The Almanac - April 28, 2024

Holocaust survivor speaks to C-M students

By Karen Mansfield Staff writer

kmansfield@observer-reporter.com

Almost 80 years after millions of Jews were killed in the Holocaust, only an estimated 240,000 survivors are still living to share their stories, according to a recent study.

The demographic study, published by the Conference on Jewish Material Claims Against Germany, shows that most of the survivors alive today were children during the Holocaust, as 75% were between the ages of 3 and 12. The number of survivors is dwindling – the median age of survivors is 86 years old and 20% of survivors are older than 90.

That’s why it’s important to hear their stories, says Canon-McMillan High School teacher Meg Pankiewicz, who teaches a Holo-

Albert Farhy, a Holocaust survivor, meets with Carol Black, who survived the Tree of Life mass shooting in October 2018. Black attended Farhy’s April 15 lecture at Canon-McMillan High School.

caust and genocides studies elective class, referencing a quote by Elie Wiesel, a Holocaust survivor, author, professor and Nobel Peace Prize laureate who said, “When you listen to a witness, you become a witness.”

For the past 20 years, Pankiewicz has welcomed a Holocaust survivor into her classroom to “bear witness” and provide first-hand testimony of their experiences during the genocide.

On April 15, that eyewitness was Albert Farhy, a 94-year-old resident of Pittsburgh.

Farhy, who was born in Bulgaria’s capital of Sofia and grew up amid the rise of the Nazi regime, recounted painful, eightdecades-old memories as nearly 100 students listened attentively in the Canon-Mac auditorium.

“TODAY MARKS THE DAY THAT YOUR MORAL OBLIGATION BEGINS: TO LIVE WITH PURPOSE, EMPATHY, STRENGTH OF CONVICTION AND COURAGEOUS COMPASSION TO ALL THAT ARE VULNERABLE TO HATRED. ” — MEG PANKIEWICZ, TEACHER AT CANON-MCMILLAN HIGH SCHOOL

Distinguished

Fame.

Bethel Park inducts five into alumni Hall of Fame

Bethel Park High School recently welcomed five new members into its Alumni Hall of Fame. The group includes two physicians, a transplant unit nurse, a business leader and philanthropist, and an AIDS survivor and advocate for people with HIV.

and accomplished SEE SURVIVOR PAGE A2 SEE HALL PAGE A2

Kairi wins history bee

William J. Ceyrolles graduated from Bethel Park in 1969 and received a degree in social work from Duquesne University.

N. David Campbell graduated from Bethel Park in 1974. He earned degrees from Carnegie Mellon University in 1979 and 1995. Campbell served as president and CEO of the West Penn Non-Destructive Testing Company. He is a fellow of The American Society of Non-Destructive Testing. He served on the boards of numerous organizations and foundations, including the Make-A-Wish of Greater Pennsylvania and West Virginia. He is president of N. David and Janet Campbell Family Foundation, which has given numerous financial grants to numerous community, arts, education, and medical organizations. The organization’s mission is to “create a lasting and positive impact on our community.”

Arjun Kairi of Upper St. Clair placed first in the National History Bee at the Dayton Regional Finals held in Ohio and advanced to the national and international levels of the competition. The Fort Couch Middle School seventh-grade student will compete in the national championships, sponsored by the International Academic Competitions, May 23-27 in Orlando, Fla.

The bees are buzzer-based quiz competitions for elementary, middle and high schoolaged students throughout the United States. Each of the bees is composed of three competition stages, including the online regional qualifying exam, the regional finals, and the national championships. This marks the third year in a row that Kairi will compete at nationals. He made it to the semifinals last year and the quarterfinals in 2022.

Holocaust survivor Albert Farhy spoke to students at Canon-McMillan High School about his experience.

Arjun Kairi

Bethel Park inducted five new members into its alumni Hall of

Among the new members were: N. David Campbell; William J. Ceyrolles; Dr. Karl B. Kern; Dr. Antonio Ripepi; and Andrew P. Katlubeck III. Aside from Kern, relatives accepted on behalf of the inductees.

Safe driving classes offered

The South Fayette and Upper St. Clair recreation departments will be hosting safe driving courses for seniors.

The South Fayette course will be held from 5 to 9 p.m. April 30. The USC course is set for May 16 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Additionally, a course will be offered at the Jewish Community Center of Greater Pittsburgh from 1 to 5 p.m. May 14.

The state Department of Transportation-approved

He became the first Director of Social Services at the Whitman-Walker Clinic, an HIV/AIDS Clinic in Washington, D.C. After helping numerous patients there, he was diagnosed with AIDS in 1986, which further drove his passion for supporting and helping others.

Highlighted in a New York Times article, Ceyrolles testified before Congress several times in support of AIDS legislation and funding. He became an outspoken advocate for people with HIV and AIDS, serving as the plaintiff in a lawsuit against the pharmaceutical industry to lower the cost of necessary medications and treatments.

Andrew Katlubeck III represented the Class of 1980. A registered nurse, Katlubeck graduated from CCAC and Slippery Rock with a BS/MS in nursing. While working in the bone marrow transplant unit at Montefiore Hospital, he wrote the “Bone Marrow Donor Booklet,” a guide used by patients for many years. He then served on the West Penn and Children’s Hospital transplant teams. Katlubeck was known for his compassion, sense of humor, and selfless nature. Recognized by several newspapers upon his passing, his family created an initiative called “Andy’s Toy Box,” which continues to deliver gifts to children on Unit 9B in his honor.

Dr. Karl B. Kern is a Professor Emeritus of Medicine and was Chair of Cardiovascular Medicine at the University of Arizona. Retiring from clinical practice in 2022, he graduated from Bethel Park in 1970. A Brigham Young University alumnus, he graduated from Hahnemann Medical School, where his research focused on CPR. Coordinator of the research group that developed the concept of Chest Compression-Only CPR, Kern was recognized by the American Heart Association (AHA), and his technique is the preferred technique for

course is designed for drivers, ages 55 and older. There is no testing or behind-thewheel driving, just a refresher course regarding driving skills and knowledge of the rules of the road.

Participants can qualify for a multi-year discount of no less than 5% on auto insurance coverage. Registration is available online at www.SeniorsForSafeDriving.com or by calling 1-800559-4880 or 724-283-0245.

resuscitation. Named an AHA “CPR Giant,” he received the European Resuscitation Council’s Honorary Membership for life-ong commitment and leadership in Resuscitation and has published over 300 scientific papers.

Dr. Antonio Ripepi graduated with honors from John Carroll University and Jefferson Medical College. The 1981 BP alumnus was Chief Resident at Case Western Reserve University and was elected to a fellowship in laparoscopic surgery at the Cleveland Clinic.

He was Pittsburgh’s first board-certified minimally invasive surgeon and practiced in the South Hills for over 20 years. He was also a mentor to hundreds of medical students and residents. Ripepi also donated his surgical skills, time, and gear to Pittsburgh Catholic Free Health Care Center.

He was a lifelong supporter/booster of Bethel Park football and wrestling.

The Bethel Park Alumni Hall of Fame was founded in 2013 to recognize and honor graduates who have personally or professionally demonstrated outstanding accomplishments. Honorees are selected because they have either significantly improved the lives of others, contributed significantly to volunteer or community service, or achieved substantial advancement in their professional field.

“We are always excited to welcome back our distinguished alumni and recognize them for all they have accomplished,” said Bethel Park High School principal Joseph Villani. “This group of inductees represent the best in character, charity, and accomplishments in both their personal and professional lives, and they embody our school motto, ‘Built on tradition, focused on the future.’”

The inductees were presented with a copy of their plaques that are on display in the lobby and a Great Alumni Hall of Fame medal and pin.

The district’s website provides more information on the Alumni Hall of Fame and how to nominate a candidate. Nominations are due by Jan. 10.

“THIS GROUP OF INDUCTEES REPRESENT THE BEST IN CHARACTER, CHARITY, AND ACCOMPLISHMENTS IN BOTH THEIR PERSONAL AND PROFESSIONAL LIVES...’” — JOSEPH VILLANI, PRINCIPAL OF BETHEL PARK HIGH SCHOOL

Also attending Farhy’s lecture were survivors of the Oct. 27, 2018, Tree of Life Synagogue shooting that claimed 11 lives. The survivors - Carol Black and Audrey Glickman, who were inside the synagogue during the shooting and lost loved ones, and Jodi Kart, whose father, Melvin, was killed – had spoken to Pankiewicz’s Holocaust class students last October.

Farhy recalled the wave of antisemitism that spread “like an epidemic” across Europe during the rise of Adolf Hitler, starting when he was about 10 years old.

“As a child I was walking from school and I was seeing antisemitic graffiti on the walls of the houses, and Hitler’s sign, the cross, next to a Jewish star that was crossed out. I felt very depressed during this time,” he said.

He recalled hearing noises one night outside the apartment he shared with his family – a five-story building in the capital of Bulgaria that was occupied on one side by the Gestapo and on the other side by the government-established ministry for the defense of the nation against Jews – looking out the window to see people marching through the streets shouting, “Death to the Jews.”

“It was the most afraid I had ever felt,” he said.

Under restrictions of the country’s Defense of the Nation Act, Jews were not allowed outside after 9 p.m., could not attend public school, visit parks, or own businesses. The front door of Jewish homes were required to bear a sign of the Star of David and include the names of all occupants so that when they were deported, everyone was accounted for.

Farhy’s father, a musician, told him that Bulgarians and Jews had lived in peace, without expressions of antisemitism, before Hitler’s ascent.

“He said, ‘You might think antisemitism has always been like that, but I never experienced it before like this. It is new to me, also,” said Farhy.

At the age of 13, Farhy and his family were forced into a ghetto, and were scheduled to be sent to a concentration camp before their deportation was stopped by brave Bularians in 1943.

Farhy lauded the courage of the Bulgarian people, who defied the Nazi-allied government’s plans to surrender its Jews to Germany, and explained how they worked to thwart plans to deport the Jews living inside its borders.

“Bulgarians and Jews had lived like brothers,” said Farhy. “The Bulgarians made petitions against the deportation of Jews to the concentration camps,” said Farhy, who noted March 10, 1943 –the day he and 30,000 Jews were scheduled to be taken to concentration camps – as a “second birthday.”

On that day, Bulgarians, including religious and political leaders, along with non-Jewish residents, held protests and demonstrations that are credited with saving the lives of Farhy and the other Jews set for deportation.

“It was March 10, 1943, when deportation to death camps was aborted,” he said.

Farhy also told students about a childhood friend who lived next door. When Bulgaria joined the Axis, Farhy was forced to wear the yellow star on his clothes signifying that he was Jewish. His friend wore the uniform of the fascist party, and the two stopped talking.

After the war, Farhy reconnected with his estranged

friend, who expressed remorse for what happened.

The two spoke on the phone often until his friend passed away.

Six million Jews were killed by the Nazis, who were in power between 1933 and 1945. The Nazis also killed Roma people and other minority groups and political enemies during the Holocaust.

Pankiewicz acknowledges that, as the years pass, fewer Holocaust survivors will be around to describe those events first-hand.

Her mission, she said, is to encourage young people to “stand united against hatred of any kind” during today’s “contentious and difficult times.”

“One aspect of (Farhy’s) story should inspire us to defend any and all sentient beings who are experiencing cruelty, oppression, discrimination, dehumanization and injustice, even if and especially if we are not part of a particular group that is being oppressed or discriminated against. We must stand united against hatred of any kind.”

Pankiewicz hoped that hearing Farhy’s story would “strengthen our commitment to reaffirm that every human being deserves to be treated

with dignity, civility and humanity.”

“Today marks the day that your moral obligation begins: to live with purpose, empathy, strength of conviction and courageous compassion to all that are vulnerable to hatred,” said Pankiewicz, a doctoral candidate in Holocaust and genocide studies at Gratz College.

And 80 years later, Farhy’s sadness persists, but he has found happiness and has chosen to share his story publicly to raise awareness of the horrors of hatred and help ensure it never happens again.

About 16% of Holocaust survivors are living in the United States. Farhy lived in New York before coming to Pittsburgh.

Farhy said he thinks it’s more important than ever to share those lessons from history in the face of rising authoritarianism across the globe.

“Fight many prejudices about how people look and their origin,” said Farhy. “Be active. When you see injustice, do something.”

Said Farhy, “Hate is detrimental. It is detrimental to the person who is hating and to the victims to whom the hate is oriented. It is like a virulent disease. It affects the person who hates, and it affects the victims.”

KAREN MANSFIELD/OBSERVER-REPORTER

Albert Farhy was a child living in Bulgaria when Adolf Hitler came to power. He spoke to Canon-McMillan High School students about his experience. Left is Canon-McMillan High School teacher Meg Pankiewicz, who teaches a Holocaust and genocide elective class at the high school.

COURTESY OF MEG PANKIEWICZ

Holocaust survivor Albert Farhy embraces Canon-McMillan High School student Hayden Steele following his discussion with C-M high school students.

By Jon Andreassi Staff writer jandreassi@observer-reporter.com

Members of Peters Township council voted Monday against a proposed housing development after the developer requested the vote be delayed.

At issue was an 87.3acre parcel of land at 231 Froebe Road, where Froebe Management had hoped to build 170 single-family homes.

In February council voted to remove the parcel, as well as 490 and 555 Sugar Camp Road, from the township’s conservation residential overlay district. The Sugar Camp Road properties were reverted to low density residential zoning. Since Froebe submitted its plans before the change, it was able to have those plans considered under the previous zoning rules. At the time, council tabled the matter.

At Monday’s meeting, Froebe requested the vote be further delayed to June 13. However, that date is 36 days past the township’s 90-day deadline to take action.

“The plans were also denied,” said Township Manager Paul Lauer. “They were not in compliance with the existing township ordinances.” Council also voted to remove two parcels of land along the 200 block of East McMurray Road from the mixed residential overlay district.

“What it does is remove the possibility of townhouses or multi-family homes, and returns it to low density,” Lauer said. PT council votes down

Upper St. Clair to host Remake Learning events

Upper St. Clair School District is hosting an evening filled with numerous events and hands-on activities in conjunction with Remake Learning Days. From 6 to 8 p.m. May 2, more than 15 different sessions – many of which focus on STEAM (science, technology, engineering, art and math) – will be available in which to participate at Upper St. Clair High School.

The Remake Learning Day event is led by teacher Tracy Smith and sophomore Sofia Alfredson-Themudo, who is working toward an International Baccalaureate (IB) Middle Years Program (MYP) certificate.

“Sofia suggested getting involved with planning this event for her IB Project,” Smith said. “She spoke to the high school teachers during a faculty meeting and reached out to several STEAM-related club leaders at the school asking if they were interested in getting involved. In all, there are over 40 individuals working together to coordinate our evening of events.”

Smith is excited by the diversity of the activities offered.

“There is something for everyone. Events cover cooking, singing, acting, public speaking, art, technology, robotics, gaming, pottery, crocheting, fashion design, laboratory research and more,” she said.

Smith added that there will also be an IB MYP certificate ceremony as well as displays from over 200 MYP projects that were completed by our high school sophomores.

Some events have limited enrollment and others are drop-in at the convenience of

the attendees. Most sessions are open to all ages.

Remake Learning Days is designed for kids of all ages at libraries, schools, technology centers, museums, play spaces, community centers and more. This year’s festival runs from May 2-22.

“Though these events are being held at Upper St Clair High School, they are made available to anyone is Southwestern PA through the Remake Learning Day

Event website,” Smith said. “I strongly encourage the community to not only come out to see the cool things happening in Upper St Clair, but also check out some of the other Remake Learning Day events throughout the month of May in Southwestern PA. You won’t be disappointed.” Visit https://remakelearningdays.org/southwesternpa to learn more about all the activities throughout the region.

Donegal syrup operators are back in the flow

By Rick Shrum

Bob Panichi is back on his feet, and so is Rustic Rock Maple Farm.

Panichi owns the Donegal Township farm, a 108acre expanse northwest of Claysville with innumerable hills and maple trees. This is where he and his wife, Debby, launched their maple syrup operation in 2019, an endeavor that has been equal parts hobby and business.

Then about a year ago, the hobby and business took a hiatus – a painful hiatus, especially for Bob.

While navigating the woods early in the season, flushing tree lines, he twisted an ankle and ended up with multiple leg injuries – including compound fractures of the tibia and fibula and a shattered ankle bottom.

Recovery limited his ability to work and forced Bob and Debby, farmers market staples, to miss the majority of the May to October sales season. He eventually healed, and the couple did return for some late-year festivals.

Now he is back canvassing those hills, tapping trees, painstakingly producing syrup, eagerly anticipating farmers markets and marketing their syrup, maple sugar and

other products with store and coffee shop owners.

“It was quite the ordeal operationally, but I’m back out. My leg feels good,” said Bob

Panichi, a tall, angular man in his mid-60s.

He and Debby, his Bethel Park High School sweetheart, have lived on the farm since the early 1980s. They used to raise sheep and goats there while maintaining full-time professional jobs. They now devote 45 acres to their hobby/business.

Rustic Rock is a single-source, small-batch maple syrup business that is certified organic, 100% natural and unrefined. The organic label means no chemicals are used in or near his woodlot or during processing.

The couple gets help, but essentially, this is a two-person operation – a Panichi operation.

“Debby goes into the woods with me when I’m checking taps,” he said. “She

does all of the evaporating and all of the bottling. Debby almost always runs the evaporator by herself. She is really good.”

The Panichis are about halfway through the maple syrup production season. Typically, Bob and a forester kick off the process in late January by placing taps in trees, generally a four-day process.

Bob said he wanted to ramp up the operation this year and hired “a few foresters with maple backgrounds. They’re young and they march through the woods rapidly. We started Jan. 20 and we were done tapping in two or three days.”

The work is time consuming. “For one-and-a-half or two months, it’s 24/7 when we’re in season,” Bob said. “You don’t sleep, especially when you’re in a freeze-thaw cycle and the trees are running.”

There also is a formidable amount of waste. Bob said that depending on weather, they collect 30,000 to 60,000 gallons of sap and end up

with 500 to 900 gallons of maple syrup.

Embarking on this process in January is a key, however. Mid-winter temperatures can fluctuate, dropping below and rising above freezing on the same day. That enhances the flow of sap, which eventually is converted into syrup.

“For each freeze-and-thaw cycle in a season, we make about one barrel per run,” Bob said. “And it’s always interesting to see what Mother Nature gives you that day with the flavor of syrup. It can have a unique quality like a buttery base.” Or other flavors on other days.

Consumers notice. Bob Panichi said a number of them have asked why Rustic Rock syrup tastes different from store brands. He says: “When you buy my product, you buy maple syrup from one run in a freeze-thaw cycle. Syrup from a store comes from one particular market.”

The couple sells their items at various locations, including Trax Farms, Simmons Farm, and Bedner’s Farm Market. During the

warm-weather months, they also set up shop at the popular Main Street Farmers Market in Washington and the Original Farmers Market in Cecil Township. The Panichis are proud of their enterprise. They conduct free, 2½-hour tours of their operation, including the pump house, sugar house, filtering and bottling. Guests can walk through the woods and taste the varieties of syrup that are made, including cinnamon and vanilla. To schedule a tour, email rusticrockmaple@gmail.com. Bob and Debby don’t expect to become wealthy from this post-retirement pursuit, but they are having a sweet time.

“You can make a profit margin in maple, but you just can’t make a living profit margin,” Bob said. “We’re running only a couple of thousand taps. This keeps me on the farm, keeps me active.

“We got off to a good start this year. We had a lot of water to work with. So far, it’s working out to be an average year – not super robust, but not a bust.”

PHOTOS: RICK SHRUM/FOR THE OBSERVER-REPORTER

Bob and Debby Panichi, outside the Sugar House on their Donegal Township farm, in a photo from 2022

Depending on weather, Bob Panichi and his wife, Debby, collect 30,000 to 60,000 gallons of sap that ultimately boil down to 500 to 900 gallons of maple syrup.

Meadowcroft opens May 4

Meadowcroft Rockshelter and Historic Village, part of the Senator John Heinz History Center family of museums, will open for the 2024 season on May 4. Meadowcroft is a National Historic Landmark in Avella, Washington County. Visitors of all ages can explore the Rockshelter, an archaeological wonder where the region’s earliest inhabitants dwelled more than 19,000 years ago.

The popular one-day getaway in the tri-state region takes visitors on a historic journey through three re-created villages: a 16th-century Monongahela Indian Village, where visitors can step inside a wigwam, test their skills with the atlatl (a prehistoric spear-thrower), and learn about American Indian agriculture; an 18th-century Frontier Trading Post that examines 1770s-era buildings and demonstrates how American Indians and European settlers learned from each other; a 19th-century Meadowcroft Village that features a one-room schoolhouse and a blacksmith forging red-hot iron.

Meadowcroft is open on weekends, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., through Memorial Day. From Memorial Day through Labor Day, the site is open Wednesday through Sunday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Following Labor Day, the site is open on weekends until Oct. 29. Admission is $15 for adults, $14 for senior citizens (65+), and $7 for children ages 6-17. Children under 6 and History Center members get in free

Special events will be held throughout the season. The schedule Includes:

■ Meadowcroft Atlatl Competition, June 15;

■ Insider Tours of the Rockshelter: Dr. James Adovasio leads exclusive tours on Saturdays, June 22, July 20, Aug. 10, and Sept. 14, at 10 a.m. Tickets are $15 for members and $30 for non-members. Online reservations are required.

■ Independence Day Celebration, July 4: Celebrate the spirit of America with historical demonstrations and period games.

■ Vintage Base Ball Day, Aug. 17: Watch the game in 19th century style as the Somerset Frosty Sons of Thunder, Addison Mountain Stars, and Canal Fulton Mules of Ohio battle using the 1860s rules.

■ Washington & Greene Counties Covered Bridge Festival, Sept 21-22: Visit Meadowcroft’s 1871 Pine Bank Covered Bridge during this annual celebration.

■ American Indian Heritage Weekend, Sept. 28-29: Learn about the American Indian cultures who once dwelled in the region and speak with visiting members of tribes native to western Pennsylvania.

■ Walk in Penn’s Woods!, Oct. 5: In cooperation with the Pennsylvania Forestry Association, Penn State, Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources and others, Meadowcroft will serve as a host venue for the day of educational woodland walks to highlight the state’s forest and wildlife resources from prehistoric to modern day.

■ Archaeology Day, Oct. 19: As part of Pennsylvania Archaeology Month, archaeologists from the Society of Pennsylvania Archaeology will present lectures and identify artifacts, accompanied by demonstrations of prehistoric technology.

■ Meadowcroft’s Taffy Pull & Fall Celebration, Oct. 26: Learn about the historic confection while making taffy to take home. Limited space is available, and an additional program fee applies. Advanced reservations are recommended.

Visit heinzhistorycenter.org/ events or call 724-587-3412 for more details.

New superintendent of Catholic schools named

Lauren Martin has been appointed the new superintendent of Catholic schools for the Diocese of Pittsburgh, effective July 1. Martin replaces Michelle Peduto, who announced her retirement in January after five years as superintendent and 21 years of service in Catholic education.

Martin currently serves as principal of Seton LaSalle Catholic High School in Mount Lebanon. Among her achievements at Seton LaSalle was the development and implementation of the honors program to challenge eighth-grade Catholic school students.

She holds a master’s degree in education administration and leadership from Georgian Court University in Lakewood, N.J. Prior to becoming princi-

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LAUREN MARTIN REPLACES MICHELLE PEDUTO, WHO ANNOUNCED HER RETIREMENT IN JANUARY AFTER FIVE YEARS AS SUPERINTENDENT AND 21 YEARS OF SERVICE IN CATHOLIC EDUCATION.

pal at Seton-LaSalle, Martin served as assistant principal, academic affairs, at St. John Vianney High School in Holmdel, N.J, and taught English for three years at schools in West Virginia.

The Diocese of Pittsburgh has 10 high schools and 35 elementary schools.

“I am humbled to step into the role of superintendent for the Diocese of Pittsburgh and

serve the people in our Catholic schools,” Martin said. “I love Catholic education. My children attend Catholic grade school, and I have profound appreciation for Catholic grade school administrators, faculty and staff. Having the opportunity to be involved in and support their ministry and the foundation of formation of our youth in the church is very exciting to me.”

SUBMITTED PHOTO

Meadowcroft Rockshelter and Historic Village opens May 4 for the season. The historic landmark is located in Avella.

Bethel Park is in its first year of competing in girls

Stadium. The Steelers mascot and players will

sport in the PIAA as well as eventually in the

Flag football flourishing at Bethel Park Excitement growing

By Eleanor Bailey The Almanac Sports Editor

ebailey@thealmanac.net

Vinny Ziccardi has coached under Nick Saban at Alabama and Mack Brown at Texas but the former skipper at Coral Springs High School hasn’t had a better assignment than his most recent gig at Bethel Park High School. The Florida native is the head coach of the Lady Hawks’ flag football team.

While this is the inaugural season for the Lady Hawks, flag football is in its infancy in Western Pennsylvania. There are as many as 103 schools statewide that sponsor clubs so the PIAA may be looking to move forward with female flag football as the next emerging sport after having sanctioned girls wrestling the year prior.

“Excitement is growing for the sport,” said Ziccardi. “We’re giving more girls an outlet to play a sport and (at Bethel Park) we’re building a culture from the ground floor.”

While not yet a sanctioned WPIAL sport, girls flag football is an NFL-sponsored scholastic activity. The Pittsburgh Steelers and Philadelphia Eagles have supplied the teams in the western and eastern portions of the state with uniforms. They have paid for travel expenses and coaches’ stipends as well as supplied the equipment, including flags and footballs.

“The school teams have not had to pay a single dime,” Ziccardi said. “The (Steelers) want this game to grow.”

Flag football has grown in other regions of the country. Colleges like the University of Florida, NAIA schools, and even St. Vincent in Latrobe, offer scholarships. Plus, the sport will be introduced for the first time during the 2028 Summer Olympics. Two events, one for men and one for women, will be held during the Games held in Los Angeles.

“Momentum is building. Excitement is through the roof,” Ziccardi said.

Bethel Park is thrilled to be hosting a showcase May 5. All eight teams in the South Division, including neighboring rivals such as Upper St. Clair, Mt. Lebanon and South Fayette, will participate. Games will be played at 1 and 3 p.m.

Several Steelers and the mascot, Steely McBeam, will make guest appearances during the event.

Additionally, the league will conduct championships on May 19 at Carnegie Mellon University. The top three teams in each division (North, South, East, West and Central) qualify for the tournament.

At 2-2 overall and with six games to play on their 10-match schedule, the Lady Hawks are in contention for a playoff spot.

“It’s been a tremendous experience so far,” Ziccardi said. “It’s been a fun environment. We’re teaching the basics and each week we are getting better and more knowledgeable.

“For a while there it felt like everything was rushed because we were playing catchup,” he continued. “You might know football but you don’t know it until you play it. As we have developed, you can see the growth and the confidence in the girls. It’s been awesome.”

Ziccardi is pleased not only with the Lady Hawks’ display of talent but with their flexibility as well. This spring, there have been many rule changes and adaptations to the game.

Last year, action was 5-on5. This year, it’s 7-on-7.

The field’s dimensions are now 35 yards wide instead of 30. The length is 56 yards.

Games consist of two, 20-minute halves. Halftime lasts 5 to 7 minutes. Unless there is overtime, which is sudden-death, games conclude within an hour.

There is no kicking and no field goals. Teams score from running on offense, from an interception on defense or by passing.

“There is a no-run zone,” Ziccardi explained.

“They want you to throw the ball,” he added. “So you have to understand the rules and knowledge to use the rules to your advantage.”

PT linebacker commits to Stanford

Peters Township linebacker Mickey Vaccarello made a verbal commitment to Stanford University.

The 6-foot-3, 210-pound all-state performer picked the Cardinal over a number of other colleges. In addition to being offered spots by Ivy League and Patriot League schools, Vaccarello received scholarship bids from Syracuse, Wisconsin, Michigan, Utah, Boston College, Maryland, Akron, Marshall, Toledo, Duquesne and Miami of Ohio. He also visited Notre Dame.

Stanford offered a great education opportunity for Vaccarello, who maintains a 4.83 GPA in the classroom, as well as a competitive atmosphere for the junior, who helped lead the Indians to their first-ever WPIAL championship last fall.

Peters Township finished 15-1 overall and appeared in the Class 5A state championship game, finishing runner-up in the PIAA. Stanford, which finished 3-9 last season in the PAC 12, will compete in the ACC this fall.

Mickey Vaccarello, who is shown here breaking away for a touchdown after making a reception, recently made a verbal commitment to Stanford University. The Peters Township junior is classified as a three-star linebacker by Rivals.

Vaccarello finished the 2023 season with 111 total tackles, 29 tackles for loss and 13 sacks. He also played H-back on offense for the Indians.

A three-star linebacker, according to Rivals, Vaccarello gained all-conference as well as all-Almanac acclaim. The son of Eric and Lynn Vaccarello is also a standout on the basketball court. He helped the Indians qualify for the playoffs the past two

winters. In 2023, the Indians experienced one of their best seasons, reaching the WPIAL Class 5A finals and the quarterfinals in the PIAA state playoffs.

Because most teams entering the league, like Bethel Park, only learned they would be fielding squads this spring, they were at a disadvantage in scheduling practice time. There is limited access to the stadium because of track meets, lacrosse matches and other spring activities. As a result, the Lady Hawks may practice two days a week to prepare for their matches, which are played on Sundays because there is no conflict with other sports.

“We are not a WPIAL sport so we do not have priority,” Ziccardi said. “We understand where we are and for the most part everyone has been accommodating.”

The Lady Hawks have been welcoming. The team consists of players that have never competed in sports before as well as with seasoned veterans, some of whom are going on to com-

pete in college in their designated athletic endeavor.

“We are giving girls another outlet and providing a fun environment in which to compete,” Ziccardi said. Ziccardi sees flag football enhancing, rather than detracting, from other sports, particularly the spring activities like track. He noted how expensive AAU volleyball and basketball have become, particularly with travel expenses, and proposes flag football as a bridge.

“Unless you are that one percent that’s going on to play at a higher level, flag football can be a way to stay in shape and still train and not lose anything. It can help other sports if coaches work together and can be flexible. There are plenty of examples of football players going out for track with their buddies.

There are 11 seniors helping to pave a path for flag football to become an official WPIAL sport at Bethel Park High School. Pictured from left are: Etta Jackson, Lily Sierka, Alex Francus, Emerson Crawford, Brooklyn Jones, Essa George, Grace Lindblom, Sam Kern, Katie Clouston, Faith Clunan and Brooke Kessler.

The USC doubles team of Ari Plutko and Ronan Gibbons received a send off from athletic director Dan Holzer as they prepared to compete in

ELEANOR BAILEY/THE ALMANAC

sights & sounds

‘A Woman’s Place’

Exhibit examines history of women in Pittsburgh

By Brad Hundt Staff writer bhundt@observer-reporter.com

PITTSBURGH – An argument can be made that Pittsburgh’s image has been built on a foundation of masculine pursuits and preoccupations.

Think manufacturing and steel, football and hunting, and tossing back some I.C. Light in a neighborhood bar.

The Pittsburgh region is much more rich and varied than brawn and brewskis, a fact that has become more and more apparent in recent years as its population and industries have become more diverse and varied. But its long history outside the mill and the gridiron comes to the fore in the exhibit “A Woman’s Place: How Women Shaped Pittsburgh” at the Senator John Heinz History Center.

The 9,000-square-foot exhibit is packed with artifacts, photographs, clothing and other items that illustrate how women in Western Pennsylvania have changed the region and the world. Some of the highlights include a tiny handbag that was carried around the world in 1889 by Pittsburgh Dispatch columnist Nellie Bly, original sketches by Monessen native Peggy Owens Skillen for “Sesame Street,” and protest banners and buttons that were produced during the struggle for women’s suffrage.

Andy Masich, the president and CEO of the Heinz History Center, pointed out that the stories of women and other groups have been left untold by historians, “but we hope to flip the script with this exhibit.”

He continued that women have been “entrepreneurs, activists, athletes, artists, changemakers and pathbreakers, and all those stories are here.”

“A Woman’s Place” looks at the infinite number of roles that women have had and the accomplishments they have attained, and it starts with a timeline of key events in women’s history both nationally and regionally, from the struggle to get the vote to the civil rights movement and beyond. It also highlights how the expected roles of women have changed, and that extends into such areas as media, sports and politics. Some of the women whose stories are

told in the exhibit include Sophie Masloff, the first female mayor of Pittsburgh; Anne Feeney, the Charleroi-born folk singer and activist; Lois Weber, a Pittsburgh-born film director in the silent era; and Sarah B. Cochran, the Fayette County “coal and coke queen,” who ran a sprawling company with holdings in many states and was an avid supporter of higher education.

The image of Rosie the Riveter, the enduring World War II-era image of a factory woman flexing the muscle on her right arm, was created by illustrator J. Howard Miller when he was working for Westinghouse Electric in Pittsburgh.

The History Center’s mannequin of Rosie the Riveter is on display in “A Woman’s Place,” and the exhibit explores how women kept Pittsburgh factories humming during the second world war, and in other conflicts, too.

Leslie Przybylek, the senior curator at the History Center, explained, “There is always a lot of tragedy and sacrifice to war, but it has also been a

what’s happening

CRAFT SHOW

The Pittsburgh South Hills Elks Lodge 2213 will hold an arts and craft/vendor show from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. May 5 at 2789 South Park Road in Bethel Park. The event will be held regardless of weather. In addition to crafts and vendors, there will be an auction, 50/50 raffle and a food truck.

PT REC

The Peters Township recreation department is offering the following events. Call 724-942-5000 or visit peterstownship.com to sign up.

■ Craft event for ages 1317 from 6 to 7:30 p.m. May

8. Participants will create and decorate a floral vase for the mother figure in their life. Fee is $5 ($8 nonmembers).

■ Hoop Stars offered Wednesdays beginning May 15. Ages 3 to 6 meet from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. Ages 7 to 9 meet from 6:45 to 7:45 p.m. Fee is $100 ($150 nonmembers).

Coaches from Jump Start Sports offer innovative and fun curriculum to teach the basics of the game.

■ Dance It Out offered Mondays from 6:45 to 7:45 p.m. and Thursdays from 9 to 10 a.m. from May through June. Fee is $50 ($75 nonmembers). The total body cardio dance workout features hip hop, country, disco and Latin steps, among others.

■ Zumba from 7:15 to 8:15 p.m. Tuesdays, 9:15 to 10:15 a.m. Wednesdays or 9:15 to 10:15 a.m. Fridays. Fee is $50 ($75 nonmembers). In addition, there is a 90-minute session offered from 9:15 to 10:45 a.m. Fridays.

■ Senior luncheon from noon to 2 p.m. May 8 at Shelter 4 in Peterswood Park. The Dempsey Town Ramblers entertain with country and bluegrass selections. Seniors should bring a covered dish to share. Space is limited. RSVP required.

COIN CLUB

The South Hills Coin Club will meet at 7:30 p.m. May 14, at the Bethel Park Municipal Building located at 5100 West Library Ave. All members and the general public can attend the program, which will

chance for women to show skills and do things.”

Several special programs are planned throughout the run of “A Woman’s Place.” On Sunday, May 5, author and journalist Brooke Kroeger will be at the History Center to discuss her book, “Undaunted: How Women Changed American Journalism.” A panel discussion with local journalists and members of the Women’s Press Club will look at how women’s roles in the media have changed.

Then, on Thursday, May 23, leaders in the Pittsburgh legal community will reflect on the career of Rochelle S. Friedman, a former judge on Pennsylvania Commonwealth Court. On Sunday, June 30, the History Center will host a panel discussion on the art of uncovering the stories of overlooked women in history with authors Kimberly Hess and Eliza Smith Brown.

Additional programs are planned. “A Woman’s Place” will be at the History Center through Sunday, Oct. 6. For additional information, go online to heinzhistorycenter.org.

discuss early American half dollars, quarters and dimes.

A 50/50 will be held and children’s prizes awarded. Applications are now being accepted for membership. Call 724-984-6611 for more details.

PT NIGHT

The Peters Township Chamber of Commerce’s community day event will be held May 4 at the Pittsburgh Riverhounds soccer match at Highmark Stadium at 510 W. Station Square Dr. Both members and non-members can register to attend. Cost is $22 per person; children under 2 are free. The first 10 registrations will get free parking, which normally costs $17 per vehicle. At 6 p.m. kids will be able to warm up with the players. Register by April 30 at peterstownshipchamber.com.

WOODVILLE

Woodville will hold a teacher appreciation day from 1 to 4 p.m. May 5. Teachers are admitted for free and receive a Woodville booklet. Call 412-221-0348 or visit woodville-experience. org for more details.

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.

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 Greentree Road.

Led by Pastor Karen Claassen, the service will include prayer, music, poetry, and Scripture readings. Pets will be memorialized in a candle-lighting ceremony and video tribute. A reception and light lunch follows. Guests receive a commemorative token in memory of their pets. Registration deadline is May 1. Email

May 4 and 5.

ckozlowski@unitypresbyterianchurch.org for further details.

PLANT SALE

The Treehaven Garden Club in Bethel Park will hold its annual Mother’s Day plant sale from 8 a.m. to noon May 11 at the South Park Shops, 5209 Library Road. The sale occurs on the sidewalk in front of the now-vacant Rite Aid store. Available for purchase will be homegrown potted perennials, specialty gift baskets, herbs and a large selection of hanging baskets provided by Lenik Greenhouse. For more details on the sale or the group, visit the club’s Facebook page @Treehaven Garden Club.

SHWC

The South Hills Women’s Club will celebrate its 80th birthday on May 15 at the Crowne Plaza Hotel, 164 Fort Couch Road, Pittsburgh South. Social time begins at 6 p.m. and dinner follows at 6:30 p.m. Tickets are $45. Make checks payable to the South Hills Women’s Club. Deadline is May 8. To RSVP or more details, call 412-221-2713.

Trolley Museum to host vintage communications weekend

The Pennsylvania Trolley Museum will be hosting its first-ever vintage communications weekend.

On May 4 and 5, visitors will have the opportunity to immerse themselves in the rich history of communications technology. The weekend will showcase how communication has evolved, with antique telephones, telegraphs, typewriters, phonographs, radios, printing presses and other devices that have shaped how we connect with one another. From Morse code to rotary dial telephones, those attending will have the chance to explore the technological advancements that have transformed the world.

Long-distance amateur radio operators can take part in the event by working the weekend’s special event station. Visitors will have the opportunity to try their hand at sending Morse code messages, listening to radio broadcasts from antique radios, and even making a souvenir on a printing press.

Also featured on May 4 is a STEAM Station event, part of Remake Learning Days. This first-of-its-kind event is geared toward students and their families. It is a family-friendly event designed to engage students in all five areas of STEAM – science, technology, engineering, art and math. Each station will focus on these specific content areas and will have various handson interactive challenges, demonstrations and experiments.

Tickets for both events can be purchased at the door on the day of the event.

For additional information, call 724-228-9256 or go online to www.patrolley.org.

Peters Township offers movies in the park

Peters Township will again offer movies in the park this summer. The Peterswood Park Amphitheater will show eight major films on Fridays beginning May 17 with “Guardians of the Galaxy” and concluding with “Ghostbusters” on Oct. 11. In between, “Goonies” will air May 31 followed by “Hotel Transylvania” on June 14, “Barbie” on July 19, “Trolls” on Aug. 9, “Super Mario” on Sept. 6 and “Haunted Mansion” on Oct. 11. Movies begin at dusk. Viewers can bring chairs or blankets. Events are subject to change. Alcohol is permitted May 31, July 19 and Oct. 11 only. For more details, call 724942-5000.

COURTESY OF PA. TROLLEY MUSEUM Vintage communication will be celebrated at the Pennsylvania Trolley Museum

COURTESY OF THE SENATOR JOHN HEINZ HISTORY CENTER

This 1983 photo shows members of the YWCA of Greater Pittsburgh in Washington, D.C., for the 20th anniversary of the March on Washington.

BRAD HUNDT/OBSERVER-REPORTER

A gown that was worn by Marilyn McCabe Honeywill when she was a singer in the 1950s. She later founded the magazine Pittsburgh Parent.

SATURDAY,MAY4th,8am-4pm

SUNDAY,MAY5th,9am-3pm

markers. $5,000. 724-809-3350 or 724-267-2849 Cemetery Mausoleum Crypt (2) Greene County Memorial Park, with Bronze Memorial, Entombment open and close included $7,000 for both or best offer 412-370-0202

CEMETERY PLOT Forest Lawn Gardens, McMurray, Garden of Devotion location. Companion crypt/2. $5,000. 724-825-7837 or 724-249-2129

CEMETERY PLOTS (4 plots) Jefferson Memorial Cemetery, located in “Garden of the Virtues”, will subdivide. $2,000 412-221-0956

FOREST LAWN GARDENS

One double depth companion crypt in Garden of Devotion. Two vaults, two interment fees, with granite headstone. $5,400 (includes transfer fee). 724-825-5139

TWO MAUSOLEUM CRYPTS St. Agatha’s Cemetery, Section 300B, Row: End, Level Prayer 1. $8,500 for both, includes opening and closing, transfer fees and crypt plates. Call 724-992-2494

WASHINGTON CEMETERY

Three plots, Section 12. Flat Grass Markers Only. $2,200 each obo. Call for information, 727-831-9920

Garage Sales

BETHEL PARK GARAGE SALE FIRST BETHEL UMC 5901 Library Road Saturday, May 11, 8 am-2 pm Sponsored by the Men’s Group of First Bethel UMC HUGE ANNUAL SALE featuring housewares, hand tools, gas/ electric/battery-operated garden tools, electronics,furniture, outdoor furniture, vegetable plants and flowers, fabrics (yard goods and quilt cuts), sports equipment, toys, games, puzzles, books and much more. All proceeds benefit the many ministries of First UMC. www.firstbethelumc.org 412-835-0700

BETHEL PARK Neighborhood Garage Sale Sat., May 4, 8 am-1 pm Casswell Drive (off Oregon Trail) Quilts, scrapbooking supplies, snare drum, tupperware, kitchen and household items, books, and much more

Dogs

POMSKY PUPS Two adorable blue-eyed pups still need their forever homes. Vet

ContentsInclude: BlackLacquerCurios,LeatherChairs& Ottoman,WhiteLeatherSofa,Bench,FloorLamps,Pottery, KnickKnacks,Figurines,Lladro,DavidWinter,Glassware, PedestalChampagneBucket,Pictures,Artwork,LogHolder, Compote&Mirror,LacquerDiningTablewith8Chairs,China Cabinet,Buffet,DecorativeChairs,RestorationHardware Desk,GamingChair,OfficeSupplies,FileCabinet,Office Chairs,Crate&BarrelQueenBed,ChestofDrawers, LingerieChest,NightStand,RoundTable,AreaRugs,Queen Bedding,Books,SwarovskiMonopoly,Games,Toys,ToyStory,Baseball&PokemonCards,Children’sStepStools,Crafts, Table,Chest,Bookcase,Barware,Kitchen,Stemware, Dishware,Cookware,Bakeware,AllClad,Stainless,Cookbooks,BlackLeatherStools,WroughtIronTablewithGlass Top,MosaicTable,GreySectionalSofa,TVConsole,End Table,MirroredWallArt,WhiteHutch,WhiteChevalMirror, PotteryBarnKidsVanity,PotteryBarnBabyDollItems,PotteryBarnBookholder,EthanAllenKingBed&2NightStands, Dresser,TV,PelotonBike,Bench,DayBed,Bench, Women’s,Men’sChildren’sClothing,Boots,Purses,Jewelry, Mirror,Linens,MeileVacuum,PartySupplies,PatioFurniture, FoldingTable,AntiqueDoors,LightFixtures,WorkStation, CarSeats,StepStools,HandTools,LawnTools,Fishing Poles,GardeningPots,Bins,andSOMUCHMORE!!DON’T MISSIT!! Directions: Route19toPleasantview,RightonNorthHeide Laneto116NorthHeide.

COFFEE TABLE/END TABLES Matching. Oak. $250. 724-206-8438

pockets for accessories. $25. 724-986-3548 CAR MATS - One pair of original equipment front end Toyota Venza mats. $40. 724-916-4928

CHAIR/OTTOMAN La-Z-Boy chair, pillow, ottoman.

COMPUTER KEYBOARD/MOUSE Desktop S520, cordless, LX5 laser mouse, Logitech. $18.724-809-5746

CURIO CABINET - Wood, glass, lighted, 72x18x13. Excellent condition. $200. 724-942-4527 Door Interior pre-hung 32”, with hardware $50.00 412-709-0815 DRILL MASTER 3/8 drill with battery $20 724-942-4389

DUTCH OVEN - Griswold No. 9 Titetop. Cast Iron $115 724-583-2713

ELECTRICWHEELCHAIR -Jazzy, includescharger.Needsnew batteries. Originally$3,200.Used. Sellfor$700.412-310-0210

ENTERTAINMENT

FederalFairHousingAct,whichmakesitillegaltoadvertise“any preference,limitationordiscrimi-nationbasedonrace,color,religion, sex,handicap,familialstatusornationalorigin,oranintentiontomake anysuchpreference,limitationordiscrimination.” Statelawsforbiddiscriminationinthesale,rental,oradvertisingofreal estatebasedonfactorsinadditiontothoseprotectedunderfederallaw. Wewillnotknowinglyacceptanyadvertisingforrealestatewhichisin violationofthelaw.Allpersonsareherebyinformedthatalldwellings advertisedareavailableonanequalopportunitybasis.

Expanding Folders 200 10 for $10 724-513-9390

FIREPLACE TOOLS SET Brass, five pieces, ornate, old. $25. Call 724-263-3903

724-466-0376

BOARD (Antique)

$100. 724-942-4527 Jeep Battery toy Large size $100 724-693-9844

LADDER - Little Giant, with telescoping scaffold and work platform. $225 or best offer. 724-338-2279 Ladies golf bag and clubs $125 724-513-9390

$30 724-945-5282 MIRROR - Antique, with beveled glass and gold leaf frame, 28”x30”. $50. 412-563-3132 MOBILITY SCOOTER - Drive, 4-wheel. New battery. Needs serviced. Good condition. $10. 724-984-2105 Monta Mower - Antique, all metal. $60.00 724-583-2713

OSCILLATING FAN - Antique, GE 16-inch, 3-speed. Knob missing. Runs great. $100. 412-221-3945

PHONE CASE - iPhone X Otterbox case. New, never used. $10. Call or text 724-986-3548

PLANTERS - (2) Concrete 18”x18” very good condition. $50 each 724-942-4389

Plumbing tools - Apollo 5 valve backflow test gauge or Hot Shot 320 thaw machine with extra cables $500 each 412-951-5734

PLYWOOD (4) - 4x8, 1/2” thick plywood (pressed wood). $12 each. 724-693-9844

PORCELAIN DOLLS - Approx. 35 boxes. Excellent condition. All for $300. Call/text 724-914-7583

PRESSURE WASHER - Electric, CamSpray, 120v, 1,000psi, 1.5hp. $45. Call or text 724-986-3548 RADIO Vintage, Realistic Patrolman. $15. 724-942-4527

REAR BAG KIT #59304 NEWTORO 22” Recycler RWD - $50 724-745-1751

RECORD COLLECTION - 200 vinyl LPs, 60s-70s rock/pop, jazz, comedy. Call for list. $300. 724-809-5746

REMOTE CONTROL TRUCKS (2) 1 Duratrax Warhead EVO Nitro and 1 Traxxas Revo Nitro, plus lots of parts. $600 for both. 412-849-6903.

RESTAURANT TABLES (2) Heavy, with chairs. $60 each. 724-809-3998

ROCKER RECLINER CHAIR Upholstered. Very comfortable. $50. 724-942-4527

ROPE - Nylon, 1/4 inch x 600 feet. spool. $40. Call 724-263-3903 RUN TILL