letters like they
On Feb. 20, supporters of
used to, electronic mail and
Gwen’s Girls were invited
bill paying is taking over.
to recognize the accom-
The USPS is losing
plishments of Gwen’s Girls
money and they need to
Inc., a gender specific
make a change. They are
agency founded by the late
talking about more rate in-
Pittsburgh Police Com-
creases and a radical
mander Gwendolyn Elliott.
change in their operations.
From the very beginning,
I read an article that said
Elliot was destined to be a
the United States should
champion for women and
consider privatizing the
girls. She began to break
post office and get rid of
down barriers for women
the monopoly that Uncle
as early as 1964, when she
Sam has on delivering the
entered the male-domi-
mail. Could this lead to a
nated military. She contin-
similar divestiture that we
ued to break barriers when
had with the phone com-
she became one of the first
pany? Will we decide who
African-American female
is going to deliver our mail
police officers in 1973—and
and when?
eventually became the first
I still like receiving a card
woman promoted to ser-
in the mail or a letter and I
geant and, ultimately, com-
sure like receiving a check
mander.
GWEN’S GIRLS
every now and then. I hope
Elliot passed away May
all works out for the postal
14, 2007.
service; I would hate to see
Hefren-Tillotson, Inc. for On Lock project. The Girls mission: To empower through holistic, gender-
The second annual event
more people out of work.
their outstanding philan- young ladies were a shin- girls and young women to specific programs, educa-
was held at the historic
Speaking of work, how
thropic and volunteer sup- ing example of the Gwen’s have productive lives tion and experiences.
Engine House No. 25 in
about that security guard
port of Gwen’s Girls.
the Strip District and in-
in West Mifflin who saved
In a moving presentation
cluded admittance to the
four people from that awful
Lonnie Silver, Gwen’s Girls
Roberto Clemente Gallery,
house fire. He truly was on
director of development,
tasty appetizers, wine tast-
his job and showed up
explained the numerous
ing, a luxury martini bar
under pressure. He de-
ways Hefren-Tillotson has
and music by R&B band,
serves the title of hero.
provided ongoing support
Platinum.
However, I was sad to
to the organization.
During this special
hear that the cause of the
After the presentation of
evening the Gwen’s Girls
fire was the occupant’s
the beautiful purple award,
board of directors honored
crude way of trying to keep
a few of Gwen’s Girls
the first recipient of their
warm. Allegedly, the mom
showed what they had
Caring Heart Award,
was combining charcoal and
learned from the Hip Hop
gasoline in a ceramic pot to
try to keep the house warm
because their gas service
had been turned off.
OK, I get that, but was
the electric off as well? No
space heaters? Please peo-
ple, if you are unable to
pay your utilities call the
company before it is too
late. They will try to work
with you, especially when
children are involved.
My favorite hero an-
nounced his retirement
last week, US Airways
pilot Chesley “Sully” Sul-
lenberger. He is the pilot
who successfully landed
the jet in the Hudson River
and everyone survived.
I think he is one cool cat
and I’m sure there are tons
of people who wanted to
HONORING THE LEGACY—Jackie Dixon and Richard Johns. INVESTING IN THE COMMUNITY—Ann Haley and board members Walter Hales and Lisa Haley Huff.
have the pleasure of being
a passenger on one of his
flights. Too late for that,
Sullenberger has penned a
book and plans to go out on
the lecture circuit.
“We can’t forget that we
are in the business of sav-
ing lives, not saving money.
Pilots are being put in the
cockpit without enough ex-
perience, and required to fly
too much without adequate
rest,” Sullenberger said.
And the kids “working” in
the control tower last
month, yes they are twins—
the boy on day one and the
little girl on day two—di-
recting air traffic while
school was out. Someone
should be strongly repri-
manded but not fired. Fly-
ing planes is serious busi-
ness, not child’s play.
(E-mail the columnist at debbi-
enorrell@aol.com.)
CARING HEARTS—Hefron-Tillotson employees accept the first Caring Heart Award.
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