The Almanac - April 21, 2024

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

Karen Scuilli was a single mom and full-time registered nurse pursuing her doctorate when, in 2012, she was diagnosed with stage 4 parotid gland cancer.

“I was working full time, going to school part time and taking care of my son. It felt like my life was all organized; the puzzle fit. It’s like this bomb blew up the pieces to my puzzle,” Scuilli said. “I imagined myself climbing the corporate ladder at Highmark, and growing and expanding in that way. I had to restart my life. I had to figure out, how do I move for-

ward? You never know where your path’s going to lead.” Her path led, by way of intense treatment, to the founding of

Face2Face Healing, a nonprofit that creates community for those with cancer or other conditions that cause an altered self-image through outreach, advocacy, activity, resources and education. This year marks one decade of Face2Face Healing creating connections and spreading hope throughout the greater Pittsburgh region. “When I survived, I just said, ‘OK, what do you (God) want me to do?’ What was interesting to me is how different things were for me when I was trying to climb the corporate ladder,” Scuilli said. Climbing the corporate ladder was difficult; when she started focusing her time and energy on the nonprofit, “doors just opened,” she marveled.

Peters Township photographer to present rare view of Chernobyl nuclear disaster

A local photographer who’s made multiple trips to the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant site in the will share his images and video captured there during a program at Peters Township Public Library.

Michael Haritan of Peters Township has conducted extensive research into the 1986 catastrophe at Chernobyl. HIs findings will be shared as part of the program, “Chernobyl: Causes, Cover-up and Consequences,” from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. April 24.

“It’s a brief presentation of the three categories,” Haritan said. “That accident left a mark on the entire world as far as thinking about energy sources or resources and being responsible to the environment in case of catastrophe.”

Haritan’s presentation includes personal photos and video captured during visits to the site in Ukraine in 2016 and 2018. They provide haunting documentation of the disaster site, a psychiatric institution and an orphanage, giving audiences a rare view of the disastrous event, along with the place and the people who once worked and lived there.

Decades after Chernobyl’s nuclear disaster, a community of babushkas remains, despite the severely contaminated ground, mandatory evacuations, governmental objections and the deaths of many fellow “self-settlers.”

Face2Face Healing offers free services to all cancer patients and disfigurement patients, from case management, including help navigating what Scuilli calls the “medical maze,” to counseling with a certified clinical psychologist and support groups, to massage and reiki.

The nonprofit also offers financial support and provides those undergoing treatment with personal care packages, which are filled with lotions and lip balm, puzzle books and peppermints, journals and wireless earbuds – everything one might need during hospital stays or on treatment days.

our residents to enjoy and to celebrate in the success of the Watson family was amazing.”

Remarkable, indeed, is Watson’s story.

At age 28, he is already a three-time Super Bowl champion. He helped the Chiefs win their second-straight NFL title on Feb. 11, 2024, when they edged San Francisco, 25-22, in overtime at Allegiant Stadium in Nevada.

PHOTOS COURTESY OF KAREN SCUILLI

A woman receives a Face2Face Healing care package at Shadyside Hospital. “Just handing someone the patient care package and just seeing their reaction, it’s difficult to put into words. I put myself in that place; I get tears in my eyes. I just remember how special it is to have kindness from a complete stranger,” said Karen Scuilli, founder.

Somber

FROM PAGE A1

On April 26,1986, improper testing at low power at the number four reactor at the plant in what then was the Soviet Union resulted in loss of control that led to an explosion and fire that demolished the reactor building and released large amounts of radiation into the atmosphere. As safety measures were ignored, the uranium fuel in the reactor overheated and melted through the protective barriers. It is considered to be the worst nuclear disaster in history. Many of those who responded died within days or suffered long-term health issues. Haritan’s interest in the disaster came about shortly before a 2016 trip to Ukraine, where he was traveling to teach English to middle school children.

“I found out through my research that that was the last year that reactor sites would be viewed by anyone before it would be encapsulated by a stainless-steel dome for the world never to see again,” Haritan said. “As a photographer, I felt I could provide photos for historians of that place before it was encapsulated.”

He recalled his initial impressions.

“I just recognized the desolation, nobody around at all,” Haritan said. “What impressed me was the overgrowth of foliage, trees, shrubs and bushes, as well as the crumbling of the roads because they hadn’t been maintained in 30 years. That was my first impression, the overgrowth of nature overtaking the whole place. Our first stop was at a riverside and that’s where I saw nature at its finest.

“There were birds chirping, bugs flying and the water was calm. It looked like nothing ever happened, except a couple hundred yards away, I saw rusting barges that had been abandoned 30 years ago. It showed nature was reclaiming the land that was once inhabited by 40,000 inhabitants and workers at the Chernobyl plant.”

Due to the current Russo-Ukrainian War, Haritan is one of the last professional photographers to document the Chernobyl site.

Sydney Krawiec, the library’s program and outreach coordinator, said Haritan made a presentation at the library about five years ago and the current war has revived an interest in the subject.

“There has been a renewed interest in these nuclear disasters,” she said. “There’s also the very human piece with what’s happening on that side of the world. I think it will be an interesting program and it’s something that is not just for adults.”

Haritan has given more than 40 presentations across the country on the subject, which formed the basis of his new book, “Chernobyl: Aftermath of the World’s Greatest Nuclear Disaster,” which was a No. 1 New Best Seller on Amazon two days after its December release.

The book includes 415 of the 8,000 photos he took during his two visits, as well as untold stories and interviews from survivors.

Copies will be available before and after the program.

Haritan has won numerous local, state, national and international awards and has produced photo documentaries of folk music and dance cultures, history, architecture and geography of Native Americans, Bulgaria, Greece and Turkey, along with Ukraine.

Throughout his 40-year career, Haritan has taught photography to students and enthusiasts alike, including at Washington & Jefferson College, Waynesburg University and Community College of Allegheny County, as well as the last 10 summers at the Chautauqua Institution in Chautauqua, NY.

Admission for the program is free. Registration is available at the library’s website, ptlibrary.org.

Watson

FROM PAGE A1

Before the 2023 championship, Watson played for Tampa Bay when the Buccaneers ironically defeated the Chiefs, 31-9, in 2021.

“I could not have imagined this,” said Watson’s mother, Terri.

She thought they had reached the “top of the mountain” when South Fayette football coach Joe Rossi called to say Bucknell University had offered Watson a full scholarship. It would be the first of many, Rossi predicted.

After helping the Lions win a state championship and becoming The Almanac’s Athlete of the Year in 2014, Watson went on to excel at the University of Pennsylvania. He earned a business degree while setting several Ivy League records before being selected in the fifth round of the NFL draft by the Buccaneers in 2018.

“I grew up like everyone in this room is a Steelers fan but when they didn’t draft me or sign me as a free agent, well,” he said to the crowd in the community room. “I still root for the Steelers but when push comes to shove I’m a Chief through and through.” Watson is a fan of hard work and remembering his roots.

He recalled working at the Shop ’N Save bagging groceries and pushing shopping carts. With the Little Green Machine leading the parade as Watson and his grandmother walked into the multi-purpose room, festooned with red and gold balloons, he remembered running onto the football field on Friday nights to the South Fayette fight song. But most of all, he recollected how Ginny influenced his life.

In addition to the youthful visits to Grandma’s house, he recalled her wisdom and strength. Ginny is the mother of seven daughters and grandmother to 19. She also has 18 great grandchildren.

After her stroke last May, she came to Friendship Village. At 94, she thrives there.

“Gram’s always looking out for me. She would still slip me $5 to take my wife (then my fiancée) out to get a coke, even though I didn’t quite need it,” Watson said. “She’s the absolute best grandmother anybody could have, but she is such an inspiration in my life. I look up at her in awe.

“Her strength to have raised that many children and how she overcame her stroke,” he continued. “It took a long way to get back to where she was but she was determined. She said ‘I’m going to get back. I’m going to be doing all the things I loved to do. Nothing’s going to stop me.’

“She passed that mindset down to her daughters and myself. When I look at her today, I’m reminded that if you put your mind to it and believe you can, then you pretty much can do it.” Ginny saw greatness in Watson. She believed in him. “There’s a saying in life,” he said. “Whether you think you can or you think you can’t, either way you are right. Gram told me, ‘I think you are going to move mountains and change the

world and she hoped that she would be here to see it.’”

Watson reached the top in football because he stuck to that advice and focused on the steps in the process.

“I didn’t start as the best athlete. Hardly anyone, myself included, thought the NFL was a possibility, but honestly, I just focused on the day or the year in front of me.

“My whole life growing up, I never dreamed of playing in an NFL uniform. I just wanted to be a really good South Fayette High School football player. If that is all you want to be, then you end up being a really good football player at South Fayette and you win a state championship.

“Because of that, you get a chance to play college football,” he continued. “When I was in college, I just wanted to be a really great Penn football player and I knew that if I won championships and did all those things, then the next stage was the NFL. So I think I had really good mentors that kept me right in the moment and focused on where I was at in life.”

Nobody transformed Watson’s life more than his son. Last year, on April 12, he and his wife, Erica, welcomed Zion Lee into the world.

“It all changed,” said Watson. “Perspective is the biggest thing. no matter what happens, good or bad, if I have a great game or a bad game, or if I get injured or I’m healthy, when I come home, my son is smiling and can’t wait for me to come through the door. So I think, for myself, my fondest memories aren’t some crazy vacation, it was just watching movies or playing board games and being together as a family. It brings you back to the perspective that some things in life are to be just happy with your own family. My son is always a reminder of that.” Watson is content with his immediate as well as extended family at Friendship Village. He embraced the opportunity to visit with the residents during his special appearance.

“This is what makes playing in the NFL so cool,” he said. “Because of what you do for a living, you get to make people feel special and lift people up.”

For Ginny, it was indeed a most memorable day.

As she wiped tears from her eyes she said, “I’m thrilled he came here. If I die today, I will be a happy person.”

Photographer Michael Haritan presents “Chernobyl: Causes, Cover-up and Consequences” April 24 at the Peters Township Public Library. PHOTOS COURTESY OF MICHAEL HARITAN

In fear of a nuclear attack from the United States and NATO allies, each child was issued a gas mask that was stored in every school classroom

Justin Watson was the guest of honor during a Friendship Village event.

Justin Watson (center) and members of his family: his son, Zion Lee, wife, Erica, grandmother, Ginny Hughes, and mother, Terri, pose for a picture with a Friendship Village of South Hills employee after spending the afternoon at the assisted-living facility.

ABOVE LEFT: Justin Watson signs the shirt worn by Jean Lewin during a recent public appearance at Friendship Village. Lewin was admitted to the assisted living unit because she couldn’t walk but has progressed. Before her 1.5-year stay, Lewin lived near Kansas City’s football training camp. “So I watched them practice,” she said. “I watched Justin when he first came. So I got to watch him practice and play.” ABOVE RIGHT: Justin Watson poses for a photo with his Super Bowl rings after signing a football for Rick Eyerman.

A half-century of mental-health counseling Outreach Teen & Family Services celebrates 50th anniversary

By Paul Paterra Staff writer ppaterra@observer-reporter.com

Fifty years ago, some teens in Mt. Lebanon were engaging in unhealthy activities in the municipality’s parks and near the schools.

The Mt. Lebanon Police Department and community relations board took action, and from that grassroots movement, Outreach Teen & Family Services was created under a grant from the Pennsylvania State Law Enforcement Assistance Administration.

“There were issues with kiddos doing things they shouldn’t be doing in the parks and uptown,” said Mary Birks, executive director of Outreach Teen & Family Services. “We had a really wonderful police chief that was about getting people help. It was really in response to the truancy issues that were going on.”

In 1981, the organization incorporated as a nonprofit agency with the name Outreach South, later changing it to Outreach Teen & Family Services. Today, the community-based, mental health counseling agency remains active, serving teens and families across Allegheny and Washington counties.

Its anniversary will be celebrated April 26 at the “Connections Gala in Wonderland” at the Renaissance Pittsburgh. Tickets are available at the

Outreach

agency’s website, outreachteen.org, at a cost of $150. Birks, who is in her 10th year as executive director, said this year’s Community Champion Award will be given to the Mt. Lebanon Police Department to recognize the department’s efforts in creating the agency.

“We still maintain a really strong relationship with the police department,” Birks said. “We really are both focused on the health and well-being of our community and of our kids.”

The organization’s main office is in Mt. Lebanon on Washington Road and has a satellite office in Bethel Park.

“We work with kiddos in 30 unique zip codes all through the South Hills of Pittsburgh and into Washington County,” Birks said.”

We work with kids ages 5 to 21 and their families and their parents. We are, sort of, that first line of defense, when parents don’t know what’s going on with their kids. We’re here to work with kids who may have different levels of anxiety, depression, stress,

peer issues, school issues, family concerns, adjustment issues. We try to help as many kids as we possibly can.”

The agency has eight counselors, each with a different personality, so attempts are made to match counselors to clients for a good fit. Counselor Kylie Tautkus-Malobisky is on staff at Chartiers-Houston Middle School.

Outreach Teen & Family Services also provides community-based education programs. Maggie Zangara, the agency’s program manager, works with local school districts, libraries and the community in general to gauge what programs help kids deal with the various issues they’re facing.

“Since we are community-based, we can be pretty responsive and we’re pretty flexible,” Birks said. “We don’t have the bureaucratic structure that a lot of other agencies might have. If one of our stakeholders comes to us and sees kids struggling with one particular issue, we can put our heads together and get something together to address the need pretty quickly.”

The amount of time a kid spends with a counselor varies. Most clients receive 10 sessions.

“We do have kiddos who stay with us for a number of months, sometimes for over a year,” Birks explained. “Sometimes, our kids go off to college and come back for what they call a check-in. They have a conversation with a counselor to see how they’re doing.” Birks said she has a personal connection to the agency.

“Two of my older siblings were clients here, back in the day,” she said. “They shared their experiences and how beneficial it was to them and how special this organization is to them to this day.”

Outreach Teen & Family Services, a HIPPA-compliant agency, is funded in part through the municipality, which enables the agency to offer Mt. Lebanon clients their first two sessions for free and sessions three through 10 are offered at a discount.

“No one pays more than $50 at this point to come and see a professional counselor,” Birks said. “No one is ever turned away, even if they can’t pay.”

Those who may feel the need to use the agency’s services may do so through its website at outreachteen.org or by a phone call at 412-561-5405.

“It’s a real privilege to be a part of this team,” Birks said. “They are such great people. They’re doing an amazing job every single day with these kids.”

Teen & Family Services is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year.

Bolas recognized by PSBA

Barbara Bolas, a 36-year member of the Upper St. Clair School Board, was recently recognized by the Pennsylvania School Boards Association (PSBA) and its Honor Roll of School Board Service. Since 1983, PSBA has been recognizing school board members who earn “honor roll” status upon completing eight years of service and then again at every four-year increment.

“School directors today have a more challenging job than ever before in our complex society,” PSBA’s Senior Director of Member Outreach Becky Dussinger stated. “As unpaid volunteers, they give generously of their time all year long to help guide the education of our children. The Honor Roll is the association’s way of thanking these dedicated leaders, who are committed to the success of our public schools and the students they serve.”

PSBA’s Western Pennsylvania member outreach manager Lena Hanna praised Bolas and her years of dedicated service to students, the Upper St. Clair community, and public education.

Last fall, Bolas was honored with the 2023 William Howard Day Award from the Pennsylvania Public Education Foundation. The award recognizes

outstanding contributions to public education.

First elected to the Upper St. Clair School Board in 1985, Bolas served four terms as president and five as vice president. In 2001, she was elected president of PSBA. She served as a National School Boards Association board member from 2001-10 and was the national association’s president in 2008-09.

A leader in public education at the local, state and national levels, Bolas has been recognized for her service and advocacy. In 2022, she was honored with the Voice of Advocacy Award from the Western Pennsylvania Forum of School Superintendents. She is also a recipient of the PSBA’s Chief Executive Officer’s Distinguished Service Pin, which recognizes its members, staff and education advocates for their extraordinary service and work on behalf of the association.

Bolas holds a bachelor’s degree in education from the State University of New York. She and her husband, Jim, are the parents of two Upper St. Clair High School graduates.

Lena Hanna, left, presents Barbara Bolas an award recognizing her years of service as a school board member.

“It’s a holistic approach to healing. It’s mind, body, spirit. The plan of care is individualized,” Scuilli said. “We understand firsthand the complications, or the things they go through. We’ve tailored the programs to be around things that are missing or were not available when I was going through treatment.”

By the time Scuilli was diagnosed, her cancer had spread. She underwent intense treatment, which left her unable to work or interact with her son, Seth, the way she wanted.

“I actually leaned into God for support. My faith has increased immensely. When the pain was so bad, I prayed, ‘Just take me, I can’t do this,’” she said. But, “My son was my why, my constant and my why.”

Scuilli’s faith, and support from family members, friends and church community, got her through. She de-

fied the odds and beat cancer. But the treatment changed her, and the surgeries, including reconstructive facial surgery, turned the woman in the mirror into a stranger. The once confident and ex-

troverted Scuilli found herself avoiding people and places.

“I kind of hid,” she admitted. “If I would go out in public, people would stare at me, make comments. I didn’t always feel welcome. I felt that people were staring, they didn’t make eye contact, they didn’t smile or say hello. When you get those reactions, then you start putting your head down. My son was 7 at the time. I didn’t want him to be affected; he’s already been through so much.”

figurement was in the U.K.,” she said. “There was one someone was trying to start (in the U.S.); it never got off the ground.”

actually believe in us,” Scuilli said. The foundation funded Face2Face Healing those first three years.

rda, is on the nonprofit’s board, and Fort Pitt Capital.

Throughout her treatment, Scuilli noticed a void in care when it came to self-care and disfigurement support. She searched for organizations or nonprofits that offered what was lacking, and quickly discovered the resources she needed did not exist.

“The only nonprofit I found that dealt with people with dis-

So Scuilli, at the encouragement of her doctor, launched a nonprofit that would help all people with any cancer and condition that led to physical disfigurement. She called the nonprofit Face2Face Healing.

“To me, that was the most important aspect of communication: having eye contact with someone – I’m listening, I’m validating your presence,” she said.

The nonprofit was for its first three years based in Shadyside; Louise Brown, executive director of the Shadyside Hospital Foundation, “was the first one to

In 2017, the foundation moved to its current Wexford offices and, in October 2023, expanded into Washington County when Scuilli signed a contract with CNX Headquarters in Southpointe.

“The collaboration that I’ve been able to do there has been amazing,” Scuilli said. “Learning and growing and increasing my reach … with many wonderful people has just been a true blessing.” Scuilli said cancer rates throughout the U.S. are increasing; 1 in 4 people is diagnosed.

The evening begins with light dinner and wine around 5 p.m., and guests will enjoy three hours of camaraderie and pampering before leaving with an AVEDA gift bag filled with indulgent self-care goodies. The fundraiser is, in a sense, a way to experience the self-care Scuilli wants all Face2Face Healing consumers to experience when they turn to the nonprofit for help.

“We get anywhere from one to three new patients a day, which is crazy. We’re needed. I’m glad I’m so needed, but it saddens me, because it seems like the cancer in different conditions continues to grow,” she said.

To meet demand and spread hope and healing throughout Southwestern Pennsylvania and beyond, Face2Face Healing is hosting a spring fundraiser Friday, April 26, at MaxxCole Salon & Skin Spa in Robinson. The Bloomin’ Butterflies spring fling fundraiser was made possible by MaxxCole, whose owner, Nicole Le-

“We want them to have hope. When you’re so stressed, you’re not taking care of yourself and taking time to unwind and laugh and get little mini manicures and just pamper yourself. We’re so busy in this world: we’re either taking care of kids, your family, your older parents. We wanted to do something pampering,” she said.

Space is limited, but tickets to the Bloomin’ Butterflies fundraiser are still available at https://www.eventbrite. com/e/bloomin-butterfliesa-spring-fling-fundraiserfor-face2face-healing-tickets-850149057717.

For more information on Face2Face Healing, or to make a donation, visit https:// face2facehealing.org.

SF dominates Almanac girls basketball team All-star players

By Eleanor Bailey Almanac Sports Editor ebailey@thealmanac.net

“Don’t count us out” proved the winning motto at South Fayette as the Lady Lions fought off doubts to become WPIAL champions for the third year in a row.

Despite losses due to the graduation of two Division I prospects and to critical season-ending injuries to two additional players, the Lady Lions overcame all odds and critics to defend their Class 5A crown.

Because of a third-place showing in Section 4, South Fayette drew a low seed in the tournament, but the Lions upset Trinity and No. 2 McKeesport to reach the finals. They defeated Armstrong, 70-63, at the Petersen Events Center to claim their third straight district title. South Fayette finished 19-9 overall after losing to Oakland Catholic in the second round of the PIAA tournament.

“It was just a special group,” said SF floor boss Bryan Bennett. “No one expected us to be (in the finals) but the kids had something to prove.

“We still had a lot of talent and I knew it was going to take time to get to where we were because of our youth. It was just learning how to play hard for 32 minutes, learning how to do little details. Once we did that it just clicked.”

Things fell into place for South Fayette because of Bennett’s guidance as well as the performances of players such as seniors Erica Hall and Lainey Yater as well as sophomores Juliette Leroux and Haylie Lamonde. The foursome along with Bennett, who has been named Coach of the Year, spearhead The Almanac all-star team for girls’ basketball.

PT’s Walker, Wetzel named Almanac girls basketball Co-Players of the Year

By Chris Dugan Sports editor dugan@observer-reporter.com

Gemma Walker and Natalie Wetzel go together as well as peanut butter and jelly or cookies and milk.

In other words, on their own they are very good. But when put together, they form an almost unbeatable combination.

They were the perfect combination for Peters Township basketball.

With Walker, a cat-quick guard, and Wetzel, a tall, talented and versatile forward, leading the way, Peters Township returned to elite status in Class 6A this season and gave opponents fits on both ends of the court.

A senior, Walker is a drivefirst penetrator on offense with a knack for getting all the way to the rim. Those times when she didn’t make it to the hoop, Walker usually attracted a crowd of defenders and passed off to Wetzel for an open shot and basket. On defense, Walker is a pest. A speedy disruptor.

A Mercyhurst University recruit, Hall averaged 11.4 points and grabbed six rebounds a game while dishing up two assists for the Lady Lions. She scored 17 points and pulled down eight rebounds in the WPIAL championship win against Armstrong.

“Erica’s commitment and dedication set the standard for our team’s success by motivating others to match her intensity which elevated the overall performance of our team,” Bennett said.

While Peters Township’s duo of Gemma Walker and Natalie Wetzel highlight the unit, which was selected based on season performance, statistics and a coaches survey, as co-Most Valuable Players (see related article), Hall and Yater gained first-team laurels. They also were Big 5/6 All-Conference, first-team selections. “They were two special kids. Unbelievable leaders,” Bennett said. “No matter how low the lows were this season, they picked us up. They put a smile on my face. They built our success.” For three years, Yater directed the offensive attack from the point guard position. An all-section first-team selection, she averaged 8.4 points and three rebounds a game. She also dished up five assists a game. In the WPIAL final, she managed six assists and nine points. “Lainey’s leadership both on and off the court created a culture of accountability and excellence within our team,” Bennett said. Yater will continue her career at Saginaw Valley State University, located in Michigan, next fall. She will major in business.

A sophomore, Leroux was a dominant force in the WPIAL finals as well as during the season. In the championship contest, she put up a team-high 18 points to go along with eight rebounds and three steals. An all-section, second-team performer, Leroux led SF’s regular-season offensive attack, managing 13 points per game.

A standout volleyball player, Leroux also cleaned the glass six times a game. The 6-foot guard/forward averaged nearly two assists.

Wetzel is a different type of player than Walker, which made the combination so difficult for opponents to defend. At 6-3, Wetzel could simply stand in the low post and dominate opponents. However, there is much more to her game. She often played away from the basket, from where she made textbook jump shots over smaller opponents, even from behind the three-point line. She was as dangerous from 20 feet away from the basket as she was from two feet.

“Natalie played around the rim more and outside while Gemma is a prototypical wing,” PT head coach Steve Limberiou explained. “The assists they had between the two of them is amazing. They really worked well together.”

“And both had the assist on the other’s 1,000th point,” Limberiou recalled.

“The impressive thing about those two is we needed both of them to be good, and our opponents knew that, too. Yet the analytics showed how amazingly effective they both were. It’s not like they were both taking 25 shots a game.”

Wetzel averaged 17.3 points per game during the regular season and Walker averaged 15.7. Together, they helped Peters Township start the season with 20 consecutive wins and finish with a 24-3 overall record and berths in the WPIAL semifinals and PIAA’s second round. Both players scored their 1,000th career point this season.

South Fayette captured its third straight WPIAL championship to highlight the girls’ basketball season. As a result, Lady Lions dominate the Almanac all-star team with five selections, including Coach of the Year for Bryan Bennett.

Gemma Walker, left, scored her 1,000th career point this year, off an assist from Natalie Wetzel, right. Natalie Wetzel also scored her 1,000th career points this season, off an assist from Gemma Walker.

Lainey Yater

Bryan Bennett coached South Fayette to its third straight WPIAL title in girls’ basketball this season. As a result, he garnered Almanac Coach of the Year honors.

ALMANAC

Gemma Walker was a drive-first player on offense and a ball-hawking defender. She managed 16.3 points, 3.6 re-

Winning

FROM PAGE B1

Because of their exploits, Walker and Wetzel have been selected as The Almanac girls’ basketball Co-Players of the Year.

“They were the two best players,” Limberiou concurred. “It’s hard to put one over the other. They were coMVP types for us.”

A St. Francis University (Pa.) recruit, Walker dished up two assists and grabbed three rebounds a game for the Indians. She was a firstteam Big 5/6 all-conference selection.

A junior, Wetzel also garnered all-section accolades and has received more than 20 Division I offers, including Pitt and West Virginia. She pulled down 8.2 rebounds and picked up 3.3 assists a game.

While Walker and Wetzel are different types of players who work well together, their personalities are much different.

“Gemma is very mature for her age,” Limberiou said. “She’s more talkative than Natalie. She has a way of getting the younger players, even the junior varsity players, involved in everything we do, which doesn’t always

happen with seniors. It’s something I really appreciate about her. “Natalie, I don’t think I’ve met many people who have the desire to win that she does. I wish people would see how competitive she is, even in practice. She wants to win everything we do. She’s a true competitor.”

Wetzel is even competitive about labels. She doesn’t like being called a post player simply because of her height.

“I don’t call myself a big,” she is quick to say. “I’m able to play the wing and also play in the paint. I’m flexible.”

Walker was disruptive on the defensive end as her quickness caused opponents problems, especially those who were facing her for the first time. In two PIAA playoff games, against Lebanon and runner-up Spring-Ford, Walker scored 54 points, most coming on drives through the heart of the defense.

Like most competitive people, Wetzel and Walker enjoyed the Indians’ remarkable season but each was left wanting more. “At the end of the day, we had a good record but I wish we could have won something,” Wetzel said. “We almost had a perfect regular season. I hope next year we can win them when it counts.”

“Juliette brings a unique skill set with her size and athleticism which makes her a difficult matchup for teams to guard,” Bennett said. Lamonde’s skill is her accuracy, especially from beyond the arc. A sophomore, she managed 11.2 points a game to go along with 3.5 rebounds and two assists.

“Haylie’s consistency in performance and ability to make big plays in crucial moments often was the difference in the outcomes of some of our closest games,” Bennett said.

As a newcomer to the starting line-up, Lamonde shares Rookie of the Year honors with Ryan Prunzik from Upper St. Clair. A sophomore, Prunzik was an honorable mention pick on the Big 5/6 All-Conference squad.

A 5-foot-5 guard, Prunzik led the Panthers in rebounds, assists, steals and deflections.

“Ryan will be one of the best point guards I’ve ever coached when it’s all said and done,” predicted USC floor boss Pete Serio. “She was our unsung hero.”

For the first 10 games of the season, Rylee Kalocay set the tone for the Lady Panthers. She went down with an ACL injury, however, in a 53-46 loss to Peters Township two days into the new year.

At the time, Kalocay was averaging 24 points per game. Despite her injury, she still managed to rank among the top scorers in the WPIAL. Kalocay also earned Big 5/6 All-Conference first-team acclaim for the Panthers, who finished 6-6 in the section and 12-11 overall.

“Rylee was our leader,” Serio said. “In my opinion, she’s the best player in the area.”

Chartiers Valley, Mt. Lebanon and Bethel Park had four of the other better players in The Almanac’s readership area. Emma Reynolds and Lilah Turnbull as well as Payton Collins and Ella Sabatos round out the list of all-stars. All earned second-team acclaim. Reynolds and Turnbull provided a one-two punch for the Lady Colts, who reached the

Lainey Yater South Fayette Guard Senior 8.4 ppg. 5 assists Second Team

Payton Collins Mt. Lebanon Guard Junior 15.2 ppg.

Juliette Leroux South Fayette Forward Soph. 13

MOST VALUABLE PLAYERS Gemma Walker & Natalie Wetzel, Peters Township

HONORABLE MENTION: Sadie Orie, Ella Harmon, Becky Gillenberger–Bethel Park; Ella Cupka–Chartiers Valley; Clare Cramer–Mt. Lebanon; Bri Morreale, Daniela

Radulovich, Melanah Khahil, Peri Cendroski–Peters Township; Haylie Lamonde–South Fayette; Meredith Huzjak, Olivia Terlecki–Upper St. Clair

ROOKIES OF THE YEAR: Haylie Lamonde, Char Valley & Ryan Prunzik, Upper St. Clair

COACH OF THE YEAR: Bryan Bennett, South Fayette

WPIAL Class 6A semifinals and the second round of the PIAA tournament. CV finished 17-9 overall. The juniors also helped CV to a runner-up showing behind Peters Township in Section 2. Reynolds averaged 11.3 points and 4.3 rebounds a game. She led the Colts in minutes play (701), 3-point field goal percentage (44%) and defensive rebounds with 73. She recorded 34 assists and col-

lected 13 steals with six blocked shots and drew six charges. “Overall, Emma’s was our best athlete,” said CV skipper Mike Semplice. “She has an unbelievable burst of speed, can take you off the dribble, score around the rim and off the three. She has a high ceiling.”

Turnbull managed 11.2 points and 3.5 rebounds a game. She led the Colts with a 44.40 field goal percentage and 79 free throw percentage.

Turnbull dished up 41 assists and managed 33 steals.

“Lilah plays with unbelievable energy,” Semplice said. “She has a positive demeanor and amazing leadership abilities. She’s very skilled. I love her compete level.”

Despite Bethel Park’s lackluster 10-12 record and sixth-place showing in Section 6, Sabatos demonstrated an ability to compete with the best. She earned first-team accolades on the Big 5/6 All-Conference unit. The junior forward led the Lady Hawks in scoring and rebounding. She averaged 11 points and pulled down 14 rebounds a game.

“Ella was a consistent presence on the boards ensuring that our team limited our opponents shots on offense and was always getting our team some second chance points,” said BP floor boss Steve Norman. “She finished the season incredibly efficient in her shot selection and defense.”

Meanwhile, Collins was a sure shot, especially from the perimeter. A junior, she led Mt. Lebanon in scoring with a 15.2-point average. The Blue Devils lost to Chartiers Valley in the WPIAL quarterfinals and finished 12-11 overall.

ELEANOR BAILEY/THE ALMANAC

Natalie Wetzel’s game allows her to score from anywhere on the offensive end. In addition to her 17.4 scoring average, she managed 3.3 assists and 8.2 rebounds per game for Peters Township.

Ella Sabatos

CHOICE DESTINATION

Residents, business owners celebrate Ohiopyle’s ‘best small town’ designation

By Mike Jones Staff writer mjones@observer-reporter.com

The announcement proclaiming Ohiopyle as the “Best Small Town in the Northeast” was met with both surprise and validation by locals who are hoping it will help the tiny borough step out of the shadow of the popular state park that shares its name.

“I think so many people already come to the area, we would like people to stay here longer and see all the attractions,” said Pamela Kruse, who is a local business owner and borough councilwoman. “We’ve been here so long, we consider ourselves the star attraction.”

Local and state dignitaries gathered April 10 at the train station nestled beside the Great Allegheny Passage to announce that Ohiopyle was voted as the winner of USA Today’s readers’ choice competition, beating out 19 other heavy hitters in the Northeast that included Gettysburg.

“It’s so hard to believe,” said Kruse, who owns Falls Market Restaurant & General Store and Ohiopyle Coffee in town. “There were big names on that list.”

Residents and business owners learned of the designation earlier in the week and were excited about how the honor could help promote the borough. While many people visit Ohiopyle State Park for the hiking, rafting and scenic settings, they come into town to shop, eat and stay overnight.

“We’re hoping it means a lot. We’re the outdoor mecca for the area,” said Joel Means, who owns the Ohiopyle Trading Post and River Tours with his wife, Robin. “Most people are confused that (Ohiopyle) is a borough. They think it’s part of the park.”

The contest included places with populations less than 25,000, and

Ohiopyle takes that small town feel to the next level with just 38 people counted in the 2020 Census. But Kruse estimates there are currently only 13 residents permanently living in the borough. That tiny population pales in comparison to the more than 1 million people who visit the 20,500-acre state park that surrounds the borough.

The heavy tourism season used to be book-ended between Memorial Day and Labor Day, but the advent of Airbnb vacation rental homes has given more visitors the opportunity to stay longer. While the small town designation is focused on just the borough, Kruse thinks the publicity will give the region and its many tourist attractions a jolt, with people visiting more in the off-season and staying overnight. “People can experience the area all seasons. The biggest challenge

what’s happening

Teacher Appreciation Day from 1 to 4 p.m. May 5. Teachers are admitted for free and receive a Woodville booklet.

PTCOMMUNITYNIGHT

The Peters Township Chamber of Commerce has opened registrations for its

was getting people out of the day-trip mentality,” Kruse said. “Ohiopyle is free. It’s never mattered – the economy has gone up and down – and you can do all these things for free. That’s what makes it so special to visit.”

Ohiopyle attracts tourists far and wide, from people in western Pennsylvania looking for a staycation to out-of-state residents who travel hundreds of miles to visit.

Jim and Cassie King were eating ice cream with their dogs, Josie and Jaxon, by their side enjoying the nice weather one recent afternoon on the patio outside Falls Market. The couple drives four hours from their home in Marysville, Ohio – a city of about 25,000 people northwest of Columbus – at least once a year to visit. Jim King said they make regular trips because Ohiopyle has a “small town feel” with hiking trails, a beautiful river and

community day event. Both members and non-members can register to attend the Pittsburgh Riverhounds game on May 4. Cost is $22 per person; children under 2 are free. The first 10 registrations will get free parking, which normally costs $17 per vehicle. The Riverhounds play at Highmark Stadium at 510 W. Station Square Drive in Pittsburgh. At 6 p.m. kids will be able to warm up with the players on the field. Register by April 30 at peterstownshipchamber.com.

COLLEGE CLUB

The College Club of Carnegie will meet May 4 at Bella’s on Fort Couch, 91 Fort Couch Road. There will be a social at 11:30 a.m. followed by lunch at noon. “Kentucky Derby Daze” will be the theme. Auction items and a 50/50 raffle benefiting the scholarship fund will be offered. Women with post-secondary school educations can attend and should call Therese Condit for further information at 412-279-4458.

falls, campgrounds and, of course, ice cream.

“Whenever I tell people we go to Ohiopyle, they think it’s in Ohio,” he said with a laugh. “It’s the closest thing to Eden I’ve found. We don’t have this kind of topography in Ohio. It’s worth the drive.”

That feeling is also experienced by the people who live and work in Ohiopyle. Demetrius Johnson does both after moving to the borough a couple of years ago from his hometown of Greensburg. He thought the best small town designation was a wellearned honor for a place that he now calls home.

“I honestly think it’s pretty huge. Ohiopyle is a great place,” Johnson said while cleaning the façade of a local ice cream shop in preparation for the approaching tourism season.

PET MEMORIAL

The Creatures of The Creator Pet Ministry of Unity Presbyterian Church will hold a remembrance service at 11 a.m. May 4 at the church, located at 1146

memory of their pets. Registration deadline is May 1. Email ckozlowski@ unitypresbyterianchurch.org for further details.

CHABAD EVENTS

Chabad of the South Hills will offer the following events:

■ Passover Seder at 7:30 p.m. April 22 at 1701

“There’s a sense of community here. It doesn’t matter your background. Everyone is really accepting here.”

But with increased visitors, there are added stresses to infrastructure, such as roads and sewage. Kruse noted that the borough held their first of what will be an annual Youghtoberfest celebration last fall to help raise money for upgrades to the borough’s water treatment facility.

“People don’t understand the infrastructure (stress) that 1.5 million people put on a town of 13 residents,” Kruse said. “We need to make some improvements to the town. We don’t want to just be known as Ohiopyle State Park. We want to be known as Ohiopyle the town.”

With that designation and likely increase in visitors, Kruse and her mother, Sharon, see it as an opportunity to showcase the history of the borough, including old buildings like the Ohiopyle United Methodist Church. Even industrial buildings that are no longer there or commercial structures that were removed when the state park was formed in the late 1960s should be celebrated.

She also hopes the “best small town” rating will push more stores to remain open throughout the year, giving visitors additional reasons to spend money and continue to boost the local business district.

“I would hope more people would come and check it out,” Kruse said.

“It’s such a beautiful place.”

Means agreed, and pointed over to the picturesque Ohiopyle Falls along the Youghiogheny River directly across Route 381 from his business that is the main attraction for visitors and drives the borough’s economy.

“If it weren’t for that waterfall, none of us would be here,” Means said.

“That waterfall makes it happen.”

PHOTOS: MIKE JONES/OBSERVER-REPORTER

Councilwoman Pamela Kruse and her mother, Sharon Kruse, walk beside the Ohiopyle mural while talking about the borough’s designation as “Best Small Town in the Northeast” as voted on through USA Today’s readers’ choice contest.

Jim and Cassie King of Marysville, Ohio, enjoy ice cream alongside their dogs, Josie and Jaxon, at Falls Market while visiting Ohiopyle recently. “It’s the closest thing to Eden I’ve found,” Jim King said.

Joel Means, who owns the Ohiopyle Trading Post and River Tours, thinks the “best small town” designation will help Ohiopyle step out of the shadow of the state park that shares its name. “Most people are confused that (Ohiopyle) is a borough. They think it’s part of the park.”

OBITUARY

Kathleen L. Silhol

Kathleen L. Silhol, 90, of Washington, previously of Bridgeville, passed away peacefully Thursday, April 11, 2024, in her son’s Avella home.

She was born July 28, 1933, in Montchanin, Del., a daughter of the late William and Helen Slowey Lowther. Kathleen grew up in the Bryn Mawr area of Philadelphia and was a graduate of Radnor High School.

In 1955, she married her former husband, the late William E. “Buzzy” Silhol, and relocated to southwestern Pennsylvania.

Kathleen worked as a receptionist at Henderson Brothers Insurance Co. in Bridgeville and then in its Pittsburgh office, retiring after 20 years with the company.

She was a devout Catholic, who was a member of St. James Parish (Immaculate Conception Church) of Washington and was a previous member of Holy Child Church in Bridgeville.

Kathleen was the last of her immediate family.

Surviving are three sons, William E. Silhol Jr. of Avella, Arthur (Thelma) Silhol of Pensacola, Fla., Michael (Joann) Silhol of Oakdale; six grandchildren, Lindsey, Lauren, Arthur, Michael, Sean and Brett; six great-grandchildren, Bella, Braxton, Aubrey, Logan, Maddox and Asher; son-in-law, Terry Morgan of Washington; and many nieces and nephews.

Deceased, in addition to her parents and former husband, are a daughter, Suzi Morgan; a brother, Thomas Lowther; two sisters, Helen Holland and Dorothy Fenyus; and a daughter-in-law, Gail Halmi Silhol.

A gathering of family and friends will be held from 3 to 7 p.m. Thursday, April 25, in the Jerome A. Stefkovich Funeral Home Inc., 18 Campbell Street, Avella, PA 15312. A Memorial Mass will be held at 1:30 p.m. Friday, April 26, in Holy Child Church of Corpus Christi Parish, 212 Station Street, Bridgeville, PA 15017. Condolences may be expressed at www.stefkovichfuneralhome.com.

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