the almanac M A R C H 24, 2024
SOUTH HILLS COMMUNITY NEWS
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Test of time After 200 years, pipe organ at Old St. Luke’s still plays By Brad Hundt Staff writer
bhundt@observer-reporter.com
COURTESY 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.”
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,”
First it endured a trip across the ocean. Then it endured a treacherous journey across the Allegheny Mountains carried by packhorses. And then it traveled from one church to another, and suffered through years of neglect and deterioration when the church 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.”
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. 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 SEE ORGAN PAGE A2
COURTESY OF JESSICA GARDA
Giant bunny balloons stuffed with small, colorful balloons or Easter goodies await pickup inside The Cheerful Balloon in downtown Washington. “The trend I’m seeing is personalization,” owner Jessica Garda said of her premade-but-customizable Easter offering. “It kind of marries those two, the convenience and personalization.”
said Mara Fannie, pastor to the youth at South Hills Church of the Nazarene. “It’s gotten a little bit bigger every time.” In the weeks leading up to Easter, the church youth group takes Egg My Yard orders from families in the South Hills area (based on your location, the church does accept orders to homes outside that area; inquire online) and spends
Wednesday evenings stuffing hundreds and hundreds of colorful Easter eggs with candy, stickers and other goodies. On Easter Eve, the youth group breaks into smaller groups, which are given maps with several yards plotted out, and head to those homes, eggs in tow. SEE EASTER PAGE A2
BRAD HUNDT/OBSERVER-REPORTER
The 200-year-old pipe organ at Old St. Luke’s Church
Pair of bison born at South Park Game Preserve By Paul Paterra Staff writer
ppaterra@observer-reporter.com
The population at the South Park Game Preserve 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.
BETHEL PARK Ambulance simulator helps aspiring EMTs PAGE A6 What’s happening, B3
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
COURTESY OF FRIENDS OF SOUTH PARK GAME PRESERVE
SEE BISON PAGE A2 Takoda is shown a day after being born on March 15.
SPORTS O’Korn forges future for female wrestlers at Peters Township PAGE B1 Real estate transactions, A4
SIGHTS & SOUNDS Lebo looks back on 25 years of acquisitions PAGE B3 Classifieds, B4-6