The Almanac - March 24, 2024

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Eccentric Easter

Locals swap traditional baskets for ‘egg-stravagant’ experiences

By Katherine Mansfield Staff writer mansfield@observer-reporter.com

Those of a certain age might remember the foul smell of sulfur emanating from a closet several days after Easter; there was, it seemed, always one colorful egg that got trapped in a basket during holiday cleanup.

Traditional Easter baskets, the ones passed down from generation to generation and filled by a family’s designated bunny with each child’s favorite candies, trinkets and dyed, hard-boiled eggs have, for many, been relegated to the memory files, replaced by premade baskets that line local stores’ shelves. While woven baskets brimming over in Easter grass may never completely go out of style, some area organizations and businesses offer alternatives to the annual Sunday morning basket hunt.

Organizations like South Hills Church of the Nazarene, which is for the fourth year hosting its Egg My Yard event to raise funds for the youth group’s trip to the Nazarene Youth Convention.

“We were sitting and having a conversation one time with a couple of adults and a couple of our older teens, trying to come up with unique ideas, of ways we could interact with the community and raise money at the same time. One of the teens actually suggested it. You see people getting their yards covered with flamingos; that’s where it came from,”

said Mara Fannie,

Pair of bison born at South Park Game Preserve

population at the

grew a little bigger this weekend with the birth of two calves. Tim Foster, who lives near the preserve and volunteers there, said Lily, who gave birth for the first time last April, became a mother again Friday.

“Lily was the first one we noticed Big Head mating with,” Foster said, referring to the herd’s lone bull. “So, we figured it has to be Lily first. That was awesome.

Lily had such a difficult time with the birth of Blue last year. We were really worried about the health of both of them.”

The second was born Sunday, bringing the number of bison at the preserve to 11.

Foster said photos were being taken of the newborn Friday and Saturday when Rosie, another member of the herd, was seen checking out the little buffalo hut at the preserve.

“We felt Rosie was really close,” Foster said. “We went back (Sunday) morning and were with them for about 3½ hours, then went home to get

it landed at was shuttered.

The pipe organ at Old St. Luke’s Church in Scott Township has weathered quite a bit in its long lifespan. But it is still standing and, more importantly, still plays just as well as it might have in 1823. This year marks 200 years since the organ was manufactured in London, and it is believed to be the first pipe organ that appeared west of the Alleghenies.

“It works fairly well for something that is 200 years old,” according to Jeffrey Gray, who plays the organ frequently at Old St. Luke’s. The church, which was established in 1765 as a chapel for British troops stationed in the region, has not had its own congregation for almost a century but is still used for special events, such as services at Easter and Christmas, and for weddings, funerals, baptisms and memorial services. Gray added, “To have something around for 200 years and still playing is something else.”

Given its age and the twists and turns of its existence, it is truly something that the pipe organ is still standing and an organist like Gray can play “The Wedding March” or “Silent Night” on it. A cabinet organ, it was created by Joseph Harvey, an English manufacturer. It was originally commissioned by Pittsburgh’s Second Trinity Episcopal Church, and was in that church until 1852, when Second Trinity pulled up stakes

OF MARA FANNIE

The South Hills Church of the Nazarene youth group poses for a photo on a recent weekday evening, after stuffing hundreds of eggs for the Egg My Yard event. “We have an amazing group of teenagers. This is one of the things that they do for the community,” said Mara Fannie. “They’re trying to get more involved. We’re grateful for where we’re located and grateful for the opportunity to serve the community in different ways. This is one of them.”

and moved into Trinity Episcopal Cathedral in downtown Pittsburgh. The organ was then given to Old St. Luke’s as a gift.

Once the Old St. Luke’s congregation disbanded in 1930, the pipe organ languished inside the stone building as the structure crumbled. Vandalism and the elements took a toll until the mid-1970s, when a restoration effort was launched. The organ was disassembled and stashed in the home of an organist until it was brought back to life in 1982. There were some concessions to modernity when it was restored, such as the installation of an electric blower rather than a hand pump.

“I really like the fact that it’s historical,” Gray said. “It’s a unique instrument in the Pittsburgh area. “It’s just an honor to play this.” Organ FROM PAGE A1

“It’s the oldest instrument I know of in Pittsburgh by a couple of decades,” said Nemesio Valle, a pipe organ technician for Adkins and Associates, which repairs, tunes and maintains pipe organs. “There is no other instrument like it.”

Easter

FROM PAGE A1

“It’s a whole bunch of teens going out at night,” with supervision, Fannie said. “We call them Egging Ninjas. We dress in dark clothes, we egg the yards, then we come back to the church and share stories about neighbors who caught us or dogs that barked.”

Sometimes, neighbors will watch warily from their windows as Egging Ninjas stealthily hide eggs in a yard. The youth group has not yet had the police called, but one group did have an unpleasant encounter with a very protective neighbor. “We went out to one house, it was more country. They had ordered one of our largest orders. The neighbor came out and had kind of threatened, a little bit, the kids. We had to talk them down off the ladder and let them know we were allowed to be there,” Fannie recalled. “We work very hard to not make any noise because we don’t want to wake any kids up.” When kids wake on Easter morning, they’re thrilled to discover the Easter Bunny set up an egg hunt just for them. Fannie said many families are repeat customers whose children delight in scouring the backyard for eggs on Easter morning.

“It’s unique, to me, to have egg hunts outside. When I was growing up, ours was always in the house,” said Fannie. “Everybody that we’ve done it for so far, their kids love it and they think it’s absolutely amazing. It’s enjoyable for them.”

It’s fun for the teens who stuff and hide eggs, too.

Gray pointed out that the keys are smaller than what you would find on keyboards today, likely a reflection of how we have gotten bigger and taller over the last 200 years. They are the original keys. Stretching toward the ceiling of Old St. Luke’s, the organ has

almost 250 pipes, divided into five sets. The keyboard slides directly into the organ’s casework.

Some Greene County kids, too, wake up to egged yards, thanks to the Waynesburg Nazarene Church youth group, which hosts a similar fundraiser. Kids throughout the area will also enjoy waking to a personalized Easter bunny balloon in lieu of a traditional basket.

“I’ve seen things like this done in other markets, even in downtown Pittsburgh, and I wanted to try my hand at it and bring it here to Washington,” said Jessica Garda, who owns The Cheerful Balloon. “I hadn’t seen anything like this done in Washington.”

“This” is larger-than-life bunny balloons that stand tall and have clear bellies filled with colorful smaller balloons or candies and trinkets. Bunny heads come in a variety of colors and Garda lovingly personalizes the ears with each child’s name.

“I went ahead and pre-curated; you don’t have to do anything. It comes already stuffed with a bunch of Peeps-related toys and candies,” Garda said.

For kids with allergies, or folks who’d like to deviate from

“It’s one of our favorite fundraisers. We get good responses from the parents. We’ve gotten really good responses from the teens’ parents. It’s something that we work hard prepping for,” Fannie said. “From the beginning of it to the end of it, it’s a community activity. We get to spend time together in preparation and delivery. We know that we played a part in making these little kids happy whenever they wake up in the morning.”

the Peeps theme, Garda will stuff bunny’s belly with sweets and treats while you wait. The bring-your-own-stuffing option has been well-received, but Garda said the premade Easter bunny balloon has been far and away more popular.

“Everyone’s just busier. Every mom out there has a million things to do, with sports and work and PTA. I’m trying to find ways where I can make life a little easier,” she said. It’s not like the premade basket that you buy off the shelf. “There’s still ways to customize it: you can make the bunny … their favorite color. This kind of combines ready-made with still some thought and intention behind it.”

Whether this Easter is celebrated with egged yards, giant bunnies or traditional baskets, it is indeed the thought that counts. For those thinking they forgot to order a special delivery from the Easter Bunny this year, both Egg My Yard and The Cheerful Balloon will accept a limited number of orders this week.

For more information on Egg My Yard, go to https:// shcn.churchcenter.com/registrations/events/2089113. To place a bunny balloon order through Cheerful Balloon, visit https://thecheerfulballoon.com.

Bison

something to eat. We got a call from one of the followers that Rosie just had a baby. It was amazing.” Mothers and babies are doing well, Foster said, noting the herd functions as one big family. “When Rosie had the baby, her baby from last year, baby Diane, was right next to her, watching the baby nurse,” Foster said. “Big Head was right there. He is so big and so strong. When you see him bend down and give the baby a nice little lick on the head, it’s like, ‘You’re amazing, big guy.’”

Baby bison tend to be born from late March through May and are orange-red in color, earning them the nickname, “red dogs.” After a few months, their hair starts to change to dark brown and their characteristic shoulder hump and horns begin to grow. The bison have roamed South Park since 1927, when an Allegheny County commissioner purchased 18 and brought them to the area

amid fear of extinction. They have been a staple of the area since. The American bison is the largest land animal in North America. It is too early to determine the gender of the red dogs, but they have been given two sets of names. Foster said the Friends of the South Park Game Preserve named the calf born Friday “Takoda,” from the Sioux Tribe meaning “friend to all,” and the other “Elu,” which means “beautiful” from the Native American Zuni Tribe. “We had a whole extended family come out recently from North Pole, Alaska,” Foster explained. “They said they follow our page, love what we do. They had a lot of Native American blood. They were so excited. The more we talked, the more I realized I wanted to get into the Native American history that is so intertwined.”

However, the Allegheny Park staff has chosen different names.

According to its Facebook page, the calf born Friday was named Riis, after Paul Riis, the founder of the Allegheny County Parks system, while the one born Sunday was named Roddey,

after Jim Roddey, the first Allegheny County executive who recently died. Foster said the Native American names were chosen after citing the history of the county naming the red dogs, including giving them monikers such as Hitler and Napoleon in the 1950s. “When I learned this, I was almost dumbfounded,” Foster said. “These are such peaceful, loving animals, so we have been going with names like Daisy, Violet, Clover, Lily and Crimson.”

On the Friends of the South Park Game Preserve Facebook page, Foster further explains his reasoning. “We always wanted to work closely with the county for the betterment of these animals,” Foster said. “... We were shocked when we learned that the county was adding names to their press release for the first time ever. We would have certainly been happy to discuss this with them if they would have asked. I’d strongly prefer to name parks or playgrounds after former politicians but would really have really wanted to avoid playing politics with the naming of these beautiful animals.”

COURTESY OF MARA FANNIE Youth group members stuff Easter eggs with candies, stickers and other small goodies at South Hills Church of the Nazarene on a recent weekday.

COURTESY OF FRIENDS OF SOUTH PARK GAME PRESERVE Elu was born March 17.

Jeffrey Gray plays the 200-year-old organ in Old St. Luke’s Church in Scott Township.

PHOTOS: BRAD HUNDT/OBSERVER-REPORTER

Old St. Luke’s Church in Scott Township

Former BP police gets probation, fine for transporting woman into country Sentence

A former Bethel Park police lieutenant was sentenced in federal court March 14 after he pleaded guilty to illegally transporting a Venezuelan woman into the country. According to the Department of Justice, Blake Thomas Babin, 60, was sentenced to three years of probation, a $2,000 fine and 50 hours of community service.

Between Oct. 20 and Dec. 30, 2022, Babin provided the 18-year-old, who was living in Colombia, with money so she could cross the U.S.-Mexico border. Babin picked her up near El Paso, Texas, and brought her back to the Pittsburgh area.

Babin was in Colombia when he met the woman, who was working as a prostitute, court documents state. The investigation turned up text messages that showed that he helped her because he “loved her.”

“Blake Babin betrayed his sworn oath to uphold the law when he paid for a Venezuelan teenager’s transportation to the United States border, knowing that she would then attempt to enter the country illegally so they could carry on a romantic relationship,” said U.S. Attorney Eric Olshan in a press release.

forget

Two area students named national Coca-Cola Scholars

Alekhya Buragadda from South Fayette and Isaac Bernstein from Upper St. Clair were among the 150 high school seniors nationwide selected as Coca-Cola Scholars for 2024. They will each receive a $20,000 college scholarship and be honored during the Coca-Cola Scholars Weekend April 25-28 in Atlanta, Ga.

According to the Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation, “less than 1/6th of 1% of applicants were chosen to receive this extremely competitive award. Buragadda and Bernstein were selected from an initial pool of more than 103,800 applications from across the country for not only exemplifying superior leadership, service, and academics, but for being change agents, positively affecting others in their communities.” They are only two students from the Pittsburgh area picked and among seven from Pennsylvania. Buragadda is also the winner of the Challenge Program Inc.’s Commitment to Community Service com-

Alekhya Buragadda Isaac Bernstein

petition and part of Junior Achievement of Western PA’s 18 Under Eighteen presented by EQT honoree class of 2024.

Bernstein also was selected as an 18 Under Eighteen honoree for his efforts to support the Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank.

As a high school diplomat, he participated in a 10-day cultural enrichment experience in Japan last summer. Bernstein has served as a peer tutor throughout high school and is an accomplished percussionist. In addition, he is a member of the National Honor Society and

World Affairs Club.

A joint effort of Coca-Cola bottlers across the country and The Coca-Cola Co., the Coca-Cola Scholars Program is the largest corporate-sponsored, achievement-based scholarship program in the United States. With the addition of the 2024 class, the Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation will have provided more than 6,900 Coke Scholars nationwide with over $84 million in scholarships over the course of 36 years.

The full list of 2024 Coca-Cola Scholars can be found at www.coca-colascholars.org.

SF teacher earns national award

South Fayette High School teacher Dr. Felix Yerace has been recognized by the National Association for Student Activities (NA4SA) with its highest honor, the 2023 National Earl Reum Award.

The distinction is given annually to someone who, through personal experience and expertise, encourages and inspires others in the field of student leadership, as well as is instrumental in student leadership training and who promotes student leadership within their state and at the national level.

Yerace is only the second recipient from Pennsylvania in the award’s 33-year history.

“I’m so glad to be able to represent South Fayette and our student government, as well as PASC, NASC and NASSP, and NA4SA, in working with adults who are daily making a difference in the lives of their students by helping them to become better leaders,” said Yerace.

YERACE HAS BEEN WITH SOUTH FAYETTE HIGH SCHOOL SINCE 2005, WHERE, AMONG OTHER CLASSES, HE TEACHES LEADERSHIP AND POSITIVE PSYCHOLOGY COURSES.

“As classroom educators, we are tasked with teaching our students on particular subject matter, but I believe one of the greatest contributions we can make is by preparing our students for the real world.”

Receipt of the National Earl Reum Award highlights Yerace’s work on a local, state, and national level to promote and enhance student leadership development. Locally, Yerace partnered with the University of Pittsburgh to establish his leadership class at South Fayette as the first College in High School (CHS) leadership course in Pennsylvania. The class is now offered in 12 high schools across the state, allowing students to learn leadership in their classrooms along with college credit.

real estate transactions

“Dr. Yerace is extremely deserving of this award,” said Superintendent of Schools Dr. Michelle Miller. “Even with all of the phenomenal teachers we are fortunate to have at South Fayette, he stands out for his dedication and commitment to our students and their leadership opportunities.”

Yerace has been with South Fayette High School since 2005, where, among other classes, he teaches leadership and positive psychology courses. He is co-adviser to the high school Student Government, Interact Club, and SF BeWell. He also coordinates the high school’s annual trip to Washington, DC.

At the state level, Yerace is the Assistant Executive Director for the Pennsylvania Association of Student Councils (PASC), which includes serving as the PA Coordinator for the U.S. Senate Youth Program on behalf of the state’s Department of Education. He is also co-director of the Advanced Summer Leadership Camp offered through PASC. Nationally, he serves as the Education and Engagement Coordinator for NA4SA and oversees training programs for activity advisers and leadership class teachers. He has worked extensively with the National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP), as a National Honor Society (NHS) State Summit Faculty Member, and in 2019, worked with NASSP’s National Association of Student Councils (NASC) to host the National Student Council Conference at South Fayette High School.

Yerace is the founder of the school’s renowned MiniTHON, which has raised over $1.4 million dollars during the past 10 years for Four Diamonds to combat pediatric cancer. He is also responsible for creating the Homecoming Carnival, Glow Run, and student representative program on the South Fayette School Board.

DAVID BRAME/FOR THE ALMANAC

Dr. Felix Yerace

Training taken to another level

Ambulance simulator helps aspiring EMTs in ride-along with Tri-Community EMS

By Mark Hofmann For the Observer-Reporter newsroom@observer-reporter.com

Tri-Community EMS in Bethel Park will be helping students in the EMT program at Fayette County Career and Technical Institute take their training to another level.

Keith Morse, chief with Tri-Community South EMS, said the ambulance service has been offering students the opportunity to gain real-world experience for decades.

“It’s always been a part of (a student’s) education to work with skilled providers to help them develop their skill set in a controlled environment,” Morse said. “It’s a huge difference between book learning and hands-on experiences that bridges the gap for the real-world environment.”

The ride-along will complement the students’ classroom experience, which recently became more realistic with the addition of an ambulance simulator.

“When you think of something that would aid your program on a different level, like elevate it to the highest level possible, this is it,” said Marlana Crist, EMT instructor at CTI.

The new addition simulates the back of an ambulance where a patient is placed and cared for. Crist said it’s the same that students would see in the back of a working ambulance, right down to the same equipment.

“This actually gives them the whole package of working in the back of an ambulance,” Crist said.

When the EMT program at Fayette’s CTI started last year, Crist, an EMT for 30 years, talked about how beneficial an ambulance simulator in the classroom would be. CTI

for a supple-

to purchase the simulator.

The simulator is equipped with software that creates hundreds of different medical scenarios, allowing

back, and replay that video to them to aid in their performance.

“This is going to help us be less anxious when we go

said.

Although the ambulance simulator is new to Fayette County CIT, Morse said EMT students from the Community College of Allegheny County also use an ambulance simulator as part of their education. He said it gives students a leg up on learning the ropes.

“It does give students a sense of the confined environment we have to work around,” Morse said.

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Executive Director Cynthia Shaw applied

mental equipment grant through the state Department of Education’s Bureau of Career and Technical Education. The grant was approved and CTI received $65,000

students the opportunity to work through responses. Four cameras allow Crist to record video of the students working in the

Student Hanna Cross of Dunbar is a senior and will be riding along in a Tri-Community ambulance next month.

on ride-alongs,” Cross

EMT students at Fayette County Career and Technical Institute prepare for a lesson in the back of the school’s new ambulance simulator. Hanna Cross of Dunbar, seated, will use her training during a ride-along with Tri-Community South EMS in Bethel Park. Also pictured are, from left, Mackenna Smith of McClellandtown, Payne Nelson of Masontown and Payton Evanchak of Brownsville. PHOTOS: MARK HOFMANN/FOR THE OBSERVER-REPORTER Marlana Crist, EMT instructor at Fayette County Career and Technical Institute, demonstrates the four cameras used to record student performance in the ambulance simulator. Seniors in her class are using the simulator as they prepare to get real world experience working with EMTs at Tri-Community South EMS in Bethel Park.

sports

GUTS AND GRACE

O’Korn forges future for female wrestlers at Peters Township

By Eleanor Bailey Almanac Sports Editor ebailey@thealmanac.net

Grace O’Korn is an extraordinary female. Not because she wrestles for Peters Township High School, but rather, because she does not fear a scale.

“Weigh-in is no big deal,” said the 142-pound senior. “When I think of wrestling, making weight is so much more than that. My body serves a purpose for wrestling not societal needs. To see what my body can do is empowering.”

O’Korn noted that many females wrestling for the first time in the WPIAL and the PIAA came into the season competing at whatever weight they “fit into” rather than cutting pounds and ounces. She said that being comfortable in one’s own skin and with body image makes the sport “accessible” for anyone.

Buck O’Korn concurs.

Grace’s father, he is also the Peters Township girls wrestling coach.

“This is a fantastic opportunity for girls of all shapes and sizes,” he said.

“The female athletic talent pool for wrestling in western PA has just been tapped into,” he continued. “The sky’s the limit. I predict in the very near future national dominance in the sport will follow.”

O’Korn has been a dominant name on the mats for decades.

It started with Frank. Grace’s grandfather and Buck’s dad wrestled and coached at Canon-McMillan, which now has a female program and features some of the best wrestlers in the state. Frank was a state runner-up for the Big Macs. Uncle George was a two-time state champion at Canon-Mac under Frank’s guidance. Both went on to wrestle at the University of Pittsburgh. As Panthers, they both wrestled for national championships.

George did so while also playing football and some baseball at Pitt.

Buck and his brother, Brian, both wrestled at Peters Township. Brian accumulated around 80 wins as a fouryear starter for the Indians before heading to Pitt while

Buck placed third at the national level in Greco-Roman before competing at Clarion University. Buck also placed second in freestyle in the veterans division at the US Open as an adult before retiring due to too many injuries.

In addition to Grace, Buck has a son, Luke, who just finished his seventh-grade season with over 25 victories. “We were all very fortunate and grateful to have learned about the sport of wrestling from names like Puchani, Murdoch, Buckley, Phil and Chris Mary as well as Rex Peery, Randy Stotlemeyer (Pitt) and Bob Bubb (Clarion). We all just hope we gave a little back to our communities and the families we have touched in the wrestling community,” Buck said.

Just as her relatives before her, Grace is a trailblazer in the sport. She started wrestling in fourth grade but found it hard to continue because there were not a lot of girls competing at that time.

She focused on other things instead and excelled at them.

Grace played soccer and lettered four years on the varsity high school team. She studied and built up her GPA to an astounding 5.0. She’s planning on studying exercise science in college with the expectation of becoming a chiropractor. A National Honor Society member, she also became the vice president of Future Business Leaders of America. She also worked. She’s a barista at the cafe run at the South Hills Bible Chapel.

“I could not be more proud of Grace. Academics, athletics, kindness,” Buck noted. “She works hard at being the best she can be. She is a pretty darn good wrestler, too. Her effort in the sport brings joy to her Pap, Great Uncle and Uncle.”

Grace wrestles because she wants to, not because she’s forced. After the pandemic, she returned to the sport. In 2022 and 2023, she improved to the point that she qualified for nationals twice, earning trips to Fargo, N.D. “Wrestling was my choice,” she said. “I saw all (my family) do it while I was growing up and their experiences were exciting. I have learned so

much from them, and I work on things with them. They have helped me so much that I feel that I have an advantage.

“With my dad as my coach, it’s a new source of help once I come home. It’s been awesome. Really special,” she added.

Notable has been the 202324 wrestling season because it’s the first time the state of Pennsylvania has recognized the sport for females. Recently the WPIAL and the PIAA held its inaugural championships for girls.

Grace excelled in both events. She won a silver medal by finishing second at the district championships. Her fourth-place showing in the regional gained her a berth in the first PIAA championships for girls. During the state tournament held at the Giant Center in Hershey, Grace made history becom-

ing the first female from Peters Township High School to reach the podium in wrestling. She picked up a silver medal.

“It was so surreal walking out onto the mats for the first time,” O’Korn said of the three-day competition in which she wrestled six matches, winning three by falls. “It was such a cool experience to be able to wrestle in front of so many people and knowing that I was a part of making history.” Grace noted that a recent trip to the Giant Center for the PIAA team championships helped her preparation. She went up with the Canon-McMillan team last year and watched the boys’ semifinals.

“Environment is such a big factor in the competition,” she noted. “That atmosphere

Buck O’Korn watches the championship wrestling action as the coach of the Peters

of 54.06 submitted by silver medalist Alexa Conner from Lower Merion. “We knew that state record was possible but we knew she also had to go 52,” said Lebo skipper Tom Donati. “That’s a big barrier. Like the four-minute mile,” he added.

“We saw she was going to win and we knew that she would be close. When she hit the wall, everybody was like ‘wow, unbelievable’ when the announcer said that’s a new state record. To hear that is such a rush. It was so emotional but Sylvia’s just like steady Eddie. She just gets ready for her next one.”

Roy’s next race was the 200-meter backstroke. She traveled to Buffalo this weekend in an attempt to earn a qualifying time for the U.S. Olympic Trials. She had already earned her berth in the 100 back for the national competition to select the team to compete in Paris. The Olympic Trials are set for June 1523 at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.

“Sylvia is right there,” Donati said of the 200-meter time. “She is just so far ahead of and shoulders above most others.”

During the PIAA championships, Roy was one of only two WPIAL swimmers to bring home gold medals in Class 3A. She just missed being a twotime champion when State College sophomore Molly Workman won the 50 freestyle in 22.67 seconds. Roy took the silver for the second year in a row with a 22.90 mark.

Donati noted that Roy was a tenth off the state record during the morning preliminaries but did not swim a perfect race in the finals.

“In the 50, there is no room for error. You have to hit all three components (start, turn and finish). Syl-

via was okay off the blocks but not as sharp on the turn. Her walls are getting better. We are working on them. “Give (Molly) credit. That girl was good. Better,” said Donati.

Roy is going to get better, Donati added, particularly when she matriculates to Virginia in the fall of 2025. “They are going to love her,” he said, “and clean up some things with her.”

Roy helped the Blue Devils clean up in the 200 free relay. She combined with Lillyan Evan, Helen Albu and Ellie Rienhart for a sixth-place medal in the event. “This year was definitely more special than past years. Not just from the state record alone but also this team made it really special,” Roy said. “I was happy enough and be glad to be up on that podium but I’m also so proud of our relay for medaling because those girls all work hard and deserve it so much.”

The only other individual Lebo medallists were Ryan Frank and Malcolm Thomspon. A senior, Frank took third (55.43) in the 100 breaststroke while Thompson, a junior, placed eighth in diving. Other individual medalists at states from the Almanac readership area included:

■ Nazar Zoukovski. The Upper St. Clair sophomore placed third and fifth in the 100 and 200 free. He also helped the 400 free relay team of Max Shipley, Whit Burns and Ben Whiteford to a sixth-place showing. The 200 free relay scored seventh. USC’s medley relay added sixth.

■ Kaitlyn Connors. The USC senior registered fourth and sixth in the 100 and 50 free races. The Duquesne recruit combined with Kendell Drew, Freja Kile and Amanda Adair for seventh in the 200 free relay.

■ Zoe Poe. The South Fayette senior secured sixth in the 500 free.

Losses

tied, 40-40, with the WPIAL champions after Jack Bruckner converted a 3-point play with 1:47 remaining in the third quarter.

The Tigers (26-3) went ahead for good on a 3-pointer from Caden Schmidt before the frame ended and used a 10-2 run to start the fourth quarter to put distance between themselves and Bethel Park. Moon salted away the victory with a 12-for-17 showing from the charity stripe.

Aiden Reesman scored 10 of his game-high 26 points in the final frame, including 6 of 6 from the line. He buried a pair of long-range field goals to propel the Tigers to a firstframe advantage of 22-15 against the Black Hawks.

Elijah Guillory tossed in a dozen markers. His two 3-pointers provided a 34-31 cushion at halftime for the Tigers, who converted seven treys in the game.

Mike Mathias fired in 17 points for the Black Hawks, 15 of them off 3-pointers.

Nick Brown followed with 10 tallies.

In addition to Mathias and Brown, Bethel Park graduates four additional players from its roster, including leading

O’Korn

FROM PAGE B1

definitely nervous. Nerves though are good as they help get you ready for your match. You just have to control them.” Thanks to dad, Grace learned to manage her emotions early on in her career. She admitted she has cried after a loss. “My dad would say, ‘why are you crying’ and I would say because I lost. He’d tell me not to cry but rather work through the process of getting better. You don’t want to have regrets.”

Grace is only sorry that wrestling took so long to find a foothold in Pennsylvania. It wasn’t until last March that the PIAA voted to officially recognize girls wrestling for the first time for the 2023-24 season. Currently, there are 12 schools in the WPIAL that have 10 or more females on their roster and 11 others plus three City League schools have at least one girl on its roster. The Peters Township team consisted of three girls and they were welcomed to practice and trained with the Canon-McMillan girls. The Lady Macs captured the 2024 PIAA team title and crowned the first-ever female state champion in Val

Solorio. Because she wrestles at the lightest weight of 100 pounds, Solorio also won the first WPIAL crown. Solorio, who won a national title last summer at Fargo, is an Iowa recruit who posted a 37-1 record during her two-year scholastic career.

“I think since wrestling’s official, it will bring more girls to the sport,” Grace said. “It’s heartwarming when I sit back and see how many little girls look up to Val. I meet a lot of younger girls, too, and it makes me feel like I am doing something worthwhile that they can do as well. I hope word gets out about girls wrestling and it continues to grow.”

Grace noted that wrestling has affected all aspects of her

After Tyler Robbins scored the first hoop of the game, Central York (23-4) embarked on a 13-0 run to take command. The Panthers led, 18-8, after the first frame and 34-18 a halftime after Greg Guidinger sank a dramatic 40-foot buzzer beater.

In the first half, USC converted just 8 of its 19 field goal attempts, grabbed just one offensive rebound and committed nine turnovers.

For much of the second half, Central York maintained a 10-point margin but USC closed to within 67-60 on back-to-back steals and layup conversions by Julian Dahlem.

Robbins and Peja Strobl joined Ito and Meinert in double figures. Robbins finished with 16 points while Strobl supplied 14 markers, 12 coming off four 3-pointers. USC was playing in its third state quarterfinal contest in program history. The Panthers have only reached the state semifinals once in school history.

Despite a season-ending loss to Central York, 71-60, in a Class 6A quarterfinal playoff game held March 16 in Altoona, USC has high aspirations for the 2024-25 campaign as it graduates just two seniors in Christian Ito and Brett Meinert. Despite their double-digit efforts against the opposing Panthers, Ito (10) and Meinert (12), USC could not offset a slow start.

life. From school, work and friendships, the sport has had an impact.

“Wrestling transfers over to everything I do. It’s made me a completely different person. Mentally stronger. A lot of girls who try it will fall in love with it. Not just the combat side but in the fact that what you put into it is what you get out of it.”

Buck agrees with the benefits the sport provides. He said discipline, hard work and life lessons are intrinsic to the sport and young ladies now can experience these first hand.

“Wrestling builds strong, confident people,” he said. “No matter how you slice it, girls can do whatever they want, especially wrestle.”

scorer Shawn Davis. The other seniors on the squad were Connor Karabinos, Paul Digbeu and Andrew Polosky.

ELEANOR BAILEY/THE ALMANAC

Mike Mathias drives to the basket and draws a blocking call during Bethel Park’s 67-51 loss to Moon in a PIAA Class 5A quarterfinal playoff game. Mathias scored 17 points in the loss, including 15 off five 3-point field goals.

sights & sounds

‘Unpacked and Rediscovered’

Mt. Lebanon looks back on a quarter-century of acquisitions

By

MT. LEBANON – It’s been around for 25 years now, and along the way the Historical Society of Mt, Lebanon has acquired quite a few things.

Most of them are tucked away in storage, but to mark the organization’s silver anniversary, the historical society has decided to bring some of its premier items out for the public to have a look at in the exhibit “Unpacked and Rediscovered: 50 Mt. Lebanon Treasures.” It will be at the historical society’s headquarters at 794 Washington Road through at least June, according to Mike Cahall, a retired Duquesne University history professor who curated the exhibit.

“One of the things that happen when you establish a historical society is people start giving you things,” Cahall explained. Some of them

are, as you would expect, fairly common and either not of great interest to the Historical Society or not relevant to its mission to preserve history

what’s happening

The Bethel Park baseball team will honor military veterans March 27 before its game against Shaler at Purkey Field. Veterans should arrive by 3:30 p.m. The recognition ceremony starts at 3:45 and the first pitch will be thrown at 4:15. To participate, veterans should email Tamiam74@ yahoo.com or call 412-4450408. EGG HUNT

A flashlight egg hunt will be held March 28 at 8 p.m. for ages 9-12 and at 8:30 p.m. for ages 13-17 at Grasshopper Field in Peterswood Park. Participants should bring a bag or basket as well as a flashlight. Fee is $5 ($8 nonmembers). Visit www.peterstownship.com or call 724-942-5000 for more details. GLASS RECYCLE Carnegie Borough will host a glass recycling event from 9 to 11 a.m. April 6 at the borough building located at 1 Veterans Way. Glass bottles and jars with lids and corks removed will be accepted. Lightbulbs, vases, windows, mirrors and other glass will not be accepted. Visit https://www.carnegieborough.com for a full list of

The South Hills Women’s Club will meet at 8 p.m. April 8 at Vanadium Woods Lobby, 50 Vanadium Road in Bridgeville. A social hour, refreshments and dessert will be served after a brief meeting. New members and guests may attend. RSVP to by calling 412-953-3209.

NURSES CLUB

specific to Mt. Lebanon. But it has been given an abundance of material that sheds light on the community’s history stretching back to when

The Southwestern Pennsylvania Registered Nurses Club will meet at 9:30 a.m. April 16 at Salvatore’s, located at 5001 Curry Road. Barbara Allwes, CRNP, will speak about “Stress Urinary Incontinence.” All registered nurses are invited to attend. Call 412-886-1792 for more details.

BENEFIT LUNCH

The Pittsburgh Alumnae Panhellenic (PAP), a chapter of the National Panhellenic Conference (NPC), will hold its annual scholarship benefit luncheon at 11 a.m. April 13 at the South Hills Country Club in Brentwood. This year’s event is themed “Raising Strong Women” and includes a fashion show featuring girls through collegians as well as a cash bar and raffle auction. Advance ticket purchase, no later than April 1, is required. The cost is $55 for adults, $35 for collegians and $20 for children. Reservations can be made through Eventbrite.

FAIRWAY SWINGERS

The Fairway Swingers are looking for new members for its ladies golf league. The group golfs Thursday mornings from April through October at the Mt. Lebanon municipal golf course. Members need not be Mt. Lebanon residents. All skill levels are welcome. Email guenther.clg@gmail.com for more details.

GOLFERS WANTED

The Women’s Golf Association of Mt. Lebanon is looking for new members. The group golfs between

it was a rural outpost outside Pittsburgh rather than a firstring suburb. When members of the historical society started consid-

7:15 and 9:30 a.m. every Tuesday morning from April through September. Residents and non-residents are welcome. Contact Diane at 412-583-6283 or Sharon at 412-480-3319 for more information.

ALPHA PHI GRANTS

The Alpha Phi Chapter of Delta Kappa Gamma, an honor society for women educators, is accepting applications for its grantin-aid award. Women who are in their junior or senior year of college, majoring in education, and attending a Western Pennsylvania university or college are eligible to apply. Two grants of $1,500 each will be awarded. Applications are available at alphaphipa. weebly.com and due to the chapter webmaster by April 1. Awards will be made in May 2024.

CHOIR RUN

The South Hills Children’s Choir’s Soles for Songs 5K race will be held at 9 a.m. April 6. Entry fee is $30 for runners or walkers, who will traverse the Panhandle Trail starting at Helicon Brewing in Oakdale. Proceeds benefit the choir. Shirts and goodie bags are guaranteed to those who sign up by March 15. Visit shcchoir.

ering ways to celebrate the 25th anniversary, they settled on displaying collection highlights “to show some things that have significance in Mt. Lebanon history.”

They include medical equipment that belonged to Cyrus Schreiner, a physician who rode in a horse and buggy to tend to patients in what is now Dormont, Mt. Lebanon and Upper St. Clair. Practicing until his death at age 48 in 1900, the historical society has Schreiner’s appointment book, the equipment he used – including a saw for amputations –and recipes for medicines like laudanum, which is a form of opium, and brown syrup of rhubarb.

Other relics in “Unpacked and Rediscovered” are books written by Mt. Lebanon authors, dolls made by Donna Harmon Hibler, a craftswoman and seamstress who hailed from the community, and a photo by Polish photographer Josef Szraiko that

org/events.html to register. Email Peggy at solesdirector@gmail.com for further details.

HOLY HOUR

Divine Mercy Sunday will be celebrated April 7 at Holy Child Church, part of Corpus Christi Parish, located at 212 Station St. in Bridgeville. A Holy Hour with prayers, procession with the Blessed Sacrament and benediction will start at noon after the 11 a.m. Mass. Call 412-276-3374 for more details.

ELKS EVENT

The Pittsburgh South Hills Elks Lodge 2213 will host a dinner dance from 5 to 10 p.m. April 20 at its location on South Park Road in Bethel Park. Tickets are $25. Dinner includes filet mignon,

blends a black-and-white image of Mt. Lebanon from decades ago with a more contemporary one.

The growth Mt. Lebanon has experienced over the decades is represented by an architect’s model of the parking garage that was built adjacent to the municipal building on Washington Road in the mid-1970s. It was given to the historical society by Mt. Lebanon’s parking authority.

“There’s no meaning or theme to the exhibit,” Cahall said. “It’s a look at all the stuff we’ve got.”

The historical society is always interested in taking possession of additional items, he added: “We want things that are really tied to Mt. Lebanon, and in relatively good condition.”

The Historical Society of Mt. Lebanon is open 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturdays. For more information go online to lebohistory.org or call 412329-8595.

PHOTOS: BRAD HUNDT/OBSERVER-REPORTER

Mike Cahall, curator of the exhibit “Unpacked and Rediscovered: 50 Years of Mt. Lebanon Treasures,” shows off some items in it.

TOP: A pennant for a Mt. Lebanon High School Theatre Company production of “The Mouse That Roared” in 1983. ABOVE: A notice from the Mt. Lebanon Department of Health about a measles outbreak

A mid-1970s model of the parking garage that is adjacent to Mt. Lebanon’s municipal building

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