Cake4Kids makes a special day for kids brighter
By Jill Thurston
jthurston@observer-reporter.com
As a high school sophomore, Ishaan Sharma of Upper St. Clair became involved in a service project baking cupcakes for a local needs-based organization, SHIM. After the project was completed, he didn’t want to stop.
Now entering his sophomore year at Georgia Tech, Ishaan, 19, and his mother, Priyanka Sharma, both serve as chapter co-ambassadors for Cake4Kids Greater Pittsburgh Chapter, a chapter of the national organization with the mission of giving a birthday cake to children who may not otherwise receive one.
A national nonprofit, Cake4Kids was founded in 2010 in Sunnyvale, California, by Libby Gruender, who wanted to give free birthday cakes to at-risk youth and foster children in her area. The nonprofit has spread to 20 states with 28 chapters. Greater Pittsburgh’s Cake4Kids is Pennsylvania’s only chapter.
“The target audience we serve is underprivileged youth. Oftentimes that can be foster, refugee, low-income and many times these children may never have had a birthday cake or that special moment that they can savor, and our mission is to make sure that no child goes without,” said Ishaan.
The two Sharmas learned about the nonprofit from a family friend and after finding there was no chapter in the area, applied to start one. In August 2023, the application was accepted, but before they could fully operate, they had to find a couple of agencies to get on board and at least 10 volunteers.
The original agency receiving Ishaan’s cupcakes, SHIM in Bethel Park, is still on the list to receive and distribute cakes, as well as 10 other organizations,
including the Bair Foundation, Beverly’s Birthdays, Melting Pot Ministries and the Allegheny Family Network.
Launched in March 2024, he estimates the effort has reached nearly 6,000 kids as of June in the Greater Pittsburgh area.
Today there are more than 200 volunteer bakers who purchase the ingredients, bake and deliver cakes to the agency working with the children.
“Ultimately, they get the cake to the agency and then the agency gets the cake to the family, so there is a layer of privacy for the family that is involved,” Ishaan explained. “We work with these agencies and they are the ones that have all of the contact information for the families they serve.”
Agencies post the child’s cake selection on a private portal and volunteers choose what works for their schedule.
Volunteers go through an
orientation process through the national Cake4Kids organization that includes a test and background check before baking in their homes.
The Sharma’s Greater Pittsburgh Chapter has experienced rapid growth.
Ishaan and Priyanka met Mary Kirk, with the Upper St. Clair-Bethel Park Rotary Breakfast Club, at a St. Clair Community Day a few years ago, where the Rotary holds a bake-off contest.
“I just was really intrigued by them and what they did, and it lined up very nicely as a partner with our bake-offs.” Kirk invited Ishaan and his mom to join the Rotary’s booth at the USC Community to talk about Cake4Kids and grow their volunteer base.
Impressed with their initiative, Kirk also invited the two to present at a Rotary meeting, where they could connect with other agencies and charities
who could use their service.
The Sharmas were awarded a Rotary grant two years in a row that went toward helping volunteer bakers hone their skills. Kirk connected Priyanka with Icing on the Cake in Finleyville, and they teamed up to hold classes in icing and decorating skills.
“It’s just really a full circle, beautiful example of how when you pull together as a community, you can pull in local businesses, local charities, and then volunteer organizations. And it’s really, I think, a good demonstration of the power that we have together,” Kirk said.
“We are really proud of how far Cake4Kids have come, nationally as well as in Pittsburgh. As of a few months ago, we are the fastest-growing chapter in the country as a percentage,” Ishaan said. “In our first entire
Editor’s note: This week marks the final chapter in our three-month series of exploring America at 250 years old through the lens of some of the most important national events that took place in our communities.
By Ross Gallabrese The Herald Star
The way we build things, the way we travel, the way we protect ourselves, the way we are able to save and extend lives and the way we explore could not have happened without the efforts of some of the great Americans innovators of the 20th century.
From Henry Ford, who helped to make Detroit and the United States the center of the automobile business, to groundbreaking work in medicine that has transformed our lives to the courage of the men and women who were willing to travel into space, American ideas have truly changed the world.
When Ford, for example, created the first moving assembly line in 1913 in the Detroit suburb of Dearborn, Mich., he not only changed the way automobiles were manufactured – he set the stage for the mass production that would help supply America’s troops through two world wars and fuel the country’s booming economy.
“The assembly line process revolutionized the manufacture of cars themselves, allowing them to be made in much greater quantities in a shorter period of time,” said Matt Anderson, curator of transportation at the Henry Ford Museum of American Innovation in Dear-
Peters Township hosts meeting on its comprehensive plan
By Brad Hundt bhundt@observer-reporter.com
Peters Township hosted an open house on its still-in-theworks comprehensive plan last week, one of several steps that will be taken before the plan is finally approved by township council.
A draft of the plan, which weighs in at 101 pages, covers a wide range of areas, including economic development, infrastructure improvements, housing and transportation.
Wednesday’s open house was in the large group instruction room at Peters Township
High School.
“What the plan does is set forth a community’s vision,” according to Laura Ludwig, a community planner with Herbert, Rowland & Grubic Inc., a civil engineering firm that is a consultant on the comprehensive plan. “It’s a roundup and policy guide for decision making.”
Under the Pennsylvania Municipalities Planning Code, communities are required to update their comprehensive plans every decade. The last time Peters Township approved a comprehensive plan was in December 2013.
The executive summary of
the draft comprehensive plan states that the township is approaching “full build out,” and the plan “shifts the focus from expansion to thoughtful management of land, infrastructure services and community character.”
The process of putting together the comprehensive plan was started in April 2025, starting with an online survey, focus groups, community events and steering committee meetings. The draft of the comprehensive plan states that preservation of rural character, improved traffic and pedestrian safety and “thoughtful housing and development
choices as available land becomes more limited.”
Some residents at the meeting expressed concerns about taxes, high-density housing developments being built in the township and farmland being preserved. Sommer Schueller, a planner with Herbert, Rowland & Grubic, said the plan is “heavy on potential. Nothing here is set in stone.”
The township’s previous comprehensive plan remains in effect until the new one is approved. Ludwig said it would likely be adopted by township council in September, after first going to Peters’ planning commission.
born. “But the bigger impact is because of the process, the price of an automobile fell so dramatically that really anyone, even within the working class, was able to afford a car, and it transformed the automobile from what had been a plaything for the wealthy to a tool for everyday life, which, for better or worse, it remains today.” In 1908, for example, the price of a Model T was $850, which is the equivalent of about $31,000 today. By 1914, the price had dropped to $490 and in 1924 it was around $300. While it once took workers 12 hours to produce a completed car, Ford would be able to eventually turn out an automobile every 24 seconds. Even though the assembly line made production of Ford’s cars more efficient, it did come with its own set of issues.
“One of the first problems with it is they realized the workers tended to resent the system or just not care for it because, prior to that, they had been very skilled craftspeople who were doing highly complex work,” Anderson said. “The whole point of the moving assembly line was to take all of the skill out of the work, so a person is just tightening a nut or inserting a screw.
“So, workers began calling in sick and absenteeism was a
BRAD HUNDT
Laura Ludwig, a community planner with Herbert, Rowland & Grubic, Inc., discusses Peters Township’s comprehensive plan at Peters Township High School June 24.
COURTESY OF CAKE4KIDS GREATER PITTSBURGH CHAPTER
Ishaan Sharma and his mother, Priyanka Sharma, co-ambassadors for the Cake4Kids Greater Pittsburgh Chapter, are shown at Upper St. Clair’s Community Day in 2024.
COURTESY OF CAKE4KIDS GREATER PITTSBURGH CHAPTER A cake made for Cake4Kids Greater Pittsburgh Chapter was delivered to one of 11 agencies for distribution.
COURTESY OF CAKE4KIDS GREATER PITTSBURGH CHAPTER A Minnie Mouse-themed cake was baked for a child who might not otherwise receive a birthday cake.
COURTESY OF CAKE4KIDS GREATER PITTSBURGH CHAPTER A specially designed birthday cake for a music lover, courtesy of Cake4Kids.
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Blast off of spacecraft with astronauts David Scott and Neil Armstrong aboard, Cape Kennedy, Fla. on March 16, 1966 for Project Gemini VIII. Armstrong and Scott almost lost their lives during a rendezvous with an unmanned Agena rocket during the flight of Gemini VIII on March 1966, when both crafts began tumbling uncontrollably.
Elks celebrate flag in preparation of America’s birthday
In preparation of America’s milestone birthday, the South Hills Elks Lodge 2213 in Bethel Park held a celebration of the Stars and Stripes during a traditional Flag Day event.
A procession of the Color Guard contingent from the McMurray VFW Post 764, Marine Corps League 726 and Scout Troop 4 was followed by a welcome from Jeff Pennington, Exalted Ruler of the Elks lodge.
Elks member Debra Hakeem offered the opening prayer. USMC veteran Haya Eason sang the national anthem. The Scouts provided a brief history of the flag.
Jeff Pennington introduced distinguished guest, Bernard (Bernie) R. Lindstrom. A retired colonel, Lindstrom stressed the role of service and community cooperation. As the nation approached its 250th anniversary, he said that he found himself reflecting on what has allowed this country to endure through war, hardship, uncertainty, and change.
“The answer is not found only in government buildings, military bases, or historic –
Fourth
problem. They would just outright quit,” he continued. “Ford determined that the best way to retain his workers was to just pay them more. So, he more or less doubled the wage from $2.30 a day to $5 a day in 1914, which had the sort of happy side effect for Ford of allowing his workers to now be able to purchase the product they were making. You couldn’t say that Ford created the whole middle class, but certainly that wage increase was a bedrock reason for the growth of the middle class in the 20th century.”
Another drawback at the time is that Ford’s process required the Model T to remain static. There were no major design changes in that automobile through the end of its production in 1927. That was an issue, Anderson said, because Americans were moving beyond price and wanted additional features in their cars — more horsepower, more comfort and more room.
And that allowed General Motors and Chrysler to step in and increase their sales.
It all led to Ford revamping the process to make it more flexible and to allow for design changes. That ability to produce things in great quantity made the process valuable during World Wars I and II, Anderson said. It allowed the production of everything from mess kits to helmets, from Jeeps to armored cars — even the famous B-24 bombers that Ford built at its Willow Run facility.
Having the ability to see gains in productivity while reducing costs, the moving assembly line was quickly adopted by other industries.
“All of this played into the great economic boom times of the 1920s, when people had easy credit,” Anderson said. “They could buy appliances, they could buy radios and other sorts of home entertainment devices that had been luxuries a few years before. All of those things were being built using assembly lines. By the end of the decade, airplanes were being built using mass production techniques, by the Ford Motor Co. in some cases.
“All of that played together in the great boom of the 1920s, which didn’t last, of course, because of the crash of 1929 and the Depression that followed,” he added.
While Ford and other business owners of the time were bringing about massive change in the country, others were looking to transform the way we take care of ourselves.
“There was a recognition by the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center as early as the
battlefields. It is found in people,” he said. He related the story of 15-year-old Joseph Plumb Martin. A volunteer and a soldier, Martin’s memoir, “The Flag They Carried,” details the life of an ordinary soldier and how perseverance and determination seized the day of the Connecticut youth enlisted in the Continental Army in 1776.
“He continued because he believed future generations deserved something better than what he was experiencing at that moment,” said Lindstrom. “The freedoms we enjoy did not arrive by accident. They were built and preserved by people … citizens willing to endure hardship for people they would never meet.”
Bob Preska, past exalted ruler, played a musical tribute dedicated to the armed forces. The Procession to the Flagpole was led by Post 764 auxiliary and others in uniform, to the outdoor Elks Plaza for the changing of the colors. The ceremony also featured bugler Bert Mangold and a 21-gun salute.
Orville Wright, lying at the controls on the lower wing, pilots the Wright Flyer on the first powered flight by a heavier-than-air aircraft, Dec. 17, 1903, at Kitty Hawk, N.C. In the moments before going airborne, his brother, Wilbur Wright, watching right, guided and steadied the plane as it accelerated along the starting rail at left.
1920s and 1930s that medicine was a potential new industry for the city of Pittsburgh,” said Anne Madarasz, chief historian at the Senator John Heinz History Center in Pittsburgh. “So, really, the regional economy was transformed by medical innovation.”
Some of that would come through the work of Drs. Jonas Salk and Thomas Starzl.
Salk’s development of the polio vaccine would lead to the eradication of the disease that had frightened parents across many generations, while Starzl’s pioneering work with liver transplants has improved the lives of thousands.
“We can’t begin to imagine the fear that people felt, especially in the 1950s,” Madarasz said. “From the beginning of the March of Dimes, there’s this national effort to eradicate polio in the sense of not knowing what caused this and not knowing how to stop it. The vulnerability that people felt — especially for children — is hard to imagine,” she added.
The disease is highly contagious and can be spread through contaminated water, food or person-to-person contact. It can lead to irreversible paralysis and death. There is no cure — but it is completely preventable through the use of vaccines.
Salk and his team developed a way to use a dead virus in the vaccine, which helped the body to build immunity to the disease.
“When you look at Salk and the way his research was handled, it wasn’t just Salk,” Madarasz added. “It was a team of people, and the population of the whole city of Pittsburgh that were willing to step forward as the testers of the vaccine. They were the polio pioneers, and that work allowed us to see the eradication of polio in our lifetime.”
That work changed the lives of millions and helped set the stage for other medical breakthroughs.
“One of the things that it did was establish Pittsburgh as a cen-
ter for immunological research that continues to this day,” Madarasz said. “It wasn’t just bringing Salk here. It wasn’t just building a team around him and it wasn’t just research and development, which was arduous, or the testing which culminated in the vaccine. It was really building facilities and building this as a destination for researchers who wanted to work in that field.”
Starzl, meanwhile, performed the first human liver transplant in 1961 at the University of Colorado. After arriving at the University of Pittsburgh in 1981, his work with immunosuppressive drug therapies helped make liver transplants mainstream lifesaving procedures.
“I think one of the amazing things about Starzl is to look at the work he did,” Madarasz said. “The fact that he moved liver transplantation from an experimental procedure that many people believed could never be a clinical practice to making it happen. It’s all of the research and innovation that went around that.”
His efforts continue to have an impact on the medical field.
“It’s a procedure that has impacted medicine in a variety of disciplines,” she added. “Starzl was just not an incredibly talented person. He was a true visionary, a mentor and a teacher. Still today, he is one of the most published researchers in medical history. The work he did impacted the science of medicine — an anti-rejection drug. It also touched donor and recipient typing and matching, new surgical techniques and the development of new kinds of surgical instruments and machinery used in operating rooms.”
American innovation has never been limited to work done on the ground.
From the efforts of two brothers from Dayton, to a famous ace from World War I to the exploration of space, the nation’s heart-
land in general — and Ohio in particular — has led the way.
Orville and Wilbur Wright invented, built and flew the first motorized airplane, not in their home state, but on the sand in Kitty Hawk, N.C. Eddie Rickenbacker, a Columbus native, recorded 26 aerial victories during World War I, the most of any pilot in that war, and received the Medal of Honor. And Neil Armstrong —the first man to walk on the moon — was a native of Wapakoneta in the southern part of the Buckeye State.
“Ohio has a rich aviation history,” said Logan P. Rex, curator and communications director of the Armstrong Air and Space Museum in Armstrong’s hometown. “These guys were test pilots, they were experimental pilots. They were the first of the first of the first doing a lot of things. That creates a good breeding ground for other individuals to go out and say, ‘Look what I can do in an aircraft.’ When it comes to being an astronaut, that’s about as daring as one can be for being a test pilot.”
Depending on how you figure these things, Ohio has produced 27, 28, 29 or 30 or so astronauts. That’s not the most from any state, Rex said, and it’s not even the most per capita. Still, some of the astronauts who called Ohio home were the first to reach different milestones in space.
Rex pointed to Armstrong, the first to walk on the moon; John Glenn, the first to orbit the Earth; Jim Lovell, the command module pilot on Apollo 8 and commander of the Apollo 13 mission; and Suni Williams, who was the first person to run a marathon in space and was the first woman to fly on a flight test of an orbital spacecraft, the Boeing Starliner, as examples.
“When Armstrong was on his Gemini 8 mission, he was on top of a Titan II rocket, and prior to the Gemini program, the
AP PHOTO
ABOVE: Dr. Jonas Salk, Pittsburgh scientist who discovered the Polio vaccine, administers an injection to an unidentified boy at Arsenal Elementary School in Pittsburgh, Pa., Feb. 23, 1954.
BELOW: Workers are photographed on a flywheel assembly line at the Ford Motor Company’s Highland Park, Mi., plant in 1913. The use of a moving line reduced a car’s assembly time from 12 hours to 93 minutes. The world’s first automatic conveyor belt escalated the Industrial Age inspiring Henry Ford toward an unprecedented $5 per day minimum wage and an eight-hour day when auto industry workers were making $2.34 for a nine-hour shift. Faster assemblage meant quicker availability, giving impetus to America’s car culture and an ever-increasing mobile society.
Titan II had been used for intercontinental ballistic missiles. In layman’s terms, you were being strapped on top of a missile and being shot into space,” Rex said.
“You are hoping that the people who supported you, whether on the ground or who have made the spacecraft, have done their job just as well as you have.
“That’s another thing about Armstrong,” he added. “People would say he was very quiet or reserved about being the first man to walk on the moon. It really wasn’t that — it was the fact that he understood that the world did not come together to put Neil Armstrong on the moon. The world came together to put a person on the moon, and he just happened to be that person.”
Collaboration is critical to success in the space program going forward, he added.
“He thought, even with this museum, that having his name and solely his name on it was
a disservice to the hundreds of thousands of people who did their job just as well as he did his. Anytime they talked about this mission, he wanted to emphasize the importance of this being a global effort that was an American effort,” Rex continued.
“People had to come together, and it wasn’t just him. I think that’s really important looking forward, especially for the future missions — that if we want to accomplish great things, we have to work together.”
Astronauts, like Armstrong, have been willing to follow their dreams and strive to reach their goals.
“I think that is really important when it comes to not only being an astronaut, but for anyone looking at success in general — following a passion and applying yourself and seeing where it takes you,” Rex said.
“Sometimes, it takes you to the moon.”
AP PHOTO
SUBMITTED PHOTO SUBMITTED PHOTO
RIGHT: Retired Col. Bernard R. Lindstrom delivered the keynote speech during the South Hills Elks Lodge flag celebration.
LEFT: Marines help raise the flag.
SUBMITTED PHOTO
ABOVE: Scouts were on hand to provide history of the flag and insight into the importance of the Stars and Stripes.
FINLEYVILLE EATERY OPENS
Streams Children for Children supports literacy program
The Streams Elementary School community raised $2,165.29 and collected several hundred books to benefit the Marine Toys for Tots Literacy Program through its annual Children for Children service initiative.
Now in its 22nd year, the Children for Children program encourages students to learn about the needs of others while making a meaningful difference in their communities and beyond. This year’s theme, “Our Story Starts With Kindness,” focused on honoring veterans and exploring the values of service, gratitude and community.
Led by teachers Lauren Bogus, Jen Graceffo and Katie McIntyre, students selected the Marine Toys for Tots Literacy Program as this year’s beneficiary because of its connection to the military and its mission to provide books and educational resources to children in need.
“Our students were honored to support a cause that reflects the values they have been learning all year – service, gratitude, kindness and community,” Bogus said. “It perfectly reflected the learning and service that took place throughout our school community.”
Streams students raised funds through a schoolwide coin collection and the annual STAR Night raffle. In addition to their monetary donation, students collected hundreds of books that will be distributed to children through the literacy program.
Since its inception in 2005, the Children for Children initiative has raised approximately $110,000 for local, regional, national and international organizations.
SUBMITTED PHOTO
Streams Elementary School students in Upper St. Clair celebrate their fundraising efforts for the Marine Toys for Tots Literacy Program.
Cake FROM PAGE A1
year of operation, we reached about 100 deliveries, and we reached that in the first three months of our second year.
So far this year they have delivered 85 cakes and 172 dozen treats (cupcakes, cookies, brownies or bars).
For group celebrations, it’s often easier to have a couple dozen cupcakes to give out, Ishaan said.
“I’m really happy with how far this has come. The whole point of this was to continue what I started, and it’s really grown far faster than I ever expected. There’s been a tremendous amount of support for Pittsburgh. We’ve been fortunate that agencies
have jumped on board. Volunteers often stick around and become multiple time bakers. We’ve had so much support. It’s really awesome to see,” said Ishaan.
If the family gives permission, a picture of the child with the cake is uploaded to the portal and sometimes families provide feedback.
“Every single time we read that, it reminds us why we are doing it,” said Ishaan.
“And the other side of it is, because we’ve grown so fast, it made us realize how much of a need there is in the Pittsburgh area,” he said. “The downside to that growth made us realize how much of a population there is that we can serve.”
Going forward, he hopes to spread into the other counties in the Greater Pittsburgh area.
“We are meant to serve Pittsburgh and eight surrounding counties, and right now
we have a good presence in two to three of those. The majority of outreach is concentrated in Allegheny County, so we think that if we can spread out over time that would be our biggest goal in the long run.”
While at college, his mom takes over more of the day-to-day work, but Ishaan still bakes and delivers cakes when he can, even doing a delivery during his spring break this year.
What’s his favorite item to bake outside of cakes?
“Ishaan loves baking chocolate babka. He also likes to bake artisanal breads and pizza … all the challenging stuff!” Priyanka said. To volunteer, donate or to refer nonprofits working with children in the Greater Pittsburgh area to Cake4Kids, go to www. cake4kids.org.
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Upper St. Clair’s Thacker helps develop awardwinning App
Upper St. Clair High School
sophomore Mahi Thacker and her teammate, Janya Ullal from Pine-Richland, earned first place in the seventh annual CGI Innovate IT Challenge, winning a $20,000 college scholarship.
The CGI Innovate IT Challenge is a 12-week mobile app development competition in which high school teams from across the Pittsburgh region design innovative smartphone applications using Thunkable, a drag-and-drop app development platform. Throughout the program, students work alongside mentors from CGI, University of Pittsburgh students and local STEM industry partners, gaining hands-on experience in technology, collaboration and entrepreneurship. Thacker and Ullal developed an app called RealTokk, a short-form social media
platform designed to turn passive scrolling into meaningful action. The app combines engaging content with verified information and built-in tools that encourage users – particularly teens – to learn about real-world issues and make a positive impact. Features include educational context panels, an “ImpactShop” that supports ethical causes, and a “VeriPet” rewards system that encourages positive online engagement.
At Upper St. Clair High School, Thacker serves as captain of USC Robotics team ROGO Rose and vice president/managing editor of The St. Clairion student newspaper. She is also a state and national qualifier in Congressional Debate and will compete at the NCFL Speech and Debate National Tournament May 2224 in Washington, D.C.
IB exhibition day highlights student projects
Fourth-grade students at Streams Elementary recently presented their International Baccalaureate (IB) Inquiry Exhibition and Action Day projects, culminating months of research, collaboration, reflection and community action.
As the capstone experience of the International Baccalaureate Primary Years Programme (PYP), the Inquiry Exhibition challenges students to investigate real-world issues, develop a deeper understanding of their chosen topics and take action based on their learning.
Parents, administrators, teachers and members of the school community visited student exhibits to learn about the research process, hear presentations and discover how students transformed their learning into service and advocacy efforts.
“Our fourth-grade students have invested remarkable dedication, curiosity and passion into their inquiries,” Lauren Bogus, PYP co-coordinator and second-grade teacher, said. “They were truly excited to showcase their learning with both our school community and beyond.”
This year’s exhibition theme focused on honoring veterans and exploring organizations that support veterans and their families. Through their research, students learned about the challenges veterans may face and the resources available to assist them.
Organizations highlighted in student projects included America’s VetDogs, Veterans Leadership Program, Wounded Warrior Project and Soldiers’ Angels.
Throughout the process, students worked with teachers, mentors and family members to conduct research, ask meaningful questions and identify ways they could make a positive impact through action.
“It was an exciting day filled with lots of enthusiasm, joy and pride from all involved with the projects, including the students, families, mentors and lead teachers who had helped them along their learning journey,” Rebecca Smith, PYP co-coordinator and resource teacher, said.
The IB Primary Years Programme at Streams Elementary emphasizes student inquiry, critical thinking and action. The annual Inquiry Exhibition serves as a demonstration of those principles, empowering students to apply their knowledge in meaningful ways while developing the skills and confidence to make a difference in their community.
Grant supports Eisenhower’s All Kids Bike
Eisenhower Elementary School recently received a $750 grant from P3R to support the school’s All Kids Bike Learn-to-Ride Program.
The Learn-to-Ride program introduces kindergarten and first-grade students to biking through Strider balance bikes and a comprehensive physical educa-
tion curriculum. The grant will fund the purchase of an updated teacher instruction bike, allowing physical education teacher Corey Vasbinder to safely demonstrate essential riding skills and proper bike safety techniques.
A classroom set of Strider balance-to-pedal bikes, helmets and bike racks was
purchased a few years ago with support from Eisenhower’s Parent Teacher Organization. The recent grant will strengthen the program.
“We’re fortunate to have the Montour Trail right in our community, a place where families already run, walk and bike together,” Vasbinder said. “Through the P3R grant we can create a fun, hands-on environment where students learn the rules of the road and practice safe biking habits.”
P3R organizes a variety of races, events and health and fitness programs throughout the Pittsburgh region, including the DICK’S Sporting Goods Pittsburgh Marathon and the Chick-fil-A Pittsburgh Kids Marathon – the culminating race for participants in the Kids of STEEL program. Through Kids of STEEL, students follow a marathon training plan by completing 25 miles during training before running the final mile on race day. This year’s Chick-fil-A Pittsburgh Kids Marathon is scheduled for Saturday, May 2. All three Upper St. Clair elementary schools – Baker, Eisenhower and Streams – participate in the Kids of STEEL program.
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Teachers and students at Eisenhower Elementary School in Upper St. Clair celebrate having received a grant from P3R to support its All Kids Learn-To-Ride bike program.
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Teachers and students at Eisenhower Elementary School in Up-
per St. Clair celebrate having received a grant from P3R to support its All Kids Learn-To-Ride bike program.
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Emmy Whitmer, Caia Anderson and Lainey Maxwell pose in front of their display during International Baccalaureate Inquiry Exhibition and Action Day.
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Sienna Compel and Aiko Bosbach discuss her project during International Baccalaureate Inquiry Exhibition and Action Day.
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A group of students gather round to listen to their peers from Streams Elementary School during International Baccalaureate Inquiry Exhibition and Action Day.
sports
KESSLER MAKES PROSPECT LEAGUE’S ALL-STAR ROSTER
Bethel Park graduate making most of his time on the diamond
By Eleanor Bailey ebailey@thealmanac.net
D avid Kessler of Bethel Park has entered into a new phase regarding his baseball career. He is clinging to the dream of becoming a Major League player and is making the most of his final summer as an amateur before he returns to Indiana University
of Pennsylvania for the fall academic session. Kessler starts at shortstop for the Cape Catfish in Cape Girardeau, Missouri, which is located approximately 115 miles from downtown St. Louis and along the western banks of the Mississippi River.
Cape Catfish competes with 20 other teams in the Prospect League, which is one of the notable summer
leagues behind the more renowned wood-bat clubs associated with the Cape Cod, Northwoods and New England Collegiate Baseball Leagues.
Cape Catfish finished the first half of league play in first place in the South Division with a 19-7 record, and clinched home-field advantage for the playoffs, which begin in August.
Kessler has played a big role in Cape Catfish’s success.
In 26 games, he is batting .359 with four triples and two home runs, seven stolen bases, 24 RBI and 30 runs scored. With 14 walks, his on-base percentage swells to .448 and his slugging percentage is .573.
Kessler also was selected to play in the Prospect League’s all-star game, which will be played July 7 at Loeb Stadium in Lafayette, Indiana. A home-run derby will be held July 6.
“I’m not in that,” Kessler quickly said with a laugh. “The all-star team though, that was a goal of mine and I achieved that. Now the goals are to maintain the level of play where I am and continue to get better and help the team win a championship.”
Kessler is good at that.
In 2021 and 2022, he led Bethel Park to back-to-back PIAA state championships. The Blackhawks were 21-4 and shutout Selinsgrove, 5-0, in the 2022 final. They defeated Red Land High School, 4-2, to capture the 2021 crown. In 2024, Kessler helped IUP reach the semifinals of the NCAA Division II World Series.
“Winning back-to-back state titles in high school and finishing third in the country while starting at shortstop at IUP have been highlights in my career so far,” Kessler said.
The lowlight occurred in
events
By Jerin Steele jsteele@observer-reporter.com
Ellie Benson of McMurray has qualified for two major junior women’s golf events.
Two weeks ago, the recent Peters Township High School graduate shot two-under par to win the U.S. Girls’ junior qualifier at Shannopin Country Club. Last week, she shot a seven-under to win the Tri-State Junior PGA girls championship at South Hills Country Club. Those two victories earned her spots in national events.
Benson will play in the 77th U.S. Girls’ Junior Championship July 13-18
at Old Chatham Golf Club in Durham, N.C. Two weeks later she’ll be at the Junior PGA girls championship July 28-31 at Fields Ranch East & West in Frisco, Texas. Both events will provide Benson valuable experience before she heads to Gardner-Webb for her freshman year this fall.
“I’m really excited,” Benson said. “I love competing in events like that and competing against girls that are really good. Competing in that arena makes you a better player. I’m looking forward to playing against the best.”
Benson carded a round of 70 at Shannopin to win by six shots and take the only
2025. During the spring season at IUP, Kessler suffered a lower-body hernia tear and surgery was required to repair the injury. Kessler was idle for four months.
“It was hard. A struggle for sure,” Kessler said. “It was a blessing though because the injury allowed me to step back, watch and study the game. There was no stress on myself.”
As a result, Kessler experienced his “best season” in baseball. He helped IUP to the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) semifinals for the second consecutive season. During the regular season, Kessler led the team with nine home runs and 35 RBI, while posting a 1.000 OPS. He started
guaranteed qualifying spot for the U.S. Girls’ Junior Championship. Mya Morgan was second at plus-4. It was a strong day for Benson, but she was even better at the Tri-State Junior PGA.
In the 36-hole event, Benson finished 16 shots ahead of her closest competitor, Addy Davis, who took the second and final qualifying spot.
“Pretty much every part of my game was working that day. I can’t say that something was off. I was making a lot of my putts.
I’ve been going through a lot of swing changes lately, so I didn’t think it would go as well as it did, but I’m
Jonna Burke realized a long-time professional goal when she was named head coach of the women’s basketball team at Bethany College.
The Bethel Park native brings more than 35 years of experience and success to the Bisons.
“I am truly honored and humbled to become the next women’s basketball coach at Bethany College,” said Burke.
“Coaching at the collegiate level has long been a professional goal of mine, and I am grateful for the trust the administration has placed in me. I look forward to investing in our student-athletes both on and off the court and building a championship culture founded on relationships, integrity, and hard work. I’m excited for what’s ahead and can’t wait to begin this journey with our team and the entire Bethany community.”
The Bethany College administration is pleased to have Burke at the helm. Bison Director of Athletics Jen Windmiller announced the appointment on June 26.
“We are proud to welcome Jonna as the next leader of our women’s basketball program,” said Windmiller. “Throughout her career, Jonna has demonstrated a proven ability to build winning teams, develop meaningful relationships with her student-athletes, and create a culture of excellence. We are excited for her to bring that
experience and leadership to Bethany as we continue moving our program forward.”
Over her career, Burke compiled a 597-220 record that featured multiple section banners, three WPIAL championships and one state runner-up finish across three Western Pennsylvania high schools.
Most recently, she coached at Shady Side Academy. In five seasons, from 2021-26, she posted a 114-24 record. The Panthers won two Class
3A titles in 2024 and 2026. They were PIAA state finalists in 2025. While Burke began her coaching tenure at Butler, amassing a 123-100 record that included a section banner and four PIAA quarterfinal appearances from 19952003, she spent the bulk of her career at her alma mater. In 18 seasons at the helm, Burke guided the Lady Black Hawks to the playoffs every
ELEANOR BAILEY
David Kessler trots off the field after playing defense during a Cape Catfish contest in the Prospect Summer Baseball League.
ELEANOR BAILEY
David Kessler fields a ground ball to shortstop during a Cape Catfish game in the Prospect Summer Baseball League.
ELEANOR BAILEY
David Kessler (far right) shows the PIAA trophy to his teammates after Bethel Park won the Class 5A title in 2022.
Jonna Burke
all 49 games he appeared in and hit .329 in the cleanup spot and scored 38 runs. Kessler also earned All-PSAC first team honors to go along with academic all-district accolades for his 3.87 GPA. Of those achievements as well as his distinction as an all-star comes as no surprise to Patrick Zehnder. His former high school head coach said that Kessler “lifts the level” of those around him whether on the diamond, the classroom or life circumstances. Kessler was one of Zehnder’s first proteges when he took the helm in 2019.
“David helped establish the standard of performance and how to work and carry oneself in our program. To have a guy like him to build this program around my first few years was such a blessing. The impacts he had on the program go beyond the two state championships and WPIAL finals appearances. In fact, the impact is still felt today in the program.”
Zehnder predicts continued success for Kessler and notes his attributes and qualities.
“David will always be one of the most talented and skilled players I have coached, but what I will always remember most about him were his leadership, character, clutch ability and work ethic. That really puts him in elite air in terms of baseball players I have encountered. He was a great teammate, and always seemed to carry himself with professionalism and confidence no matter how things were going for him.
“Few deserve success like he does,” Zehnder continued.
“It is so great to see him continuing to accomplish great things. Also not a surprise with the aforementioned characteristics and the fact that he has a great family and support system around him. Continued success will come his way because of the time and care he puts into everything that he does.”
Benson
FROM PAGE B1
happy that it did. I kind of just had a few swing thoughts in my mind that helped me throughout the day. I knew it was going to be a long day with 36 holes, so I just tried to pace myself throughout the day.”
After an even-par front nine, Benson eagled the 10th hole to jumpstart her round. She finished her first round at three-under par and after getting a look at the scoreboard, she knew she had a comfortable lead going into the afternoon round.
“I am typically not a scoreboard watcher, but because it was 36 holes I wanted to see where I stood after 18,” Benson said. “When I saw where I was on the leaderboard, it kind of allowed me to play more freely (in the afternoon), because of the lead I had. If it was a two-shot lead I probably would’ve played a little more conservative.” Benson birdied three of
To get to this point in his career, Kessler acknowledges the role his parents (Traci and Duke) as well as his sister, Brooke, played in his development. He also recognized his many coaches, including Chris Eisel who is the assistant Director of Health and Performance at Battleground Baseball Group’s training facility in Mars, for his success.
“They believe in me,” he said.
Mostly though Kessler has faith in himself. He is adjusting to what life would be like should he ever become a professional. He has gone from playing a paltry 25 contests at the scholastic level to as many as 65 in college. So far this year, Kessler is on pace to play more than 100 games. “I don’t think that I have ever played this much. It shocked me. It’s a long season but if you want to continue, this gives you a little taste of what it will be like.”
In addition to developing an appetite for healthy foods such as sweet potatoes and broccoli with his steak as well as chicken sausage and avocado toast with his breakfast eggs, Kessler has adjusted to life on the road.
“I’ve been watching what I eat, putting nothing bad into my system, but honestly the
the first four holes and shot four-under on the front nine to put a stamp on the tournament.
Two days after Tri-State, Benson went to Lancaster to take part in practice rounds with Team Pennsylvania, which is part of the United States National Developmental Program. This is the inaugural season for Team Pennsylvania. The team consists of a dozen boys and girls apiece, which range in age from 13 to 18.
A committee selected the players in the fall.
“We’ll get to compete against other states,” Benson said. “It’s just really cool, because a lot of these girls, I’ve grown up playing with and such good players. It’s nice to finally be on a team with them and not competing against them one-on-one.”
Benson will get some practices in with Team Pennsylvania and some more lessons in with coaches before she heads to the two national events.
She’ll continue plugging away to be as prepared as possible.
hardest part has been being away from home for the first time,” he said. “The fans have made it easy but at the start, it was mentally challenging to be in a different and new environment as well as settling into a new schedule.”
In the Prospect League, Kessler has Mondays off while playing games Tuesday through Sunday. Then there are the bus rides. According to Kessler, they vary from one to six hours.
“It’s a whole process,” Kessler said
Each step, from high school through college and beyond, “prepares” you for your next experience, whether that be in baseball or life, Kessler theorized.
“It’s nothing totally shocking but the workload increases at every level. So does the competition. I’m playing against a lot of good competition, new people I have never played against before. But you find a way to get it done. It takes a lot of discipline.”
It will require an additional dose of discipline for Kessler to navigate the next chapter of his career.
While he earned his undergraduate degree in May, he will return to IUP in the fall to pursue an MBA as well as a masters degree in Human Resources and em-
“I’m never completely satisfied with my game,” Benson said. “There’s always something I would like to work on and something I’d like to change. That’s what I like so much about golf. There’s always new things to learn. New techniques to do and every time I have a lesson I feel like I learn something new. I’m always trying to improve in one area or another and I think that keeps it interesting.”
Benson has had an interesting, if not successful, scholastic career. She captured 17 gold medals, including as the individual WPIAL champion. She also sunk the winning putt in a playoff to win a state team title for the Lady Indians. Benson helped Peters Township to four district and two state team championships.
Benson will continue her career at Gardner-Webb University. She plans to major in marketing and minor in communications. She hopes to work in the gold industry after earning a master’s degree in business.
ployment relations. He will also continue his baseball career and the fall promises to be busy as the Crimson Hawks will host a pro day at the end of September. Scouts will descend on Owen J. Dougherty Field to measure speed such as Kessler’s 6.8 seconds in the 60-yard dash, assess hitting techniques and judge fielding skills. A good showing would set him up for the
2027 MLB amateur draft to be held in Chicago during All-Star Week.
“It’s a pivotal season and I’m gearing up for that,” Kessler. “I want to do well enough to catch somebody’s attention.”
The objectives are the same for the upcoming allstar exhibition.
“I’m excited to play in the all-star game. I’m hoping to get a hit and play error-free ball,” Kessler said. “Given the best players in the league will be competing in the game, I wouldn’t be shocked if there will be scouts there. So I want to be able to compete and make the most of my opportunities.”
The dream of playing in the major leagues, adds Kessler, is very much still alive.
“It will be there until it’s not. Time will tell,” he said. “I’ve talked to people who had the dream and they say you’ll know when it’s no longer one. It hits them. It hasn’t hit me. I’m still pushing towards that goal.”
That spirit, Kessler hopes, sticks with any youth that is getting into the game.
“Honestly I would tell them to follow their dream. Put in the work every day whether you want to or not want to. It’s as simple as it gets. You’ve got to chase your goals and make them happen.”
Coach
FROM PAGE B1
year from 2003-2021. Bethel Park captured its first and only WPIAL crown in 2013 by virtue of a 47-43 win over Chartiers Valley.
During her coaching run at Bethel Park the Lady Hawks won 360 games and lost only 107 times. They made 14 district semifinal appearances and earned three runner-up WPIAL trophies.
In addition to the WPIAL championships, the 500th career coaching win ranks among Burke’s fondest memories. She cemented her claim as one of the winningest coaches in WPIAL history on Jan. 3, 2023 when Shady Side Academy defeated Apollo-Ridge, 6634. At the time, only four other active coaches in the WPIAL had achieved the milestone.
“(Winning the 500th) was awesome and it was nice what people did,” she said of the post-game ceremony, which included a presenta-
tion of the game ball, cake, balloons and flowers. “That will be forever etched in my brain as are those WPIAL teams and appearances. The magnitude of those games and the bigger the games are, those are the ones you remember most.”
Burke added that she felt lucky to have been in the places she coached previously because she was surrounded by great kids and families.
Bethel Park has always been family and home for Burke. She married a fellow Bethel Park alum, Casey, and the pair resided in the municipality while parenting their two children, Logan and Tanner.
Burke had an outstanding playing career that landed her induction into several Hall of Fames, including her alma mater, the WPIAL and the Western Pennsylvania Sports honored homes.
During her scholastic career at Bethel Park, Burke scored 1,625 points that included a then record 42 in one game. As a senior, she averaged 22 points and 10 rebounds per game. As a ju-
nior her numbers were 20 points and 10 rebounds an outing. Burke then matriculated to the University of Pittsburgh. For the Panthers, she totaled 1,807 points, 954 rebounds and 224 steals. After being named Big East Rookie of the Year, she went on to gain All-Conference (twice) and All-America acclaim. Tabbed as an ACC Legend of the Game in 2016, she still ranks in Pitt’s Top 10 for scoring, rebounding, steals and assists.
Burke earned a Bachelor of Arts in English writing from the University of Pittsburgh in 1994. The following year, she earned a Master of Education degree from Pitt.
Burke takes on a Bethany program that finished third in the President’s Athletic Conference behind South Division co-champions, Washington and Jefferson and Saint Vincent with an 11-5 record. The Bison were 17-10 overall after losing to the Bearcats, 78-60, in the semifinals of the conference playoffs.
Panther pass available for purchase
Upper St. Clair High School sports fans can purchase a 2026-27 Panther Pass online at go.uscsd.org/ pantherpass. The pass provides general admission to all regular-season home athletic events
throughout the school year, including football, soccer, basketball, swimming, wrestling, lacrosse, volleyball and flag football. Admission to WPIAL and PIAA postseason contests is not included.
The fee is $50 per person.
This is a significant savings considering individual admission is $5 per regular-season home game. The Panther Pass is fully digital. No paper tickets or physical passes are issued.
Tickets will be distributed approximately one week before the start of each season: August for fall sports; December for winter activities and March for the spring session. Orders will begin processing the week of Aug. 18. After that, new orders will be processed within 24-48 hours.
Tickets will be assigned to the name of each Panther Pass holder. Families purchasing multiple passes may choose to have tickets delivered to separate email
addresses or sent to a single email account for convenient management. FLAG FOOTBALL A flag football camp for girls will be held Aug. 6 at the Bethel Park High School Turf 1 field.
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David Kessler hoists the PIAA trophy during the 2022 Brentwood Fourth of July parade.
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David Kessler poses with his family, Duke, Traci and Brooke, before playing in a Cape Catfish game.
ELEANOR BAILEY
David Kessler chases down a base runner when he played shortstop at Bethel Park High School.
sights & sounds
The Whiskey Rebellion
EXPLORED IN PUBLIC TELEVISION DOCUMENTARY
By Brad Hundt bhundt@observer-reporter.com
Alexander Hamilton is the subject of a monster musical, a best-selling, door-stopping biography and is considered an American martyr of the first order after dying at the hands of the dastardly Aaron Burr.
It’s probably fair to say, though, that some farmers in this region had the same lethal designs on Hamilton well before Burr actually carried out the deed.
They were the farmers who were about to be slammed by the tax on distilled spirits masterminded by Hamilton to pay off debts from the Revolutionary War. In Hamilton’s view, debts would be paid to “the lending class,” and these well-heeled
individuals would lend the government more and more money for other endeavors.
“This is how you build nations,” explained Kristian Berg, a producer at WPSU-TV, the Penn State-affiliated public television station. “This is the kind of government we ended up with.”
Those farmers who were about to have their livelihood strained by what they saw as a clear-cut case of taxation without representation were at the heart of the Whiskey Rebellion, the three-year tax uprising against the federal government that is a key moment in the United States’ early history and an essential part of regional lore.
The Whiskey Rebellion has been on Berg’s mind quite a bit over the last year or two, thanks to the 30-minute documentary
“The Whiskey Rebellion,” which he created for WPSU-TV. It is currently available to be seen online through the PBS app, and was recently screened at Washington & Jefferson College.
Narrated by Peter Coyote, the actor who has been the voice for some of Ken Burns’ mammoth historical series like “The Vietnam War,” “The Dust Bowl” and, most recently, “The American Revolution,” “The Whiskey Rebellion” takes a comparatively quick trip through the conflict. A seasoned documentarian and a veteran of public television, Berg pulled together “The Whiskey Rebellion” with an eye toward the celebrations of America’s 250th anniversary this summer.
“I’ve been pushing for the Whiskey Rebellion,” Berg explained over the phone from
what’s happening CONCERTS
The Dean Streator Summer Concert Series, sponsored by the Bethel Park Community Foundation, kicks off with a performance by the Community Band South at 2:30 p.m. July 12 in the air-conditioned auditorium of the Bethel Park Community Center.
Other dates and groups in the 2026 summer session include:
July 19 — New Vintage Big Band.
Aug. 2 — Allegheny Brass Band
Aug. 9 — Pittsburgh Banjo Club Aug. 16 — Keystone Chorus featuring barbershop harmonies and singalongs.
The concerts are free, but contributions to the BP Community Foundation are welcome. The foundation funds scholarships and other projects that benefit residents of Bethel Park in the areas of arts and culture, health and recreation, education and safety.
Concerts begin at 2:30 p.m. Doors open at 1:30. Parking is limited.
BP LIBRARY
The Bethel Park municipal library will offer the following:
State College recently, saying that despite its rancor it “strengthened the national identity.”
The first email he sent about “The Whiskey Rebellion” goes all the way back to 2015. Ultimately, Berg said, “A lot of stations liked the Whiskey Rebellion as an idea.”
The work of the 67-year-old Berg has taken him as far afield as Kazakhstan and Tahiti and led him to tackle such diverse subjects as farm foreclosures and the Nuremberg trial of Nazi war criminal Adolph Eichmann. For “The Whiskey Rebellion,” Berg obviously could not turn to photographs or films, since both mediums were decades away from being born at the time of the Whiskey Rebellion. He did, however, rely on some art that’s been inspired by the Whiskey Rebellion, including work by Canonsburg painter James Sulkowski, and reenactors who know the period. Members of the board of Washington’s Bradford House Historical Association appear in the documentary, as well as docents and volunteers at the Bradford House.
Berg himself also has a local tie to the Whiskey Rebellion – a great-great-great-great grandfather, Leverton Thomas, was part of the Whiskey Rebellion. Born in Wales, Thomas is buried in Pigeon Creek Cemetery in Eighty Four.
The Whiskey Rebellion “really was the event that shook the republic, but it ultimately strengthened it,” Berg said.
PITTSBURGH BOTANIC GARDEN CELEBRATES NATIVE PLANTS
The Pittsburgh Botanic Garden will celebrate the beauty and ecological significance of native plants at its annual gala on July 23.
Blossom: Gone Native is a celebration immersed in a native landscape featuring flora and fauna that make this region special.
This evening includes dining, live entertainment, opportunities to learn about native plants’ vital role in the
SAT Seminar at 6:30 p.m. July 9 for 10th- and 11th-grade students. They will learn strategies in approaching the exam as well as how to plan for when and how many times to take the test. Students will also work on some practice questions.
Celebrate Ukraine at 6:30 p.m. July 15. The event celebrates the four-year anniversary of the Pittsburgh-based Ukrainian non-profit group.
Montanka Doll-Making at 6:30 p.m. July 22. The demonstration will cover how to make the dolls followed by a related video.
Visit bethelpark.librarycalendar.com to register or call 412-835-2207 for more information.
FITNESS
The Westminster Recreation and Outreach Center will offer fitness classes beginning July 6 at the Westminster Presbyterian Church located at 2040 Washington Road in Upper St. Clair.
Barre Sculpt, Cardio Drumming, Cardio Strength Fusion, Gentle and Flow Yoga, Faith & Fitness, Parkinson’s Fitness, Pilates, drop-in Zumba AM/PM, and Stronger Bones
ecosystem, and a first look at the new Ravine Garden & Overlook.
As Pittsburgh Botanic Garden continues its mission to inspire people to value plants, garden design, and the natural world, this year’s theme highlights the importance of restoring and protecting native landscapes throughout the Allegheny Plateau region.
Proceeds from the event support ongoing conservation projects including
for Better Balance are among the courses available.
Visit wroc.westminster-church.org to register or call Kathy Long at 412-835-663 for more information.
ICE CREAM
Peters Township will celebrate National Ice Cream Day from 2 to 3 p.m. July 14 at the recreation center. Children, ages 3 to 5, accompanied by an adult will receive a treat as well as create a craft and play fun games. Fee is $5 ($8 nonmembers). Registration deadline is July 10.
Visit www.peterstownship.com to sign up or call 724-942-5000 for more details.
TRUCK TOUCH
A touch-a-truck event will be held from 10 a.m. to noon July 11 at Peterswood Park, 700 Meredith Dr. This family-free event will be held near the top of the hill near Grasshopper Field.
FLEA MARKETS
The Labouré Ladies Guild of St. Catherine Labouré Parish will hold its annual flea market “Timeless Treasures” with an extra day this year. The sale will be from 9 a.m.
to 5 p.m. July 16 and 17 as well as from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. July 18 at St. Louise DeMarillac Church in the LeGras Parish Center (lower level), 320 McMurray Road.
Sale items will include jewelry, gently used children’s clothing to size 6, toys, decorative items, knick knacks, kitchen items, holiday decorations, linens, tools, books, some furniture and much more. There will also be a boutique offering better quality items. Due to fire restrictions, strollers are not permitted inside LeGras Parish Center.
The Church of the Atonement will hold a flea market from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. July 18 on the lawn located at 618 Washington Ave. in Carnegie. Vendors are needed to sell crafts and other flea market items.
large-scale acid mine drainage mitigation, enhanced education programs for youth and adult audiences, and advancing environmental stewardship initiatives by cultivating native plant collections.
Pittsburgh Botanic Garden is located at 799 Pinkerton Run Road in Oakdale. Visit PittsburghBotanicGarden.org or call 412-444-4464 for tickets
a.m. to 1 p.m. Aug. 2.
CHABAD EVENTS
The Chabad of the South Hills is offering the following:
Mommy & Me, a music and movement event with Hindy Rosenblum, will be held from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. Sundays, July 12, 19 and 26. Ages birth to 3 participate in sensory play with friends. Fee is $5 per week or $12 for the session. RSVP required. Visit chabadsh.com/baby or email hindy@chabadsh.com with questions.
Evening with Holocaust survivor Ellen Tissenbaum will be held at 7 p.m. July 20. “Where I Belong” is a story of discovered strength. Admission is free but registration is requested at chabadsh.com/lecture. Address will be provided upon registration
Call 412-276-0366 to register a space for $10. Vendors must bring a table or blanket and chair, and items they plan to sell. Tarps are not permitted.
St. Gregory Byzantine Catholic Church will hold a summer flea market from 8 a.m. to noon Aug. 1 at 2005 Mohawk Road in Upper St. Clair. A leftover sale runs from 11
Jewish New York is set for Aug. 30 from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. This is an air roundtrip to New York City to visit The Rebbe’s resting place, Crown Heights Tour, Chabad world headquarters and to shop and eat at a delicious kosher restaurant. Register at chabadsh.com/jny Cost is $125. Flight and dinner are purchased individually.
COURTESY OF KRISTIAN BERG
ABOVE: Kate Cunning and daughter Arwen playing a rebel family after the father has been arrested and taken away by Washington’s militia in “The Whiskey Rebellion.”
BELOW: Producer Kristian Berg with living historian Gary Smith of Lancaster at the Eichelberger Distillery in Dillsburg, PA. Gary reenacts a federal excise tax inspector in “The Whiskey Rebellion.” The Eichelberger Distillery is a reconstructed 18th century distillery that makes Pennsylvania rye whiskey just as they did in 1794.
COURTESY OF KRISTIAN BERG
WPSU videographer Byron Conrad records Bryan Cunning writing with quill and ink at the David Bradford House for the WPSU documentary “The Whiskey Rebellion.”
Obituary
Mary K. Mauer
Mary Kane Mauer, 90, of Westminster, Colo., passed peacefully, in her sleep, Saturday, June 27, 2026. Born December 15, 1935, Mary grew up in Bethel Park, the eldest of four sisters. She was preceded in death by her sister, Roberta “Bobbie” Trautman; and is survived by sisters, Roselyn Meier, and Patricia “Patty” Williams. Mary graduated high school in Bethel Park, and married Ronald J. Mauer Sr. Together, they raised a family of five children.
She was awarded a bachelor’s degree from Duquesne University in Pittsburgh, and worked for many years as a religious educator at St. Valentine Parish in Bethel Park. Mary and Ron later moved to Valparaiso, Ind., where she earned a master’s degree from the University of Notre Dame in South Bend, Ind., and continued her work as a religious educator at both St. Mary of the Lake and St. Paul parishes in Northwest Indiana.
Following her retirement from a career that culminated as director of religious education, Mary moved to Denver, Colo. to spend her last years in view of her beloved Rocky Mountains.
Mary is survived by her children: Joni of Bainbridge Island, Wash.; Cathy (Jane) of Denver; Ron, Jr. (Carolin) of Hilton Head Island, S.C.; Mike (Marsey) of Lauderhill, Fla.; and Dave (Cheryl) of Valparaiso; six grandchildren, Robin, Sarah (Andy), Lindsay (Nick), Matt (Shana), Rae (Zach), and Ken; and two great-grandsons, River (Lindsay and Nick) and Bennett (Sarah and Andy). Memorial services are pending.
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AUDI AUDI WASHINGTON 453 Racetrack Road,Washington, PA 866-414-9744 www.audiwashington.com
BUICK
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CHEVROLET
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COLUSSY CHEVROLET 3073 Washington Pk. Bridgeville, PA 15017 412-564-9829 www.colussy.com
SOLOMON CHEVROLET 1777 McClellandtown Rd, McClellandtown, PA 724-602-4678 www.solmonchevy.com
SUN CHEVROLET Route 19, McMurray, PA 724-941-5160 www.sunchevy.com
WASHINGTON CHEVROLET Intersection of Rt. 19, I-79 & I-70, Exit 19A Washington, PA 724-222-2800 www.washingtonchevy.com
CHRYSLER
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DODGE
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FIAT
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FORD
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GMC
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