This article is accurate from my experience. Marriage and divorce are simple. Everything else has steps. The state has a vested interest in making sure you aren't dodging debts, criminal procesecution, etc. which is why these steps are there.

Note that the lien/judgement search must be done in EVERY county you have lived in. Probably also needs done anywhere that you have lived out of state. Depending on the county, one of the newspaper circulars may be required to be a legal journal. The prothonotary should have the form, but some counties may also have it available online. Also some counties (Philadelphia) want you to do your fingerprinting BEFORE submitting the petition. Bottom line, to do it right, ask the prothonotary what their court's civil procedure requires or follow what directions are published on that county court's website.

Edit: Also, in my experience, the petition will be heard before a judge, meaning you will appear in court for a hearing. Anyone who objects may be present to voice their objections. I can't imagine any objections beyond those holding a debt similar would be considered. If your father, Joe Schmoe Jr. doesn't want you to change your name away from Joe Schmoe III for reasons of heritage or family lines, a judge isn't likely to force you to live with the name on those grounds.

When I left (mid-covid), several were already built, but it looks like the wasteland between One Waterfront Place and Cork Factory has partially filled in. Is Railroad street useful yet? Does the trail go past 15th street now?

I can understand the need for a liquor store if the demographic has changed that much and the demand is there. What I don't understand are rhe other "suburban walkable mall" choices.

The state store sells wine and liquor. PA Libations sells wine and liquor. Sure, that's somewhat reductionist, but its the truth. Complaining that a store doesn't carry everything that another store carries is a dead horse you'll never beat anything out of. If you want something from FWGS, there's four or five stores within a 5-15 minute commute of the strip by various transportation methods. If what you want is wine, there's even more options through grocery stores.

The FWGS is just an example of the bigger problem though. Specialty shops are the reason people shop at the strip. They don't go there to buy bottles of big name wine and a Chipotle burrito bowl. Suburban shopping malls have that. We've seen this sort of thing done before at Allegheny Center Mall, Southside Works, at Station Square, at The Waterfront. We need to stop making urban centers designed for suburban people.

That logic doesn't follow with me. It's like saying that because Penn Mac doesn't sell Great Value pasta, there should be a Walmart in the Strip.

That... doesn't answer my question.

There are breweries, for beer. Wineries, for wine. And Pennsylvania Libations specializes in Pennsylvania craft liquors. Everything a state store offers is available through other merchants (yes, I know state stores don't sell beer).

The Strip has always been "the place" to go when you want local/specialty/ethnic items. You've got local butchers and groceries, specialty coffee, cigars, and spices, Asian, Italian, and Greek markets. How does a Wine and Spirits shop fit into that, when that niche is already filled, and filled better? If you really badly want big name liquor or wine, the bus to East Liberty picks up at Penn Station and gets you to a Fine Wine and Good Spirits in like 5-10 minutes. The shops you mentioned in L-ville and Downtown are a short bus/bike ride away. Your answer is one of laziness.

Edit: add to my comment that the top comment I replied to notes the stock at this new location is lacking, so what's the point anyway.

Been out of the burgh for a bit now... is Pennsylvania Libations still down there? And if so, between that, breweries, wineries... why evened need a state store?

Yes, but they are single-host ectoparasites. They tend to land on, feed on, and finish their life cycle on one host. They aren't like ticks that will go from host to host. They also aren't generally found on other animals (rodents primarily) that act as a "resevoir" for Lyme and and other diseases. Lyme and other pathogens found in deer keds were likely picked up from the host deer, and since deer keds don't generally move from host to host they are highly unlikely to transmit it to humans. That means the ones you find on you likely haven't fed on a host yet that could have Lyme or other diseases. There seems to be no evidence they pass Lyme or other disease to humans.