the almanac A P R I L 13, 2025
SOUTH HILLS COMMUNITY NEWS
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Elan Green interviews Rocky Bleier as an assignment for his school newspaper during a fundraising event for the South Hills Memorial Day Parade.
Green interviews parade grand marshal Bleier By Eleanor Bailey Almanac Sports Editor ebailey@thealmanac.net
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Rocky Bleier signs one of the jerseys he wore while playing football for the Pittsburgh Steelers as police Officers Chris Stone and Kevin Bratkowski as well as Rep. Dan Miller look on. Bleier’s jersey was being donated for a raffle to offset the costs of putting on the parade.
Funds sought to preserve South Hills Memorial Day parade By Eleanor Bailey Almanac Sports Editor ebailey@thealmanac.net
The news disturbed Rocky Bleier. When he learned that the South Hills Memorial Day Parade’s survival was on the line, the former Pittsburgh Steeler and U.S. Army veteran jumped into action. Bleier not only said yes to a suggestion by state Rep. Dan Miller and state Sen. Wayne Fontanna to become the event’s first-ever grand marshal, he also has donated memorabilia to help with fundraising efforts to help defray parade costs. “When I heard the story that if nobody takes an interest, this parade is going down the drain, I couldn’t let that happen,” Bleier said at a fundraising event April 3 at the Historical Society of Mount Lebanon. “The Memorial Day parade is important to me. It’s always been a big Rocky Bleier shakes hands with World War II veteran Joe Kallist from part of my life. The bands. The solBethel Park during a fundraising event for the South Hills Memorial Day diers,” he added. Parade. Both will be featured in the annual parade that snakes through the SEE PARADE PAGE A4 neighborhoods of Brookline, Dormont and Mt. Lebanon.
Elan Green, like any good reporter, used his connections to get the biggest interview of his budding journalism career. During the South Hills Memorial Day Parade fundraising kickoff event April 3 at the Mt. Lebanon Historical Society, Green used his cellphone to converse with former Pittsburgh Steeler Rocky Bleier, who will serve as the first grand marshal for the parade to be held May 26. “My mother had already gotten tickets for this so I thought why not do it,” said Green. Green, 11, is compiling an article for the Jefferson Elementary School newspaper, which is in its inaugural year. “We make up our own assignments,” Green explained. “The other topics I was doing were sports but Rocky was my first interview. Since this will be our last issue (of the year), I knew I’d have to go big.” Bleier is big news and not just in Mt. Lebanon, where he has resided for over 30 years. He helped the Steelers win four Super Bowl championships, finishing his career with 3,865 rushing yards, 1,294 receiving yards and 25 touchdowns. “It was so cool just to meet a legend,” Green said. “Rocky
was super nice. “He actually at one point let me put on his Super Bowl ring for a minute. That was on my bucket list to do.” Because he had done his homework, Green was also familiar with Bleier’s military career. While serving in the United States Army, he was severely wounded during the Vietnam War. He earned a Bronze Star and a Purple Heart and was told he’d never play football again. “I knew Rocky was a veteran because I read his book and knew all about his injuries,” Green said. “It’s awesome he had the courage to come back and do what he did. It must have been so hard to do something like that.” As a Little League baseball player, Green sometimes finds it difficult to attend the South Hills Memorial Day Parade. “We try to make it every year, but sometimes baseball and everything conflicts. Every year we can, we try.” Memorial Day is special to Green. He noted that during his games that day, they take “an extra minute or two” to acknowledge anyone in the crowd that is a veteran. “We have them come out (of the stands) and we salute them,” he said. “I actually love Memorial Day. It’s not just another day to play baseball. It’s a day to remember veterans like Rocky.”
Tartan Day brings Highlands home By Eleanor Bailey Almanac Sports Editor ebailey@thealmanac.net
Pittsburgh Tartan Day 2025 was a perfect 10. Even the weather cooperated. “We’re sort of far away from Scotland, but it feels like we’re in the midst of it,” said Sarah Bradford. “The weather certainly is just perfect.” Pam Maniet agreed. “It’s kind of like being in Scotland because it’s raining like it does there. The rain makes it like Scotland.” The sprinkles did nothing to dampen the spirits of those celebrating the national holiday for Americans of Scottish descent for back in 1998, the U.S. Senate passed a resolution declaring April 6 as Tartan Day throughout the country. On that date in 1320, Scotland declared its sovereignty over England’s territorial claims. The Saturday closest to the declaration date is traditionally celebrated with festivals and parades. For 10 years, Bethel Park has observed the
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Sean Patrick Regan (left) and Ian McLeod demonstrated and introduced piping and drumming to those in attendance at the 10th annual Pittsburgh Tartan Day celebration held April 5 in Bethel Park.
event with bagpipes, music, dancing, demonstrations and food at the Bethel Presbyterian Church. “The church was founded by a Scottish minister so it’s appropriate we celebrate Tartan Day here since it was founded by a Scott,” explained Maniet, chairperson of the event.
BETHEL PARK Sophomore Lisak takes first place in chess tournament PAGE A3 What’s happening, B3
Maniet noted how the celebration has grown from a few vendors and one grandstand to the use of the entire church, including its two stages, sanctuary, meeting rooms and auditorium.
Kathy Wells weaves a new pattern during Pittsburgh Tartan Day festivSEE TARTAN PAGE A2 ities at Bethel Presbyterian Church.
SPORTS Peters Township’s Wetzel garners MVP honors PAGE B1 Real estate transactions, A3
SIGHTS & SOUNDS Little Lake kicks off season with ‘9 to 5’ PAGE B3 Classifieds, B4-6