Molly Bozick sports her Yinzer spirit with pride, and soon, Allegheny County voters will do the same.
The sophomore at Mt. Lebanon High School entered a contest to create a sticker to be distributed at Allegheny County polling places and ended up winning with her “I Voted N’at” design.
The sticker will be used in Allegheny County elections through 2026.
“It’s really great. … I didn’t really expect anything to come out of it,” Bozick said.
Bozick said her entrance in the contest started during her winter break.
“I was listening to Spotify and this ad kept coming up that was calling all Allegheny County high schoolers,” she recalled. “I didn’t really have anything going on, so I decided to do it. I sent it in the next day and didn’t think too much of it.”
Bozick’s design features a red, white and blue border at the top, circling the words “I Voted.” In the center is the downtown Pittsburgh skyline with the bottom border featuring the black and gold colors of the city’s professional sports teams surrounding the saying “N’at” in bright gold. N’at is Pittsburghese for “and that,” serving as a verbal equivalent to et cetera.
“I wanted to create something that was still representative of traditional ‘I voted’ stickers,” Bozick said. “But I also wanted to be unique to Allegheny County and Pittsburgh.”
She considered several ideas as she developed her sticker, such as the city’s bridges, the inclines, Heinz and pickles.
“I landed on N’at because it’s good and it can go with ‘I voted’ nicely,” Bozick explained.
Allegheny County’s first-ever “I Voted” sticker contest received more than 13,000 votes. In January, more than three dozen submissions were narrowed to 10 finalists. Bozick’s entry received 2,410 votes to win the competition.
Bozick, 15, is not old enough to vote, so she will not be going to the polls to receive one of her stickers, but her parents are looking forward to getting one.
At Mt. Lebanon, Bozick is a member of the field hockey and forensics teams, as well as Model UN.
Allegheny County held the contest to drum up interest in this year’s election.
“Everyone knows that voter turnout was very high last year, as it typically is in presi-
dential election years,” said Sara Innamorato, board of election chair and county executive.
“But our elections division administers elections two times a year, every year, and in those odd number years we have important local races for municipal and judicial offices on the ballot that are often overlooked by voters. We launched this new sticker design contest to engage folks in an election year when turnout typically drops significantly.”
Bozick said voting is an important right and was happy to win a contest dealing with elections.
“It’s a good way to connect to your city and the place you live,” she said. “It actually does have an impact. It is important to vote. Even little elections have a big impact in your life. Local elections have more of a foreseeable impact on your daily life, and I feel a lot of people overlook that kind of stuff and focus on national stuff.”
Farmers markets opening in May
By Eleanor Bailey Almanac Sports Editor
ebailey@thealmanac.net
April showers don’t just bring May flowers. They also yield an abundance of farmers markets. May 1 marks the official start of the season as the Upper St. Clair-Bethel Park Rotary Breakfast Club Farmer’s Market opens. Hours are 4 to 7 p.m. Thursdays. The market is operated in the parking lot adjacent to Westminster Presbyterian Church at 2040 Washington Road.
By Jon Andreassi
piro’s residence the morning of April 13. Balmer faces multiple charges, including attempted homicide.
According to Bill Findle, the USC-BP market is attractive because of its variety and venue. A Rotary Club member for 14 years, he has helped organize the market for the past several years.
“We have a great variety of vendors and our location is accessible to everyone,” said Findle, who resides in Upper St. Clair. “We get a lot of traffic, and it’s a very busy market.”
Additionally, featured entertainment and community booths make the market special. As often as possible, Findle says, the USC-BP market offers musical acts and live bands that feature high school students or adult groups. The Rotary Club also reserves a booth for community service, school organizations or municipal operations such as the fire de
partment, police or EMS.
“As long as there is room, we give these groups a booth for free. The nonprofits can
tell their story and the general public can learn something new. It’s a nice opportunity to get to know the community groups and for people to get to know them. It’s not just about buying food.”
This year, the USC-BP Rotary Club’s farmer’s market features eight new vendors.
-
Jim Allen serves up kettle corn at the Upper St. Clair-Bethel Park Rotary Breakfast Club’s farmers market, which opens May 1 in the parking lot adjacent to Westminster Presbyterian Church at 2040 Washington Road.
South Fayette ‘signing day’
South Fayette School District recently held registration/screenings for incoming kindergarten students and made it special for those who will be the members of the Class of 2038. The event was treated like a “signing day,” similar to student athletes when they announce their college selection.
Shapiro
FROM PAGE A1
“This past weekend my family and I experienced what it’s like to be rushed away from a fire while you see heroes rushing in order to put out a fire and save lives,” Shapiro said during a press conference. “At the governor’s residence, an arsonist broke in, and tried to claim my life and the life of my family and others who were there.”
Shapiro was joined in Mt. Lebanon by Lt. Gov. Austin Davis and other elected officials including U.S. Rep. Chris Deluzio, state Sen. Wayne Fontana and state Rep. Dan Miller, all Democrats. Also speaking at the event were Mt. Lebanon Fire Chief Kurt Christofel and Ralph Sicuro, president of Pittsburgh Firefighters Local 1. The governor highlighted his proposed budget’s call for $30 million in competitive grants that would allow fire departments to seek funding for recruiting, retention and equipment.
This is in addition to $30 million in grant funding that already exists.
“Here’s the difference. The 30 that is already available gets divvied up and sent out to fire departments across Pennsylvania, generally based upon their size. This new $30 million is going to be a competitive grant. So when the chief here says we need something unique for Mt. Lebanon, there is now a fund available for competitive grants for them to go and chase and bring back to this local community,” Shapiro said.
The proposed budget also calls for a pilot program that would incentivize cooperation between fire departments, and to cover annual cancer screenings for firefighters.
Shapiro was flanked by dozens of officials representing fire departments in the region, including Peters, Cecil, North Strabane and South Strabane townships. South Strabane Fire Department Chief Jordan Cramer said increased funding is something needed “badly” by the Washington County agencies.
“The costs of providing service are just continuing to rise, and at some point our taxpayers can’t take on all of that cost at a local level … The plans that they’re proposing would be incredibly beneficial to us,” Cramer said after the press conference finished.
Rising costs is also why the state incentivizing cooperation between agencies is important, according to Cramer.
“They are essentially prioritizing and incentivizing departments that are willing to work with other areas and other regions. It’s something that we have to do more of … Again, the cost of service continues to increase so much that we’ve got to work together to try to reduce our cost to be able to continue to provide this level of service,” Cramer said.
When Shapiro mentioned he was proposing the state cover cancer screenings for Pennsylvania firefighters, the room erupted into applause. Cramer called this prong of the governor’s budget a “priority.”
“It is a priority that I think most departments have had for several years, and we don’t have a funding mechanism for it. If you look at other states, they pay for every single firefighter to have a cancer screening. At this point, Pennsylvania does not,” Cramer said. “We need that badly, and if the governor is able to get that through it’s going to greatly benefit all of our fire departments here in the county.
Markets
Among them are: Big Lou’s Food Truck; Judas Creations and/or Watts Bear, both of which are suppliers of pet collars, necklaces, scarves and pet treats; PGH Integrated Wellness; Stove Top Candles; Kandgoods; Jak’s Bakery, which specializes in Mediterranean baked goods and breads, as well as Mediterranean Tastes.
Simmons and Jodikinos, farms from Washington and Beaver counties respectively, anchor the USC-BP Rotary market. Additionally, patrons can purchase honey, oils, soaps, skin care products, ice cream and hot dogs.
“There’s even a vendor that sharpens knives. Amazingly, that’s pretty popular,” Kindle said.
Kindle also added that many vendors appear on a rotating basis. At the start of each week, the USC-BP market posts on its Facebook page the featured vendors. Visit: www.facebook.com/USCBPRotaryFM for the complete list.
The market is held rain or shine for 22 weeks.
“The only time we cancel is if it’s a severe weather situation,” Kindle said.
Bethel Park
The Bethel Park Farmers’ Market returns for its 19th year on May 6. The market is open from 3 to 7 p.m. Tuesdays in the parking lot off Corrigan Drive, next to the South Park ice skating rink.
This season marks a major milestone as the market will be extended through Oct. 14.
“This gives more weeks to shop local, connect with the community and enjoy all the fresh handmade and homegrown goodness the market has to offer,” said market organizers in a press release.
Many favorite vendors return with just-picked
produce, from sweet treats to artisan breads, as well as handmade goods and specialty items. Additionally, to bring a freshness and new energy, the market is adding new vendors and products into the mix.
Visit www.bethelparkpa. gov/vendors for a complete list of vendors and scheduled appearances.
Mt. Lebanon
In Mt. Lebanon, there are two regularly scheduled farmers markets.
The Uptown Market opens May 31 in the heart of the business district. Hours are 9 a.m. to noon.
According to the Mt. Lebanon Partnership, which manages the event that operates Saturdays through September, the Uptown Market provides an opportunity for farmers in the region to sell what they produce directly to urban residents. The market
helps support family farms, preserve farmland and open space, increases commerce in the region, increases interaction between residents and farmers, and enriches the quality of urban life.
While there are pop-up vendors on any given Saturday, the regular marketers include: 1:11 Juice BarOrganic, BBQ Stus, Choc-go-latier, Cinco De Mayo Salsas, Coyne Family Farm, Edgeline Gardens, Grow Green Roots, José Quiroz Farm, Kizzle Foods, Lemmon Bothers Maple Syrup, Olive & Marlowe, Pittsburgh Pie Guy, Rose Henry Bake Shop, Sconeman, Simmons Farm, Syggelekokle Farm and Uncle Jammy’s BBQ Sauce & Dry Rubs.
The Mt. Lebanon Lions operate a farmers market from 4 to 7 p.m. Wednesdays beginning June 4 and running through Oct. 29.
According to John Brown, market coordinator, the event
is in its 35th year and is operated by volunteers, and all funds are donated to the organization’s 15 charities, which include the Blind and Vision Rehabilitation Services of Pittsburgh, Leader Dogs and the Mt Lebanon Library. New vendors this year are: Cheesecake, Pita Land, Confections Ice Cream, Alaska Wild Salmon, Crawford Horne Pottery, Wooden Loaf and Press House Coffee. Returning vendors include: Bad Azz BBQ, Logan Beef Burgers, Pita Land, European Kitchen/Pierogies, Paul’s Orchard, Farm 57, Chip & Kale (pizza), Grove Chiropractic, Lions Club Booms/Bags, Wu’s Shaved Ice, Sand Hill Berry Farm, Kettle Korn Wild, Dee’s Delights (bakery), Costello Apiaries, Dillner Family Farm, 1:11 Juice Bar and Confections (ice cream). Visit mtlebanonfarmersmarket.com for more details.
Andreassi
PHOTOS: COURTESY OF THE SOUTH FAYETTE SCHOOL DISTRICT
ABOVE LEFT: Reagan Sappas “signs” with the South Fayette School District. ABOVE RIGHT: Celebrating their registration are, from left, Anokhi Sachani, Raahi Sakariya, Krish Vaghashiya, and Atharv Patel.
ABOVE: Adam Yusef Sapaev poses with the South Fayette Lion mascot. LEFT: Skylar Storm smiles at the thought of being a South Fayette Lion.
PUBLIC NOTICE
Due to an out-of-season overstock, these brand new first quality built systems must be sold by May 5th - 10th, 2025
The “Factory Outlet” price for air conditioners is available with the purchase of a new furnace at standard book price. These furnaces have not been marked up for this offering.
This is a legitimate offer of out-of-season goods that must be sold in the next 4 weeks.
The entire air conditioning and heating system is covered by a 10-year parts warranty. This warranty covers all part repairs for 10 solid years.
JED is the agent for sales and installation of these special units.
JED also offers an Energy Reduction Guarantee with each of these systems which states:
“You’ll save twenty-five percent over your old central system during the first year, or we will write you a check for the difference.”
This Public Notice Offering may not be used with other offers. There are no other systems available at this price once the allotment has been sold.
To reserve one of these brand-new air conditioning and heating systems, please call JED at 724-379-9220 or 412-384-2844 today. You can have your home measured and be quoted a completed price immediately. There will be no obligation to buy. Simply call 724-379-9220 or 412-384-2844 for a free survey.
Leo has his day as honorary officer
ficer Amber DiFranco “pawtrolling” the community.
After being sworn in and given an honorary pup badge, Leo, said to be 65 pounds of pure love, toured the police department and posed for photos with officers. From there, Leo and DiFranco visited the Brightwood Road Fire Station, the South Park Shops and attended local community events.
“We take in dogs and horses as space permits and operate a feline adoption program, ‘Baily’s Cat Haven,’ in South Park,” said Ketterman. “We also share excess food with other rescues and individuals in need and regularly speak to schools and community groups about animal welfare.”
Ketterman also noted that the organization is primarily supported by donations.
Angel Ridge will host a charity bingo at 12:30 p.m. May 18 at the Bethel Park Community Center. Tickets can be purchased at Angel Ridge, Baily’s Cat Haven, by mail, or at the door.
Upper
St.
Clair duo gain honors at Model UN
“We were excited to kick off this new program and have our first rescue, Leo, spend the day with us as an honorary officer,” said DiFranco. “Angel Ridge is an amazing shelter that works tirelessly to rescue animals of all types, including dogs, cats and even horses.”
their rounds. A Bethel Park resident, she is an Angel Ridge board member.
Throughout the year, the BPPD plans to feature a different animal from a variety of shelters. Visit bethelparkpa. gov for more details.
Hannah Ketterman accompanied Leo and DiFranco on
Angel Ridge Animal Rescue is a nonprofit for animals located in Washington County.
Visit www.angelridgeanimalrescue.org to learn more about adopting Leo or another animal.
Two Upper St. Clair High School seniors earned Best Delegate honors at the recent Model UN Conference hosted by Duquesne University. Jamie Barrett was recognized for representing the United States on the UN Environment Committee while Roshan Mishra was honored for his role with the United States on Disarmament and International Security Committee (DISEC). In total, 12 USC students
took on various important delegations at the event, which featured teams from across Western Pennsylvania and beyond. The students were led by Thomas Yochum, USCHS gifted education coordinator. Model UN, a simulation of the sessions of the United Nations, provides an opportunity for high school students to apply their studies to real-world contexts and practice diplomacy, negotiating and resolution writing.
Jamie Barrett and Roshan Mishra
Leo
Upper St. Clair delivers tech help to senior citizens
The McLaughlin Run Activity Center (MAC) was bustling with energy during a recent United Senior Citizens program. Prizes were being presented for the chili cookoff, and it was National Puzzle Day. However, most eyes were trained on the windows and door as members eagerly awaited the arrival of Upper St. Clair High School students to help with their technology devices.
Thirteen freshmen and sophomore members of Student Council volunteered to provide technology assistance for senior members of the community recently. Upon their arrival, hands instantly went up all around the room seeking their expertise in personal technology devices.
This marked the third year that USC students have volunteered their technology skills. The devices and questions continue to evolve each year. Tech issues included helping with storage, connecting to Wi-Fi, reporting spam calls, navigating Safari, managing notifications and, new this year, helping with Apple watches.
The students enjoyed the opportunity to make a difference and brighten the day for so many others.
“Offering only an hour(ish) of our time to assist our older neighbors and possibly saving them hours of their time was really cool,” sophomore Myles Owens said. “It was great to see other members of our community during the day as opposed to just school students.”
Brooke Tarcson, head of student activities, led the contingent. She believes that anytime you can have different generations mingle is a special moment.
“Even though the students were doing the ‘teaching,’ they
were also learning by listening to stories about the older generation’s life,” Tarcson said. “The senior citizens all live in USC and have many interesting stories to share.”
For some of the students, hearing the stories was a highlight of the experience.
“The senior citizens were so excited to see us and tell us all about the activities they had going on,” sophomore Ian Putorti said. “It was really cool to speak to them as someone from USC because I recognized the places in all of their stories. The woman I helped had grown up here, met her husband here, and sent her kids to USCHS as well. It was really cool to hear about her
life and relate to some of the experiences she had growing up.” Tarcson values these opportunities for community engagement. The Student Council members were eager to help and are brainstorming other ideas for future visits
with the senior citizens group.
“I want the entire community to realize that we have amazing students at USCHS and not only are they smart and knowledgeable about many topics, but they are also extremely kind and generous,” Tarcson said.
Student Council volunteers included sophomores Caty Howard, Ian Putorti, Trevor McClintock-Comeaux, Myles Owens, Thomas Garces, Rex Wantje and Harish Rajagana-
pathy; along with freshmen Natalie Smith, Sydney Nash, Paola Ruiz Lopez, Harper Bogue, Noa Guizzi and Abigail Meyer. The United Senior Citizens program is coordinated through the Township of Upper St. Clair Department of Recreation & Leisure Services. The program, led by Paula Henderson, offers weekly activities to entertain, educate and enhance the lives of seniors within the community.
Abigail Meyer explained to Monica Blommer some of the features of her cellphone in a technology exchange between Upper St. Clair students and senior citizens within the community.
SUBMITTED PHOTOS
Karen Schardong and Caty Howard exchange information regarding features of a new cellphone.
Dominating the court
USC, CV lead list of Almanac basketball all-stars
By Eleanor Bailey Almanac Sports Editor
ebailey@thealmanac.net
The high school boys basketball season is history but the memories live on at Upper St. Clair and Chartiers Valley. The two squads enjoyed one of the finest campaigns in their respective school’s programs. Both teams captured WPIAL championships and advanced to the semifinals in the PIAA tournament. The Panthers finished 26-3 overall while the Colts compiled a 26-4 mark.
So it comes as no surprise that USC and CV dominate this year’s Almanac Elite Eleven list. The all-star squad was selected based on player performances, games watched by staff and a survey of the area coaches. Each was asked to supply nominations and supporting data, specifically stats. All players nominated for The Almanac All-Star team received recognition, whether as a member of the Elite Eleven, honorable mention or players to watch.
Tyler Robbins was the consensus choice for Player of the Year.
For the second straight season, the 6-foot, 10-inch senior led Upper St. Clair to a district Class 5A crown. He averaged 15 points, 8 rebounds and 3 blocked shots per game. He shot 57 percent from the field and converted 16, 3-point field goals. Last year as a junior, he managed 13.6 points, 11.3 rebounds and 5.5 blocks.
“Tyler was a dominant player on offense and defense,” said USC skipper Dan Holzer. “His ability to score and pass on offense for a forward was tremendous.”
That ability led to dramatic wins for the Panthers.
For example, his dunk with 1.2 seconds left in overtime catapulted USC to victory, 51-49, over McDowell in the quarterfinals of this year’s PIAA tournament. He finished with 14 points, 10 rebounds and 4 blocked shots in the win.
Robbins also provided 12 points, 12 rebounds and 5 blocked shots in USC’s win over New Castle, 65-43, in the WPIAL championship contest. In last year’s district final, he was the model of efficiency, converting 9 of 11 shots from the field and connecting on 4 of 6 from the free-throw line. He fired in 22 points, hauled in 12 rebounds and blocked 5 shots as the Panthers defeated Baldwin, 64-41, in the 2024 championship game.
A Miami of Ohio recruit, Robbins scored 855 career points. He also amassed 586 rebounds and 239 blocked shots.
“Tyler was an amazing player and person that will have a lasting impact on our program,” said Holzer. “On and off the court, he led by example. He affected games on both sides of the ball. Just his presence,” added Holzer. Holzer, himself, has impacted the USC program.
Since his debut in 1996, Holzer has won more than
500 games. He reached that milestone on Dec. 10, 2024 when the Panthers defeated Norwin, 57-42. Holzer is only the 21st coach in WPIAL boys’ basketball history to top 500 career wins. He owns five WPIAL championships, including this year’s title, which came on the heels of the 2024 triumph.
“This one’s different because it’s back to back,” Holzer noted of the 2025 banner.
““We were preseason No. 1 by everybody. Everyone was gunning for us. We went wire to wire and that’s hard to do at any level in any sport.”
For keeping the Panthers on top of their game and leading them to their best-ever record, Holzer has been recognized as Almanac Coach Of The Year.
The Panthers did not reach the pinnacle with just Holzer at the helm and Robbins close to the hoop, they managed their two-year run thanks to Julian Dahlem. He started the past two seasons at point guard.
As the quarterback of the offense, the senior dished up 6 assists while averaging 6.6 markers. He also managed three steals on a defense that surrendered just 39.8 points per game, second lowest in the league.
“Julian was our engine on offense and our energy on defense,” Holzer said.
A standout on the gridiron, Dahlem has committed to play football at John Carroll University.
Colts’ core
Under first-year head coach Corey Dotchin, Chartiers Valley returned to its winning ways of capturing championships. Two core players – Jayden Davis and Julian Semplice – contributed majorly to that comeback.
A senior, Davis finished his career as the second-leading scorer in school history with 2,211 points. He ranks 24th in WPIAL history. NBA guard T.J. McConnell owns the school record with 2,404 career points.
A four-year starter, Davis averaged 23.3 points per game. He also managed 3.1 steals, 3.8 assists and 6.1 rebounds. Davis converted 57
percent of his field goal attempts.
In leading the Colts to their fifth WPIAL championship, first since 2015, Davis scored a game-high 28 points and dished up 9 assists as Chartiers Valley defeated Peters Township, 73-66. He also had three steals in the Class 5A final.
A junior, Semplice pitched in 12.5 points per game for the Colts. He scored 13 points and grabbed a team-high 8 rebounds in CV’s WPIAL championship win. PT pair
A trio of players helped Peters Township reach the WPIAL finals in Class 5A for the third time in school history and second time since 2023. The Indians, however, lost their bid for a title, falling to Chartiers Valley, 73-66. The Indians finished 19-9 overall after falling to West York in the PIAA state playoffs.
Dylan Donovan led PT’s attack. The junior guard averaged 18.9 points and also led
PT, SF claim all-state honors in girls basketball
After successful basketball seasons, Peters Township and South Fayette are enjoying the spoils of victory. Members of each team earned All-State accolades for their performances on the hardcourts this winter.
The Lions led the list with three honorees.
Bryan Bennett merited Coach of the Year laurels for guiding South Fayette to its first-ever state title by virtue of a 45-37 win against Archbishop Wood in the Class 5A championship game played March 29 at the Giant Center in Hershey..
Two Lady Lions, Ryan Oldaker and Juliette Leroux gained second-team recognition on the Class 5A squad, which was selected by votes by Pennsylvania sports writers. Both are juniors on a team that won a section banner, captured the WPIAL runner-up trophy and finished 29-2 overall. Both averaged 12 points per game. PT’s Natalie Wetzel garnered first-team laurels for the third year in a row. She was a first-team selection at the Class 6A level in 2023
and second team in 2024.
A senior forward, Wetzel led the Indians to a WPIAL championship, the second in school history, and a 26-4 record. The University of Miami recruit finished her career as the No. 3 scorer in school history with 1,692 points. She also ranked among the school’s top defenders with 806 rebounds and 125 blocked shots to go along with 235 assists. This winter, she averaged 18.7 points per game and grabbed 9.5 rebounds. She
also dished up 2.4 assists and blocked 1.7 shots.
In Class 6A, Rylee Kalocay from Upper St. Clair earned first-team All-State honors. She was a third-team selection as a sophomore. She missed most of her junior year due to a knee injury.
A Kent State recruit, Kalocay led the Panthers in scoring with a 22-point average. She finished her career as the second all-time scoring leader in school history with 1,758 points. She also ranks third all-time with 117 career 3-point field goals.
the team in assists. He tossed in 10 tallies and dished up six assists in the district final.
“Dylan was an excellent shooter and a threat to score both inside and out,” said PT head coach Joe Urmann.
A senior, Nick McCullough supplied 9.5 points to PT’s attack. He led the Indians in the WPIAL final with 17 points. He also had four steals and two assists.
“Nick was an outstanding defender with a relentless motor,” Urmann said. “Dangerous transition player who can score at the rim,” he added.
A two-sport standout, McCullough will transition to the collegiate level, continuing his athletic career at Carnegie Mellon University, where his brother, Brendan, competes. On the gridiron too, he helped the Indians reach two district finals, winning a WPIAL title in 2023 and finishing runner-up in the state.
The Indians also had a standout sophomore in Jake Wetzel. The 6-8 forward garnered Almanac Rookie of the
Year honors after he averaged 7.4 points a game. He also averaged 2.1 blocked shots.
“Jake provided rim protection,” said Urmann. “He improved exponentially as the season progressed. His skill set and physicality are evolving.” Wetzel comes from good stock. His parents, Erica and Matt, both played the sport and his sister, Natalie, finished her career as the third top scorer in PT girls’ basketball history. She earned a scholarship to the University of Miami in Florida.
Lebo duo
After a sensational sophomore season, where he gained Rookie of the Year acclaim, Liam Sheely suffered the junior jinx when he broke a bone in his arm during the preseason. Though he missed 12 games, Sheely roared back and led Mt. Lebanon to the semifinals in the WPIAL 6A playoffs. He converted 46 percent of his field goal attempts. Sheely, who averaged 14.5 points during his breakout year, provided 17.6 tallies as the Blue Devils finished 19-9 overall. Sam Diebert steadied the Blue Devils during Sheely’s absence and proved an anchor for the club. The senior averaged 13.4 points and grabbed 7 rebounds a game. Plus ones
Tanner Pfeuffer from Bethel Park and Gavin Orosz from South Fayette complete The Almanac’s Top 10. Both are seniors and Orosz is a twotime pick on the all-star team. After averaging 15 points and 3 rebounds as a junior, Orosz upped his game. He tossed in 16 points and
Bryan Bennett pointed the way for South Fayette to win its first PIAA title in girls basketball. As a result, he was recognized by the Pennsylvania sports writers as the Class 5A Coach of The Year.
PHOTOS: ELEANOR BAILEY/THE ALMANAC
ABOVE LEFT: Jayden Davis
23.3 points per game. The senior is one of four Chartiers
ABOVE LEFT: Gavin Orosz averaged 16 points, 5 rebounds, 3 assists and 2 steals a game for South Fayette. ABOVE RIGHT: Tanner Pfeuffer led Bethel Park in scoring, averaging 12.7 points per game. The senior also pulled down 8.2 rebounds an outing.
Dahlem
Semplice
McCullough
Sheely
Diebert
ALMANAC BOYS ELITE
Volleyball
Shaan Dharwadkar of Mt. Lebanon earned Player of the Week honors in volleyball from the Western Pennsylvania Volleyball Coaches Association. The senior setter was recognized for Week 6 of the season.
He shared the distinction with Seneca Valley’s Mario Ardolino, Pine-Richland’s Matteo Rotelli and Max Jarock from North Hills.
Dharwadkar had the Blue Devils positioned at No. 6 in the WPVCA rankings for Class 3A. North Allegheny ranked No. 1 followed by Greater Latrobe, Seneca Valley, Pine-Richland and Butler.
In Class 2A, Dilsher Goraya from South Fayette shared POTW honors with McKeesport’s Jason Martin, Hopewell’s Paul Thompson and Steel Valley’s Christian Penn. A junior outside hitter,
Goraya has the Lions positioned at No. 6 in the team rankings.
Shaler ranks No. 1 followed by Seton LaSalle, which is led by Hakiem McKenzie. The sophomore setter shared POTW laurels for Week 5 of the season with Shaler setter Aisen Smith, Ambridge’s Anthony Seymour and Our Lady of the Sacred Heart (OLSH) outside hitter Brady Rooney.
That same week, Joey Boff earned the POTW recognition. The Bethel Park High School sophomore is an outside hitter. Boff shared the honor with Canon-McMillan setter Justin Peters, Butler’s Alex Teff and Pine-Richland’s Doolin Stober. Softball
Registration is open to teams and/or players wanting to compete in the Men’s Church Softball League of
the South Hills. Games are played as doubleheaders on Saturdays and all schedule requests are accepted. The regular season runs from May through July and into August for playoffs. Games are played in Bethel Park or Bridgeville. Entry fee is per team or by individual. Call 724-518-6072 or rkeibler@ nacahtech.com.
Hoop camp
A high school girls basketball camp will be held June 16-19 at Mt. Lebanon High School gym. Students in grades 3 through 5 meet from 9 a.m. to noon. Grades 6 through 9 attend from 1 to 4 p.m. Fee is $100 and due June 11. Walk-ins can attend with an added $25 late fee. Makes checks payable to Blue Devil Club and mail to Coach Mark Walsh, 4605 W. Brightview Ave. Pittsburgh, PA 15227. Call 412-979-2913 for more details.
grabbed five rebounds per game while also dishing up 3 assists and contributing 2 steals an outing for the Lions, who finished runner-up to Baldwin in Section 3 and 15-8 overall after a first-round exit in the WPIAL Class 5A tournament.
SF head coach David Mislan called Orosz a “coach’s dream” especially because of his commitment to the program. “It’s unmatched,” he said.
Mislan also added, “Gavins impressive stats do not tell the full story. He has the highest basketball IQ of any kid I have coached. He could impact the game at the defensive end of the floor with deflections and steals and disrupt as much as at the offensive end.”
Orosz, who scored 1,400 on his SAT, will study business at Penn State University.
Meanwhile, Pfeuffer will play football at Frostburg University. He was recruited as a quarterback, after passing for more than 6,000 career yards.
Pfeuffer though was a standout on the basketball court after returning to the sport as a junior. This winter, he averaged a team-high 12.7
points and 8.2 rebounds for the Black Hawks, who finished 7-14 overall this winter.
“Tanner played as a forward for us and led the team in scoring but he was also a tremendous leader in his captain role,” said BP head coach Rico Abbondanza.
HM list
Among the players garnering Honorable Mention recognition are: Niko Gidas, Jake Foster, Kaamil Jackson, Ryan Robbins from Upper St. Clair as well as Carter Gould from Mt. Lebanon.
A junior guard, Gould gained similar acclaim on the Big 5/6 All-Conference allstar list.
A senior, Gidas started at guard for the Panthers and averaged 9.1 points per game. He also led USC in 3-pointers with 59. He converted 40 percent from beyond the arc.
“Niko developed into one of the best 3-point shooters in 6A,” said Holzer.
A senior, Foster averaged 7 points per game. According to Holzer, he was a “solid combo guard” for the Panthers all season.
A senior, Kaamil averaged 6 points per game. Kaamil was an athletic forward who made many key hoops in the postseason, said Holzer.
A sophomore, Robbins provided 7 points and 4 rebounds
per game. The 6-foot-8 forward is the younger brother of Tyler and a standout lineman on the football team. Ryan is a dominant force on the block,” Holzer said. “He will be hard to handle as a junior and senior.” PTW list
Among the Players To Watch are: Will Sabatos from Bethel Park; Luca Federico from Chartiers Valley; Jacob Zaber from Mt. Lebanon and Tyson Wright from South Fayette.
A sophomore guard, Sabatos came into the year with “zero” varsity experience and into pre-season training “quite late” because of an extended football season.
“It is very hard to immediately make an impact but Will became a great contributor for us,” said Abbondanza. “He developed into an outstanding scorer, with some outstanding moments, and into one of the more effective defenders for us.”
A freshman, Federico managed 8.3 points per game for the Colts. He also earned second team all-section honors in the Big 5/6 Conference voting.
A freshman, Zaber averaged 10 points per game for the Blue Devils. Wright averaged 11 points and 5 rebounds for the Lions.
Four BP seniors receive service academy appointments
Four members of the Bethel Park High School Class of 2025 have received appointments to United States service academies.
Seniors Rocco Capozzoli, Brady McKiernan and Clancy Orie will attend the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, Md., and Aaron Hoffbauer will head to the U.S. Military Academy in West Point, N.Y. Each will report to his respective academy in June.
This marks the first time in school history that this number of students have received military appointments.
Orie, a standout football player, chose the Naval Academy after receiving offers from schools such as Air Force, Harvard and Miami, Ohio. He plans to major in economics.
“This is about more than just football – it’s about forming a brotherhood and challenging myself,” Orie said. “My parents have been supportive, even though it’s a little scary for them.”
McKiernan, a decorated swimmer and musician, found out about his appointment at the PIAA swimming championships.
“I opened the email, saw ‘USNA Admission Decision,’ and just started shouting,” McKiernan said. He plans to study aerospace engi-
neering while continuing music and possibly playing a club sport.
“My coaches fueled my fire, especially during those early morning
lifts. They helped shape who I am.”
Capozzoli was the first of the four to secure his spot, thanks in large part to a pivotal moment during an
Bethel Park School District promotes four
The Bethel Park School District announced several key administrative appointments for the 2025-26 school year. Joseph Villani has been named assistant superintendent for secondary education. Villani has served as principal of Bethel Park High School for the past five years, where he has been credited with driving academic growth, enriching student experiences, and building a positive school culture. In 2022, the high school was named a National Blue Ribbon School by the U.S. Department of Education.
Villani will oversee the district’s educational program for grades six through 12 in his new role. He joins Mandi Figlioli, who continues as assistant superintendent for elementary education and is
responsible for kindergarten through fifth grade.
Racquel Sutton, who has spent the past three years leading Independence Middle School (IMS), will succeed Villani as principal of the high school.
Known for her student-centered approach and instructional leadership, Sutton has also overseen the $55 million IMS renovation project, which is slated for completion in
what’s happening
BPCF
May 1 is the deadline to apply for Bethel Park Community Foundation scholarships. The organization offers 14 different stipends. Applications are available at bpcf.org/scholarships.
SP THEATRE
The South Park Theatre opens May 1 with the presentation of Caught In The Net. The show runs through May 17. Showtimes are 7:30 p.m. Thursday through Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday. The show tells the tale of taxi driver John Smith keeping his two families in different parts of London, both happy and blissfully unaware of each other, until his teenage children, a girl and a boy, connect on the internet and wish to meet in person.
Tickets are $18. To purchase, visit www.SouthParkTheatre.com or call 412-8318552.
RESALE
A children’s resale event will be held from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. May 2 and from 8 a.m. to noon May 3 at Christ United Methodist Church, located at 44 Highland Road. Visit christumc.net/resale to be a consignor or for more information.
BP CHAMBER
The Bethel Park Chamber of Commerce will hold a vendor fair from noon to 5 p.m. May 3 at the South Park Community Center. Tables are available for $35. Home-based businesses, in particular, can promote their products. Visit bpchamber. org for more details.
COIN CLUB
The South Hills Coin Club will meet at 7:30 p.m. May 6 at the Bethel Park Municipal Building, located at 5100 W Library Ave. Call 724-9846611 for more details.
PLANT SALE
The Treehaven Garden Club will hold its annual
Mother’s Day Weekend
Plant Sale from 8 a.m. to noon May 10 at the South Park Shops, 5209 Library Road. The sale is held on the sidewalk in front of the vacant Rite Aid store. Hanging baskets from Lenik Nursery as well as perennials dug from club gardens, herbs, bulbs and small floral gifts will be available for purchase.
CHABAD
The Chabad of the South Hills will host a seniors lunch at 1 p.m. May 14 at its Mt. Lebanon location, 1701 McFarland Road. Comfort Keepers will give a presentation on “Adapting Homes to Seniors Challenging Needs.” Suggested donation is $5. The event is wheelchair accessible. RSVP to 412278-2658.
FISH FRY
The Bethel Park Lions Club will hold a fish fry May 16 at the park located at 5757 Irishtown Road. Lunch is from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Dinner is served from 4 to 7 p.m. Fried or baked fish as well as shrimp, fries, coleslaw and macaroni and cheese are on the menu. A kids menu, priced at $5, is also available. Proceeds benefit the club’s charities as well as go toward maintenance of the Bethel Park Lions Park.
GIANT OAKS
The Giant Oaks Garden Club’s 24th annual plant sale and garden market will be held from 9 a.m. to noon May 17 at Peters Township Library, 616 East McMurray Rd. Hanging baskets, annuals, container gardens of herbs, vegetables and quality potted perennial plants selected from members’ gardens will be available for purchase. The sale also includes new and lightly used gardening items, decorations, and crafts as well as raffle baskets of gardening items. Members will also be on hand to assist and
August. She previously held administrative roles in the Southmoreland and Greensburg Salem school districts. James Fodse, currently the assistant principal at the high school, has been appointed the principal of IMS.
A former special education teacher at the high school, Fodse is dedicated to supporting all learners. His new role comes as IMS prepares to add sixth-grade students to the
answer individual gardening questions. Contact 724-809-3397 or email bjnerone@hky.com for more information on the club or the sale.
COLLEGE CLUB
The College Club of Carnegie will meet May 3 at Scoglio’s Restaurant, Pine Bridge Commons, Suite 102, 1580 McLaughlin Run Road. A social starts at 11:30 a.m. A luncheon will be served at noon. “Kentucky Derby Daze” is the theme of the meeting. A 50/50 raffle will be held to benefit the scholarship fund program. Women with post-secondary education can attend. Call 412-2794458 for further information or membership.
ART MARKET
South Arts Pittsburgh is hosting a two-day market from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. May 3 and 4 at the Schoolhouse Arts & History Center, 2600 South Park Road in Bethel Park. This event includes an artists’ market with local vendors displaying/selling their works throughout the first floor, and South Arts members’ artwork for sale in one of the classrooms of the historic schoolhouse. Artwork and photos are framed and ready to hang. Jewelry, cards and matted prints are also available. Cash, checks or credit cards accepted. There will also be a silent auction. Reginald’s Coffee will be open to purchase coffee/tea. Visit www.southartspittsburgh.org for dates for future shows. Call 412-327-1180 or email southartspitt@gmail.com with further questions.
PET FUN
The Cinco de Meow Cat
Adoption Fiesta will be held from noon to 3 p.m. May 3 at Pet Supplies Plus, located in the South Park Shops. Participants can speed up the adoption process by filling out an application before the event by visiting
building beginning in 2026. Looking ahead to the 202627 school year, Lisa Miracle-Volpe has been selected as the inaugural principal of the new Bethel Park Elementary School, set to open that fall. Miracle-Volpe has led Neil Armstrong Middle School for the past year-and-a-half and previously served as principal of Francis McClure Elementary School in the McKeesport Area School District.
angelridgeanimalrescue.org/ adopt-a-cat.
Bailey’s Cat Haven is open for adoptions from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturdays and from noon to 3 p.m. Sundays. Email baileyscathaven@ gmail.com to schedule a visit or for more details about the adoption fiesta.
PT REC
The Peters Township recreation center is offering the following programs:
■ Tummy Time Workshop from 9 to 10 a.m. Friday, May 9. Babies 1 to 5 months can participate. This workshop gives hands-on skills needed to help infants meet early milestones. Fee is $25 ($38 nonmembers).
■ Sensory Play Group from 10 to 11 a.m. Fridays beginning May 16. Ages 3 to 6 are eligible. Led by pediatric occupational and physical therapists, this child and caregiver play group provides activities that increase body awareness and promotes self-esteem and confidence. Fee is $100 ($150 nonmembers).
■ Ladies Night from 6:30 to 8 p.m. May 14. Participants create a rustic wood floral sign using fabric and rope. Fee is $15 ($20 nonmembers).
■ Tiny Tots Gym Time from 1 to 3 p.m. the first and third Friday of every month. Children 5 and under participate in unstructured playtime with a variety of toys, balls and soft play features. Parents must remain on site and supervise their children. Fee is $5 ($8 nonmembers).
■ Sports summer camp from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. beginning June 9. Ages 4 to 12 eligible. Half-day camp fee is $165. Full-day fee is $265. Before care and after care are available for additional fees.
■ Senior luncheon from noon to 2 p.m. May 14 at Shelter 4 in Peterswood Park. Hot dogs and hamburgers will be provided but guests should bring a
in-person visit to the Naval Academy in October. While on campus, he received a Letter of Assurance directly from admissions - a rare early signal of acceptance.
Capozzoli, a swimmer and Brazilian jiu-jitsu competitor, plans to study nuclear engineering. He said the Naval Academy was his top choice since his junior year. “Once I saw the campus and felt the culture, I knew I had to be there,” he said. “It’s the perfect fit for me – combining physical challenge with academic rigor.”
Hofbauer is fulfilling a dream rooted in childhood and inspired by his grandfather, a Marine. He envisioned attending West Point beginning in middle school.
“There’s no greater place to apply the values my parents instilled in me,” Hofbauer said. “It’s an honor to be a part of this group of young men who will serve our country.”
He plans to continue serving in the military after completing the academy.
Upper St. Clair’s Kumar pens winning poem
Sailee Kumar of Upper St. Clair has been named the winner in the Middle School Poetry category of the 40th annual Waldman Arts & Writing Competition. A sixth-grade student at Boyce Middle School, Kumar Sixth grader will be honored, along with six other category winners, at a ceremony to be held May 14 at Chatham University. One of the seven will then be selected as the grand prize recipient. The competition, hosted by the Holocaust Center of Pittsburgh, invites middle and high school students from the Pittsburgh region to submit themed arts and writing pieces. This year’s theme was “Local Legacies: Holocaust
Survivors of the Pittsburgh Region.” The contest is open to students from schools in Pennsylvania, eastern Ohio and West Virginia. This year, 18 schools participated.
covered dish or dessert to share. Tracy Lee Simmons will entertain on the ukulele. Admission is free.
■ Summer camps begin as early as June 6. Children up to age 12 can sign up for creative writing, dance, theater, chess and cooking camps. Fees vary.
■ Session 3 classes are accepting registration. Signups for one-day programs have also begun. Classes begin in May.
Visit www.peterstownship. org to register or stop at the recreation center, 700 Meredith Drive. For more details, call 724-942-5000.
WROC EVENTS
The Westminster Recreation and Outreach Center offers the following at Westminster Presbyterian Church, located at 2040 Washington Road in Upper St. Clair:
■ Cardio Strength Fusion from 8 to 9 a.m. beginning May 2. Fees are $56 for Mondays and Wednesdays and $64 for Fridays.
■ Zumba from 9 to 10 a.m. Tuesday and Thursday; 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. Mondays; 9:45 to 10:45 a.m. Saturdays in May and June. Drop in fee is $10.
■ Barre Sculpt, which fuses ballet, yoga and Pilates, from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. Mondays beginning May 6. Fee is $64.
■ Stronger Bones/Better Balance from 10:10 to 11:10 a.m. Tuesdays beginning May 6. Fee is $56.
■ Flow Yoga from 9 to 10 a.m. beginning May 6. Classes are offered Tuesday and Thursday. Fee is $56.
■ Cardio Drumming from 1:45 to 2:45 p.m. Fridays beginning May 9.
Visit wroc.westminster-church.org to register or more details or call 412-8356630.
TEA PARTY
A Mother’s Day Tea will be held from 2 to 4 p.m. May 10 in the Neville House parlour
at the Woodville Plantation, 1375 Washington Pike. In addition to the spread of sandwiches and sweets, Melissa Makofske, RN-BC, will present on The Colonial Midwife. Tickets are $25 per person. Reservations are required as seating is limited.
Visit www.woodville-experience.org/events to order tickets or call 412-221-0348 for details.
PARK POUR
Pour at the Park will be held May 17 at the Museum Building in South Park. VIP admission is from 5 to 9 p.m. General admission is from 6 to 9. A fundraiser to support the Allegheny County Parks Foundation as well as benefit the nine country parks, features beer, wine, spirits and nonalcoholic drink tastings, food trucks, live entertainment, children’s discovery activities hosted by Coach Dave of CDG Sports and raffle baskets. Visit pouratthepark.com to purchase tickets or email jfilipek@ acparksfoundation.org for more details.
BINGO
Tickets for the Bingo Bonanza to Benefit Angel Ridge Animal Rescue and Bailey’s Cat Haven are available at the shelters located at 2650 Brownsville Road in South Park or 390 Old Hickory Road in Washington. Make checks payable to ARAR. Call 724-229-7053 for more information.
The event will be held May 18 at the Bethel Park Community Center. Doors open at 12:30 p.m. Games begin at 1:30 p.m. Admission is $35 at the door. Advanced ticket price is $30. In addition to bingo, there will be a basket auction, 50/50 raffle, pull tabs as well as food and beverages for purchase. All proceeds benefit Angel Ridge Animal Rescue and Bailey’s Cat Haven.
COURTESY OF BETHEL PARK SCHOOL DISTRICT
Four Bethel Park seniors have received appointments to U.S. military academies. They are, from left, Aaron Hofbauer, Rocco Capozzoli, Brady McKiernan and Clancy Orie.
