IRON, CULTURE AND THE LITTLE STEEL STRIKE
By Dan Pompili
The (Youngstown) Vindicator
YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio –
It was June 19, 1937, when violence erupted outside Republic Steel’s Stop 5 plant on Poland Avenue. Workers had picketed for weeks as part of the nationwide Little Steel Strike, a bitter battle over union recognition.
Republic Steel and Youngstown Sheet & Tube refused to follow industry giant U.S. Steel in recognizing the Steel Workers Organizing Committee.
As tensions escalated, production stalled and movement in and out of the mill slowed to a crawl. When the riot broke out at Republic, then-Ohio Gov. Martin Davey declared martial law and dispatched the National Guard to restore order. The confrontation became one of the defining moments in Youngstown labor history.
The story of the strike began long before 1937, though, in iron mills, immigrant neighborhoods, church parishes and company offices, as Youngstown transformed itself from a small Connecticut Western Reserve community into one of the world’s leading steel-producing centers.
Steel created immense wealth and opportunity throughout the city and Mahoning County. It fueled population growth and helped build many of the institutions that still define the Mahoning Valley today. But it also created labor tensions, power struggles and social divisions.
Youngstown’s identity was shaped by the people who came to work in its mills, and by the communities they built around language, religion and shared origin.
“Cities like Youngstown or Warren and then the
FIREWORKS START EARLY IN SOUTH HILLS
Bethel Park, Caste Village hold pre-holiday displays
smaller cities in between are what you would call tribal,” said Mahoning Valley Historical Society Executive Director Bill Lawson. “You had groups immigrating from the eastern Mediterranean, from eastern Europe, from southern Europe, northern Europe, and by and large, for the most part, they were coming because they already had people from their village or their district that were here and wrote back and said, ‘There’s plenty of jobs. I can find you a place to live.’”
Those networks shaped where people lived, worshipped and worked — and eventually who held power inside the mills. It wasn’t always steel
The natural resources in and around what would become Youngstown made it ideal for industrial production, but steel was not its first identity. Abundant stores of iron ore, coal, timber, and limestone made iron production a logical choice for settlers in the Mahoning Valley.
In the post-Civil-War era, iron furnaces and related manufacturing operations came to define the local economy. Industrial development accelerated after
the Panic of 1873 and subsequent economic downturn, helping establish the Mahoning Valley as one of the nation’s important iron-producing regions.
Lawson describes the 1880s as “the prime of the Iron Age in the Mahoning Valley.” But even as local iron production expanded, industry leaders were beginning to recognize a fundamental shift underway in American manufacturing.
Across Pennsylvania, steel was rapidly replacing iron as the backbone of American industry, though Youngstown was slower than some competing cities to make the transition.
“We didn’t have Bessemer converters online here until 1895, but by then, in 1892, the local iron stakeholders realized their future wasn’t in iron, it was steel,” Lawson said.
That realization would reshape the city.
New industry, new people
In 1892, local industrialists, including Henry Wick, H.O. Bonnell and J.G. Butler Jr., organized the Ohio Steel Co., a venture designed to position Youngstown for the new industrial age.
Within a few years, larger corporations like National
Steel and eventually U.S. Steel would acquire local interests, transforming the Mahoning Valley into one of the nation’s premier steel-producing districts.
“This was the second leading steel-producing district in the country and for all intents and purposes, for the world, too,” Lawson said. “You had Pittsburgh and you had Youngstown.”
Long before Youngstown became a steel powerhouse, immigrants had arrived to work in the valley’s iron furnaces, coal mines and related industries. In the 1880s, foreign-born residents constituted a majority of Youngstown’s population, and Lawson noted that it was a young one – the city’s median age was only 21 or 22. As steel mills expanded across the region at the turn of the century, Youngstown’s population grew and its cultural and ethnic identity began to shift.
Earlier waves of immigration mostly brought people from northern and western Europe, including the British Isles and Germany. By the turn of the twentieth century, however, Italians, Slovaks, Croatians, Hungarians, Poles, Greeks and SEE STRIKE PAGE B2
USC final budget includes tax increase
The Upper St. Clair School Board adopted a final budget of $111,566,288 for the 2026-27 school year during its June 15 meeting.
Fourth of July celebrations get an early start in the South Hills this weekend with several popular annual fireworks displays.
Caste Village kicks off the festivities at 5 p.m. on June 26 with music from Pittsburgh DJ Truck. A performance by Dance Workshop follows at 6:30 p.m. Fireworks will be launched at dusk.
Ice cream from Page’s Dairy Mart, food trucks, shaved ice, kettle corn and fresh lemonade will be available for purchase. Games and other activities will be held.
While limited work has started on the Baptist Road construction project, the state Department of Transportation moved the start date to the week of July 6 so as to not impact the Caste Village fireworks night.
During Phase I of the project, Baptist Road will be reduced to a single lane, 24 hours a day. Eastbound traffic from Weyman Road to Brownsville Road will remain open through construction. Westbound traffic will be detoured using Provost Road.
Phase 1 of the construction project is expected to run through November. Phase 2 is projected to start in April and finish in December of 2027.
Bethel Park’s annual “Summer Spectacular” fireworks display will be held at 9:40 p.m. June 27.
n Abraham Lincoln Elementary School (1524 Hamilton Road), n St. Germaine Church (7003 Baptist Road), n Hamilton Presbyterian Church (4500 Hamilton Road), n Cool Springs Golf (1530 Hamilton Road). Parking lots will open at 7 p.m. Treat trucks will be in place at viewing locations and include Beedle’s Ice Cream at Cool Springs; Kona Ice at Abraham Lincoln; Wu’s Shaved Ice at Hamilton Presbyterian, and Wild River Kettle Korn at St. Germaine’s.
The approved increase remains below Pennsylvania’s Act 1 inflationary index. For 2026-27, Upper St. Clair’s maximum allowable increase was 3.5%, or 1.1030 mills.
The budget addresses several significant financial
The budget includes a 3% tax increase, or 0.9455 mills, resulting in a final millage rate of 32.4605. For a home assessed at the district’s median home value of $237,300, the increase equates to approximately $224 per year, or $18.67 per month.
challenges facing the district, including declining real estate revenue associated with Allegheny County’s common-level ratio, rising healthcare costs and increased utility expenses.
The common-level ratio is used to determine the assessed value of a property based on 2013 market values. The common-level
ratio has steadily declined from 100% in 2013 to 50.14% in 2026. As a result, the district anticipates between $850,000 and $1 million in tax refunds to commercial property owners due to assessment appeals. District officials do not expect relief from this issue until a countywide
SEE TAX PAGE A4
“This is one of our most anticipated events each year,” said Bethel Park Manager Kristen Denne. “We welcome visitors from across Bethel Park and the entire western Pennsylvania region.”
While the fireworks will be launched from Millennium Park, no one will be allowed entrance to the site. Instead, spectators can view the 25-minute Zambelli display from the following venues:
For those unable to attend, Bethel Park’s BPTV will broadcast the event live on the “Municipality of Bethel Park” Facebook page and on cable TV channels 21 (Comcast) and 32 (Verizon). Rain date is June 29. Any change due to inclement weather will be made by 5 p.m. on June 28 and announced on all Bethel Park social media outlets as well as at www.bethelparkpa.gov. Peters Township’s 46th annual community day concludes with a fireworks display at 9:30 p.m. June 27 at Rolling Hills Park. From 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. activities for all ages will be held at the park. There will be vendor booths featuring food, games, raffles, entertainment, and community organizations. For the children there will be free rides, bounce houses, face painting, airbrush tattoos, and live strolling entertainment. Adults can relax in the beer garden. A shuttle service will run continually from the high school parking lot to the park, but guests are welcome to walk to and from the event. For more details regarding Peters Township community day or the fireworks, call 724-942-5000.
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Gloom and anxiety shadow the industrial landscapes of Youngstown, Ohio, in September 1980. Recession has arrived in the former steel center where some of the blast furnaces that made it great are growing cold. Plants that can no longer compete with newer mills in Germany and Japan are closing down and thousands of steelworkers have been laid off. Here, the Jones and Laughlin Steel Co. plant, left, looms over the Mahoning River in Struthers, near Youngstown.
in the workplace.
others had settled in Youngstown neighborhoods, often living alongside relatives and countrymen who had arrived before them.
Lawson said those communities maintained strong cultural identities through churches, social clubs, businesses and family networks. The result was a city rich in traditions, languages and customs, but also one whose neighborhoods often developed along ethnic lines.
The same forces that transformed Youngstown’s cultural makeup were also reshaping its physical landscape. As workers and their families arrived by the thousands, demand for housing, businesses and public institutions grew just as rapidly. What had once been a modest industrial community was becoming a city, and real estate emerged as one of the region’s fastest-growing economic drivers.
Division and strife
The ethnic networks that helped immigrant communities preserve their identities also reinforced social boundaries. European groups often organized themselves around nationality, language and religion.
While those divisions often reflected culture and tradition rather than outright hostility, some groups found themselves on the outside more than others.
“If you were the turn foreman or supervisor on a specific mill or like the open hearth furnaces, you had arrived and you were paid based on your production and you were responsible for hiring your crew. Who are you going to hire?
You’re going to hire your sons, your brothers, your cousins, your neighbors, your friends from church,” Lawson said. “And that was your crew. Each mill had its own demographics in terms of who rose up to be the supervisor or turn foreman in a particular department, and that’s how it ran.”
Stories of exclusion were especially common for ethnic Europeans during the 1920s, when Youngstown saw a rise in Ku Klux Klan activity. Native-born Protestants reacted with hostility toward Catholic, southern- and eastern-European immigrants. Soon they would have a new target for their anger and antagonism – African-Americans escaping the Jim Crow South.
While Black migrants could generally find work at the mills, they couldn’t hope for comfortable or well-paid positions.
“The only jobs available to them were the general labor pool or the ones that nobody else wanted to do, like the coke plant or blast furnaces — the most dangerous, dirty jobs available in the mills,” Lawson said. “It was segregated at work. It was segregated in the neighborhoods.”
For decades, that system remained largely intact. By the 1930s, however, workers across the nation’s heavy industries were increasingly demanding a greater voice
“The union dynamics changed the industry quite a bit,” Lawson said. The workers’ voice
During the Great Depression, the Congress of Industrial Organizations and the SWOC began aggressively organizing steel workers across the country.
The movement sought better wages and working conditions, and a more formal system governing hiring, promotion and representation.
“The CIO definitely wanted to organize the steel industry,” Lawson said. “And of course the steel industry was resistant.”
That resistance weakened somewhat in early 1937 when U.S. Steel shocked both labor leaders and industry executives by recognizing the SWOC, Lawson said. The agreement emboldened union organizers, who quickly turned their attention to the industry’s remaining holdouts.
“It’s called the Little Steel Strike because in May of 1937 they targeted Youngstown Sheet and Tube Co., Republic Steel Corp. and Inland Steel Co.,” Lawson said.
In addition to strikes in Youngstown, Canton, and Massillon, union activists picketed against the three Ohio companies — as well as Bethlehem Steel — in Pennsylvania, Indiana, Illinois, Michigan and West Virginia.
As May turned to June, workers established picket lines around plant entrances while management attempted to maintain operations. The standoff grew increasingly tense.
“It was hard to get supplies and food in and even harder to get material out with trucks and trains,” Lawson said.
The pressure finally boiled over on June 19, but the strike itself ultimately failed. Republic remained a holdout for years after, and many union supporters lost their jobs.
“My grandfather was one of them,” Lawson said.
Yet the events of 1937 did not stop the labor movement. Through court battles, organizing efforts and federal labor protections, steelworkers gradually secured representation throughout the industry.
Republic finally signed a contract in 1942, the same year the SWOC became the United Steelworkers of America.
When immigration, industrial growth, economic inequality, ethnic division and the struggle for power all converged in 1937, the Little Steel Strike became one of the defining chapters in Youngstown’s and America’s history, a conflict forged over decades in the furnaces, neighborhoods, churches and boardrooms that built modern Youngstown.
Next week, we’ll study how oil, coal, natural gas, and timber were transformative to a growing nation, and today, the shale boom has led natural gas and oil development to be America’s latest energy frontier.
Upper St. Clair students achieve perfect pass rate
Upper St. Clair High School students enrolled at Parkway West Career and Technology Center achieved a 100% pass rate on the National Occupational Competency Testing Institute (NOCTI) exams, demonstrating mastery of industry-specific skills. The NOCTI assessments
measure both technical knowledge and hands-on performance aligned to career fields.
Six Upper St. Clair seniors completed certification testing including Jocelyn Kline, Diesel Technology; Joseph Moore, Computer Systems Networking; John Paradise, Culinary Arts; Emma Mitch-
ell, Veterinary Assistant; Nicholas Gilbert, Electrical Power and Transmission Installers; and Madison Horne, Health Assisting.
In total, 38 Upper St. Clair students are participating in Parkway West programs during the 2025-26 school year. Parkway West Career and
Technology Center offers 16 programs of study designed to prepare students for in-demand careers, including automotive technology, carpentry, electrical systems, HVAC/R, cybersecurity and networking, health care, welding and more.
Dietiker earns perfect score, Directors Award at PJAS state meet
An Upper St. Clair High School ninth-grader earned top honors at the recent Pennsylvania Junior Academy of Science (PJAS) State Meet, held at Penn State University. Freshman Claire Dietiker received a First Award, Perfect Score and the Directors Award for Junior High Excellence in Mathematics for her project, The Mathematics of Art: Graphing the Concorde. Dietiker was joined by five classmates who also earned First Awards for their research projects: freshmen Aanya Jha and Hadley Maxwell; sophomores Conrad Davis and Antara Mondal; and
junior Daniiar Zamirbekov. Approximately 2,000 students from across Pennsylvania competed at the PJAS State Meet. To qualify, students first had to earn a First Award at one of the organization’s 12 regional competitions.
Upper St. Clair students earning First Awards included Claire Dietiker, grade 9, mathematics; Aanya Jha, grade 9, earth and space; Hadley Maxwell, grade 9, engineering; Conrad Davis, grade 10, earth and science; Antara Mondal, grade 10, engineering; Daniiar Zamirbekov, grade 11, botany.
Jocelyn Kline
Emma Mitchell
Emma Mitchell
Joseph Moore
Nicholas Gilbert
John Paradise
Madison Horne
BELOW: Top performers from Upper St. Clair at the PJAS state meet included, from left, Conrad Davis, Daniiar Zamirbekov, Aanya Jha, Hadley Maxwell, Claire Dietiker and Antara Mondal
Commissioners delay decision on miniature golf course at Mingo Creek park
By Mike Jones mjones@observer-reporter.com
The Washington County commissioners are delaying a decision on whether to build a miniature golf course at Mingo Creek County Park after being inundated with messages from people who do not want it to take away from the natural beauty of the park in Nottingham Township.
Before public comment even began during the May 7 commissioners meeting, board Chairman Nick Sherman announced that officials were planning to table the motion to spend more than $300,000 on the 18-hole mini-golf course behind the park office due to the public’s outcry.
“We’ve received a litany of phone calls and emails about this,” Sherman said. “They’re worried about the integrity of the park.”
The county in November commissioned a study on the project, paying $73,659 for Remington & Vernick Engineers of Ross Township to perform engineering reviews on two possible locations for the amenity. A request for proposal was later advertised and the commissioners had settled on the $318,595 estimate from Michigan-based Adventure Golf & Sports, with optional “water features” for an extra $131,121. A second estimate from Harris Mini Golf Courses of Scranton for $641,000 was not considered.
But the county apparently received an onslaught of phone calls and emails over the past two days after the commissioners placed the miniature golf course on the agenda for consideration during their Tuesday morning workshop meeting.
That pushback continued at Thursday’s meeting as four people spoke out against the miniature golf course during public comment even after Sherman announced they would delay
any decision on it until a later date.
Marah Coleman of North Strabane said she enjoys the walking and hiking trails at Mingo, and even rides her horse on the equestrian trails. Coleman said she appreciated the commissioners looking to offer kid-friendly activities, but she thought the mini-golf course would be a “negative detriment to the park.”
“I just believe that’s not the space for it, and I’m hoping that maybe there’s another space in the county where we could have something so great,” Coleman said.
Bernie Slezak of North Strabane suggested the county spend money improving the park in other ways, such as installing new blazes or markings for trails. The county was planning on using Act 13 impact fee money from natural gas royalties at the park to pay for the course.
Nina Biehler of South Strabane said she and others train dogs at Mingo, and even said the hillside behind the park office where the mini-golf was planned is called “beginners field” because it’s the perfect spot for new trainees.
“That park is, it just means so much to me,” Biehler said. “The field, the woods, trails. It’s the most peaceful place, the best place to be … and I’d hate to see anything out there that would take anything away from the nature.”
Bob Taylor of Fallowfield noted that there seemed to be little input from the public about the miniature golf course and asked why a survey was not performed asking the community what new amenities they wanted to see at Mingo.
“In past administrations, when you did something at this large of a scale for a public park, they usually had a survey before the (decision) and I’m just wondering why that wasn’t done,” Taylor said.
Sherman indicated that will
be part of the planning moving forward, appearing to promise a “poll” to let county residents decide whether they want a miniature golf course at Mingo or something else. He added there initially was praise when the idea was first broached in August, but he acknowledged that there was a substantial amount of backlash in recent days as the plan became more public.
“At the end of the day, the three of us county commissioners are stewards of the taxpayers, and we work for you,” Sherman said of himself and his fellow commissioners Electra Janis and Larry Maggi. “We know this, so if there’s an outcry of something you don’t want, we’re not going to proceed with it.”
He said a vote on the issue would be taken at a later date, although it was not clear when that would happen.
Also during the meeting, the commissioners unanimously approved the creation of a new “Sportsmen’s & Outdoor Recreation Advisory Council”
that they hope will promote, enhance and preserve outdoor recreation opportunities in the county.
The council would have 11 to 15 members and include people from the county’s Parks & Recreation Department, Pennsylvania Game Commission or Fish & Boat Commission, a watershed or wildlife conservation expert, local hunting and fishing clubs, trail groups, environmental nonprofits, youth outdoor advocates, a tourism or economic development rep-
resentatives, and a municipal representative from the three townships where county parks are located. Three “at-large members” could consist of citizens, landowners and stakeholders with outdoor recreation interests.
The council will work to protect wildlife habitats, expand public access to outdoor resources, increase tourism and improve cooperation between agencies, clubs, nonprofits and local residents. County officials said the first-year priorities will be community cleanup efforts, starting a Cross Creek Outdoor Recreation Festival, establishing adopt-a-trail and adopta-creek programs, while also developing a comprehensive outdoor recreation map and guide for county residents and visitors. The county commissioners expect to appoint council members by mid-summer. Those interested in sitting on the council can contact the commissioners office at 724-228-6724 for more information on how to apply.
Washington County commissioners have delayed a decision whether to build a miniature golf course in Mingo Creek County Park.
property reassessment occurs.
In addition, the budget includes a more than $900,000 increase in healthcare costs and a $325,000 increase in electricity expenses. Combined with the financial impact of the common-level ratio, these factors represent more than $2 million in budgetary pressures.
Despite these challenges, the budget continues to invest in students, educational programming and facility improvements.
Several capital projects are underway at Upper St. Clair High School, including renovations to the library and theater. The the -
ater is undergoing its first major renovation since 1998. Improvements include new flooring, updated seating, fresh paint, and modern lighting and sound systems. Construction is expected to be completed before the start of the 2026-27 school year. The district is also creating specialized instructional spaces to support student learning and future readiness. Warehouse 319 and Apartment 404A are being developed to provide transition programming for students with special needs, including vocational training and independent living experiences. In addition, a dedicated robotics classroom and competition space is being created to support both the district’s robotics curriculum and its after-
school USC Robotics Club.
“This budget reflects our continued commitment to providing exceptional opportunities for students while remaining responsible stewards of taxpayer resources,” Dr. John Rozzo, superintendent, said. “Even amid rising costs and ongoing revenue challenges, we have remained focused on investing in the programs, people and facilities that support student success.”
Salary and benefits account for 72% of the district’s expenditures, while debt service represents 10% of the budget. Through attrition, staffing levels are expected to decrease by three positions without affecting student programming or services.
Local taxes continue to be the
district’s primary revenue source, accounting for 78% of total revenue. State funding comprises 21%, while federal funding totals $786,237, representing less than 1% of revenues.
The budget also includes the use of approximately $1.2 million from the district’s fund balance to offset one-time expenses, including the expiration of several leases.
Qualifying homeowners will benefit from a homestead/farmstead exclusion that reduces a home’s property tax assessment by $12,193.89, resulting in a real estate tax savings of $395.82. This property tax relief program is funded through the distribution of a portion of gaming funds provided from taxes on slots and casinos
throughout the state. The homestead/farmstead exclusion has increased over the last few years from $294, $354 and $393 in 2023, 2024 and 2025 respectively. To qualify for the homestead/ farmstead exclusion, the property must be an owner-occupied residence and the property owner must have filed and received approval via a homestead exemption application with Allegheny County by March 1.
Visit the Allegheny County website to obtain an application.
The 2026-27 final budget is available on the district website and at the district’s administrative offices at 1775 McLaughlin Run Road.
Upper St. Clair’s Gesk leads Kids of STEEL fundraising effort
Annabelle Gesk of Upper St. Clair was named the top fundraiser in the Kids of STEEL Run for a Reason program. A second-grade student at Baker Elementary School, Gesk raised $1,879.07 for the Autism Connection of Pennsylvania.
Run for a Reason is part of the Kids of STEEL program and the Chick-fil-A Pittsburgh Kids Marathon. Through the after-school program, students trained with classmates by running a cumulative 25.2 miles before completing the final
mile together during the Kids Marathon on May 2, officially reaching the marathon distance of 26.2 miles.
As part of the Run for a Reason initiative, students collected donations from friends and family to support charities that were meaningful to them.
In addition to Gesk, Josh Baldwin, Chase Ingalise and Sadie Ingalise also participated in the fundraising effort, each raising more than $350 for the Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank, Casey’s Clubhouse
and the Homeless Children’s Education Fund, respectively. Together, the four students raised more than $3,000 for charity.
The Baker Elementary Kids of STEEL program is led by school nurse Holly Fisher and first-grade teacher Karleen Bileck, with additional support from staff volunteers Amy O’Korn, Tina Lach, Cortney Bryant and Amana Sichko, as well as several parent volunteers.
“These incredible students worked hard to raise funds for charities close to their hearts, and because of their amazing efforts, Upper St. Clair earned a spot in the first heat on race day,” Fisher said. “Even more exciting, Baker Elementary finished at the top of the Kids of STEEL leaderboard with an amazing $3,077.73 raised for charity.”
Kids of STEEL has become an important part of the Bak-
er school community since launching in 2018. This year, more than 130 students participated in the program, with 104 students completing the Chickfil-A Pittsburgh Kids Marathon. Fisher said one of the most meaningful aspects of the program is its commitment to inclusion.
“One of the things I love most about Kids of STEEL at Baker is
that it truly is for everyone,” she said. “Every child, regardless of skill level, pace or physical ability, has a place on our team. We work hard to make practices inclusive and adaptive so that all students can participate in ways that are meaningful and successful for them, including students with limited mobility.”
At Baker, the program emphasizes far more than athletic performance.
“It is about showing up, encouraging one another, setting goals, building confidence and being part of something bigger than yourself,” Fisher said. “Every student deserves to feel included, supported and excited to be part of a team.”
Baker parents Elizabeth Gesk and Kelly Ingalise have volunteered to assist with next year’s Run for a Reason effort to help continue growing the program.
“Together, we hope to encourage even more students and families to get involved and help us make an even bigger impact,” Fisher said. For Baker students, Kids of STEEL is about community, encouragement, belonging and movement for everybody.
“Watching our students grow, support one another and discover what they are capable of is one of the most rewarding parts of this program,” Fisher said. “Seeing them cross the finish line on race day with huge smiles on their faces and medals around their necks, knowing they accomplished something they worked so hard for, is the most rewarding part of this program.”
All three Upper St. Clair elementary schools – Baker, Eisenhower and Streams – participated in this year’s Kids of STEEL program.
CALLTODAY&SAVE!
SUBMITTED PHOTO
Students from Upper St. Clair elementary schools – Baker, Eisenhower and Streams – participated in this year’s Kids of STEEL program
SUBMITTED PHOTO
Josh Baldwin, Sadie Ingalise, Annabelle Gesk and Chase Ingalise were among some of the top fundraisers during the Kids of STEEL Run for a Reason program.
sports
STANDOUTS TO BE INDUCTED INTO WPIAL HALL OF FAME
By Eleanor Bailey ebailey@thealmanac.net
The Western Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic League recently inducted its Hall of Fame Class of 2026 and four former Almanac coverage area standouts were among the 16 inductees honored during a ceremony held June 5 at the DoubleTree Hotel in Green Tree, located at 500 Mansfield Ave. Kurt Angle from Mt. Lebanon along with the Chartiers-Houston duo of Tricia Fabian Alderson and Phil Mary entered the Hall as athletes.
In 1987, Angle claimed a Pennsylvania state wrestling crown after earning All-State honors in football as a linebacker for the Blue Devils.
Angle compiled a 90-8 overall wrestling record over three varsity seasons at Mt. Lebanon. He earned national recognition as the 1987 USA Junior Freestyle champion, a two-time USA Senior Freestyle champion, and the 1988 FILA Junior World Freestyle champion
He continued his amateur wrestling career at Clarion University of Pennsylvania, where he became one of the most accomplished wrestlers in NCAA history. He was a two-time NCAA Division I national champion, national runner-up in 1991, and three-time NCAA Division I All-American.
Angle went on to achieve historic success on the international stage by winning a gold medal at the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta, becoming the only WPIAL wrestler ever to claim an Olympic title.
Angle later transitioned to professional wrestling, where he enjoyed a Hall of Fame career in WWE. He is widely regarded as one of the most successful amateur wrestlers to ever compete in the sport.
While Mary dominated the mats at Chartiers-Houston, Fabian-Alderson ruled the mound before settling into successful careers as coaches.
Mary helped lead Chartiers-Houston to WPIAL team championships in 1981
and 1982 and a PIAA team championship in 1982. Individually, he was a twotime WPIAL champion and a WPIAL runner-up. He captured two state individual championships and placed third once.
Mary compiled a 109-6-1 career record. He earned high school All-America status twice.
Additionally, Mary was a member of the Pennsylvania team champion at the Dapper Dan Wrestling Classic and the AAA team winner in the Challenge of Champions at Penn State University
During his career at Clarion University, Mary placed fourth in both the PSAC and EWL in 1986. He started for the undefeated 1985–86 Clarion squad that finished 17-0-1 and ranked third nationally.
Mary then transitioned to coaching, serving as assistant coach at his alma mater initially. He compiled a 113-49 career record while serving as a head coach at Chartiers-Houston and Peters Township (1990–99). He later served as an assistant coach at Canon-McMillan from 2001–06.
Meanwhile, Fabian-Alderson led the Buccaneers to back-to-back WPIAL softball championships in 1987 and 1988 and a PIAA runner-up finish in 1987
She compiled a 70-7 career pitching record, a PIAA record at the time, while throwing 13 no-hitters and one perfect game. Additionally, she tossed 10 one-hitters, 12 two-hitters, and 30 shutouts and struck out 519 batters in
Shields strikes out a career-high 10 batters
By Eleanor Bailey ebailey@thealmanac.net
Mt. Lebanon native David Shields struck out a career-high 10 batters during a recent outing with the Quad Cities River Bandits, a High-A affiliate of the Kansas City Royals..
In a 3-2 victory against Beloit Sky Carp on June 12 at ABC Supply Stadium in Wisconsin, Shields took a no-hitter into the sixth inning and became the first pitcher to fan 10 or more batters in a game since Ethan Bosacker struck out 12 Sky Carp on August 15, 2024 in the same ballpark. Shields faced three more batters but left the game clinging to the one-run advantage. The River Bandits afforded Shields a 3-0 lead entering the bottom of the third. It was the second quality start for Shields, who had a 3.91 ERA, 57 strikeouts and a 1.11 WHIP after the outing.
The Kansas City Royals selected Shields in the second round of the 2024 MLB amateur draft. He was the 41st overall pick and was promoted to the River Bandits after spring training.
The Quad Cities River Bandits are a Minor League Baseball team of the Midwest League. Their home games are played at Modern Woodmen Park in Davenport, Iowa.
So far this season, Shields had earned Pitcher of the Week laurels after being named the Carolina League Pitcher of the Year during his stint with the Columbia Fireflies in 2025.
Shields, who will turn 20 in September, accelerated his education at Mt. Lebanon High School in order to be eligible for the MLB Draft.
The son of Kevin and Marcia Shields was a two-sport standout in high school, starting at quarterback on the football team and developing into the ace of the pitching staff on the baseball squad as well as a Division I prospect. He gave up football as well as his athletic scholarship to the University of Miami and reclassified for the 2024 MLB draft. During his shortened three-year career on the mound at Lebo, Shields shattered all but two school records. In 2023, he set
the single-season strikeout record with 106. He struck out 63 in only 35 innings and six games during the 2024 campaign where he battled a bout of mononucleosis. In two seasons, he completed an 11-3 record. He struck out 169 and scattered 46 hits in 102 2/3 innings. When not on the mound for the Blue Devils, Shields started in center field. At the plate, he batted .418 with seven doubles and 28 RBI entering the WPIAL final, compiling an OPS of 1.244. Shields guided the Blue Devils to three WPIAL championship final appearances, tossing a no-hitter in the 2023 Class 6 final.. He also pitched in the 2023 PIAA championship game.
Shields garnered a plethora of honors.
An all-state performer, he was named Gatorade’s Pennsylvania Baseball Player of the Year as well as Almanac Baseball MVP for two years in a row. Additionally, the 6-2, 210-pound southpaw has been inducted into the Mt. Lebanon Hall of Fame as a player and as a team member for the baseball championships.
476 innings pitched. All her pitching totals were school records and stood for many years.
Fabian-Alderson, who maintained a .382 career batting average, was a twotime Almanac Diamond Dozen All-Star and Most Valuable Player, before going on to hone her skills further at the University of Charleston (W.Va.). There she was named WVIAC Pitcher of the Year and WVIAC Scholar Athlete of the Year in 1991 after posting an 11-5 record and 1.21 ERA Additionally, she earned All-Conference first-team honors in 1990 and 1991, Honorable Mention status in 1992, and academic All-America recognition in 1991 and 1992.
Fabian-Alderson returned to her alma mater to coach the Lady Bucs in 2004 after a brief career at Mt. Lebanon. Including this spring, she has compiled a 483-150 career coaching record that includes a PIAA runner-up showing in 2026, a state championship in 2010, six WPIAL titles, four WPIAL runner-up finishes, and 16 state playoff appearances in 22 seasons.
Fabian-Alderson serves as a seventh-grade English teacher at Chartiers-Houston Junior High School. She has earned multiple Coach of the Year honors.
Although he was an accomplished point guard at Seton LaSalle High School and Waynesburg University, Tim McConnell has gained access into the WPIAL Hall of Fame as a coach. He won nine WPIAL championships overall, including six titles with the Chart-
iers Valley boys (tied for sixth-most in league history). He also guided the Lady Colts to three WPIAL championships and a PIAA state crown with an undefeated 31-0 campaign in 2019. In 30 seasons at the helm, his squads captured 24 section banners, 19 for the CV boys; four for the CV girls and one during his lone season at Bishop Canevin. During his career, he compiled a 684-160 career record (.810 winning percentage), highlighted by becoming the fastest coach in WPIAL boys history to reach 500 career wins. He coached three 2,000-point scorers (most in WPIAL history), two of them his sons, T.J. and Matty. Sixteen of his male charges and three of his girls, including
MT. LEBANON LAX PLAYERS EARN ALL-AMERICA HONORS
Three Mt. Lebanon girls earned All-America honors when the USA Lacrosse organization recently announced its annual scholastic teams for the 2026 season.
Quinn Murdoch and Cali Green garnered All-America acclaim for their roles in leading the Blue Devils to their third straight WPIAL Class 3A championships. Ann Tinnemyer was named an academic All-American. While Murdoch graduated this month and is off to Cincinnati to continue her career, Green and Tinnemeyer are
rising seniors at Mt. Lebanon. Both were starters on a team that won a section banner and posted an 18-3 overall record after falling to eventual state champion Conestoga, 16-10, in the PIAA quarterfinals played on June 6 at Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Park in Mechanicsburg. Among the other All-Americans from the WPIAL were: Alexa Westwood from Quaker Valley and Caroline Grimsley from Fox Chapel as well as Cate Gentile and Claire Mill, both from Pine-Richland, which lost to Lebo in the dis-
trict championship match, 14-9, played May 20 at Upper St. Clair High School stadium. Among the other academic All-Americans from the district were: Clarke Wickland from Shady Side Academy; Hailey Long from Mars; Maggie Friday from Oakland Catholic as well as Lucy Roy and Meredith Fallgren from Quaker Valley. Anna McGrath from Mars gained recognition on both lists while Erin Baker from Hampton netted the Jackie Pitts Award.
Tim McConnell
Kurt Angle
Tricia Alderson
Phil Mary
ELEANOR BAILEY
Cali Green (21) takes a shot on goal while Ann Tinnemeyer (36) watches during WPIAL Class 3A girls lacrosse championship action in which Mt. Lebanon defeated Pine-Richland, 14-9. Green and Tinnemeyer, along with teammate Quinn Murdoch, recently gained All-America recognition from USA Lacrosse.
David Shields
Upper St. Clair gymnast tops
Region 7 competition
Harper Silvis of Upper St. Clair earned top honors at the 2026 USA Gymnastics Region 7 Level 7 & 8 Regional Championships held recently at The Miller Center in Lewisburg, Pennsylvania.
Silvis, who is a sixth-grade student at Boyce Middle School, placed first in both the balance beam and floor exercise. She finished sixth in the all-around competition for her age group.
Region 7 includes athletes from Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Virginia and West Virginia, making it one of the most competitive regions in the country.
Harper Silvis
Harper qualified for regionals following an outstanding performance at the Pennsylvania championships also held in Lewisburg. At the state meet, she placed first on vault and floor and captured the allaround title. She also earned the highest all-around score among all Level 7 gymnasts in Pennsylvania. Harper trains at Xcel Gymnastics in Cranberry Township.
Four records broken at LebOlympics
Four records were broken during the LebOlympics, an annual track and field event formerly known as the Jesse Owens Meet.
Mae Kiley, James Allen, Messiah Torti and Leo Hatley were the pacesetters.
In the girls 7-8 category, Kiley shattered her own record, tossing the softball 87 feet. The throw was nine feet better than last year’s performance.
Allen sprinted to victory in the 50 meters in the boys 7-8 division. He clocked 8.75 times, besting Quinn KuliKowski’s old mark that stood for 19 years. For boys, ages 7-8, Torti heaved the softball 111 feet. The throws smashed
Four earn Eagle Scout rank
Justin Patrick Mattes, Hendrix Cole Odham, John Atticus Zukowski and Gabriel Joseph Zych of Scout Troop 4, from Bethel Park/Upper St. Clair, were recognized for attaining the rank of Eagle Scout in a Court of Honor ceremony held recently at St. Louise de Marillac Church.
The four Eagle Scouts far exceeded that number of Merit Badges and Community Service hours required to become an Eagle Scout.
The final hurdle in the quest for this highest rank for Scouting is a community service challenge, titled “Eagle Project.” The candidate for Eagle must be in charge of all aspects of the project. The tasks include but are not limited to planning, financing, implementation, completion and final presentation of the completed project to a committee of Boy Scout leaders.
Mattes’ project consisted of restoring the outdoor Stations of the Cross at Seton LaSalle High School. He funded his project through a Sarris Candy sale and donations, which raised $547 in excess of his expenses. The extra funds were donated to Seton LaSalle.
Odham built a bocce ball court at the Bethel Park Lions Club Park. He raised $3,223 through a spaghetti dinner and donations. Since his income exceeded his expenses, Odham was able to donate $1,509 to the Lions Club.
Zukowski remodeled the church kitchen into a laundry room. He funded his project with a spaghetti dinner and donations, which raised $ 2,562. Since this exceeded his expenses, he was able to donate $1,891 to St. Catherine Laboure Parish.
Sullivan Antonelli’s mark.
For boys, ages 9-10, Hatley covered 200 meters in 30.9 seconds. The time eclipsed the record set nine years ago in 2017 by Nicholas Zundel.
Three girls Martha Schmidt (100 M), Sophia Taborski (Long Jump), and Hillary Boxheimer (Mile) still hold their records from that first recorded meet back in 2007. No girl has ever been able to top them in 19 years.
Four girls and four boys’ names appear on the record board two or more times as they advanced through their formative years. The competition features participants, ages 5 to teenagers, in distance running, sprinting, throwing and
jumping events.
age 5 to teenagers.
Dani Prunzik from Upper St. Clair and Jenna Lang of Bethel Park hold four records. Molly Mangan of Mt. Lebanon owns three marks while Mary McElhatten, Nicholas Zundel, Trevor Buda, Ian Baun, and Sullivan Antonelli each hold two.
Mt. Lebanon Recreation in conjunction with the Mt. Lebanon High School track team conducted the event. While the rec department handles registration, publicity, and awards, including the gold, silver and bronze medals, Blue Devil head coach Oscar Shutt and his team of high school volunteers conduct the annual meet.
his daughter, Meghan, surpassed the 1,000-point plateau. The 1981 Mt. Lebanon boys’ soccer club was recognized in the team category along with the 2004 Hopewell girls volleyball squad.
One of the most accomplished teams in program history, Mt. Lebanon won the WPIAL championship and captured the PIAA Class AAA state championship. The Blue Devils finished 30-1-2 overall. They reeled off 29 victories after a slow start in a preseason tournament.
After dominating the division, posting a 13-0-1 record in winning the Section 4 championship, the Blue Devils picked up playoff victories over Baldwin (2-1 in overtime), Springdale (2-1), and Upper St. Clair (4-1 in the final) to claim the WPIAL banner.
Mark DuMars, who was voted the team’s MVP, led the Blue Devils in scoring with 23 goals and 28 assists for 51 points.
The club also featured All-America candidate Rob Wilcher and his father, John, who served as head coach during Lebo’s sustained period of excellence in the sport.
Zych constructed a storage shed for the STL soccer organization. He funded his project with a pancake breakfast and donations that raised $4,188. Since his income exceeded his expenses, Zych was able to donate $670 to STL Soccer.
gratulatory talk and presented the new Eagle Scouts with two framed Certificates of Merit, one each from the local and national Elks lodges.
Russ Spicuzza, Elk Scouting Representative, of South Hills BPOE Lodge 2213 in Bethel Park, gave a short con-
Spicuzza also presented each Scout with a personal sized American flag and a small gold lapel pin, which represents 80-plus years of the relationship between the Elks and Scouting.
Girls on the Run finishes season with celebratory 5K
The Girls on the Run at Streams Elementary concluded the season with the organization’s annual celebratory 5K at the Waterfront in Homestead.
Twenty-three girls participated in the program, which met from 3 to 4:30 p.m. Mondays and Wednesdays throughout the spring.
Girls on the Run, designed for students in grades 3-5, encourages females of all abilities to build confidence and develop important life skills. Volunteer coaches led lessons that combined physical activity with topics such as managing emotions, building healthy friendships and practicing empathy. At the
end of the season, participants completed a community impact project as well as ran a 5K together.
Parent volunteer Katie Stouden served as head coach. Assistant coaches included Streams teachers Carolyn Fortson and Rebecca Smith, along with parent volunteers Tim Stouden, Jeremy Clark, Theresa Smyczek, Neal Newmark and Juli Porter.
“The lessons were centered around identity –self-care, self-awareness and knowing self – connectedness, including selecting healthy relationships and keeping them healthy, and empowerment through celebrating and sharing our strengths,”
Fortson said. “While training for a 5K by running laps around the school, girls reflected on these themes through activities such as writing the qualities of a good friend on a poster board each lap, or acting out scenarios where they could make healthy choices.”
As part of this year’s community impact project, participants created blessing bags for people experiencing homelessness and donated them to Harvest Street Mission.
Girls on the Run helps girls develop social, emotional and physical skills while promoting healthy habits for life.
“Programs like this are
so important because they empower girls and build their confidence in all aspects of their well-being,”
Fortson said. “We hope the girls learned to be confident in who they are and what
they can do. We hope they built lasting friendships and life-long social, emotional and physical skills.”
Girls on the Run is a program of UPMC Magee-Womens Hospital.
In addition, Ethan Keener from South Fayetteville and Warren Timko from Upper St. Clair were recognized with the organization’s courage award. Keener was diagnosed on December 28, 2020, with severe aplastic anemia, a rare and life-threatening blood disorder, after being admitted to St. Clair Hospital and transferred to UPMC Children’s Hospital for extensive testing and treatment. He underwent immunosuppressive therapy, frequent blood and platelet transfusions. After those treatments proved unsuccessful, Keener had a bone marrow transplant with the process commencing on Aug 15, 2022 Due to his compromised immune system, Keener missed extended time from school between January 2021 and June 2021 and again during his transplant recovery. He only returned to in-person classes on March 27, 2023.
A three-sport athlete entering high school, his participation was limited for multiple seasons due to medical treatment, followed by consecutive ACL injuries that ended two basketball and baseball seasons. Granted an additional year of eligibility by the WPIAL, Keener returned to competition during his senior season before undergoing surgery that concluded his high school athletic career.
Despite his physical trials, Keener continued to support his teams while sidelined and served as a positive influence within his programs. In 2025, Keener was named a Western Pennsylvania Positive Athlete Scholarship recipient and a UPMC Sports Medicine Comeback Player Award winner. He is currently attending Kent State University.
Meanwhile, Timko had his football career interrupted by a cancer diagnosis that required brain surgery and months of treatment at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.
A three-year letter winner, he competed on both the offensive and defensive lines for the Panthers, earning the respect of teammates and coaches for his toughness and commitment. He was a member of the 2022 WPIAL finals team as well as the 2024 and 2025 semifinal squads.
Demonstrating extraordinary strength and resilience throughout his recovery, Timko ultimately overcame the odds and rang the bell at St. Jude. He triumphantly returned to the sidelines and was honored on Senior Night and later in the fall season was voted Homecoming King by his peers.
The Class also includes:
from
with the Heritage
James “Jim Conklin”
Waynesburg
Award’ Bridget Guy Williams and Maddie Holmberg Nickal from Hempfield for track and field; Charles Evan Hunnell as an official in football and lacrosse; Anne Madarsz as a contributor; Derek Moye from Rochester for football; Joe Salvino as a basketball coach at Monessen and Belle Veron; Jordan Whitehead from Central Valley for football.
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Streams Elementary females participated in the Girls on the Run program, where they completed a 5K race to conclude the season.
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Russ Spicuzza, Elk Scouting Representative, of South Hills BPOE Lodge 2213 in Bethel Park, is pictured with the latest group of Eagle Scouts. Justin Patrick Mattes, Hendrix Cole Odham, John Atticus Zukowski and Gabriel Joseph Zych were recognized recently in a Court of Honor ceremony
sights & sounds
USC students help bring clean water to Ghana
Members of the Hope for Ghana Club at Upper St. Clair High School are celebrating a major milestone after helping fund the construction of a clean water well in the community of Dekpevie, Ghana.
Led by rising seniors Olivia Mamakos and Augusta Bottonari, the student organization exceeded its fundraising goal during the 202526 school year, raising nearly $10,000 to support clean water initiatives in Ghana.
The club’s signature fundraising event, the Walk for Water, was held during Global Education Week last fall. Students collected pledges from family members and friends before walking four laps around the high school track while carrying one-gallon water jugs. The activity was designed to symbolize the daily journey many people in Ghana must make to access clean drinking water.
“In total, with the support of KSG Orthodontics and Venator Management in sponsoring our event, we raised $9,907.51,” Mamakos said. “Of that, $5,000 was dedicated to building a well in Dekpevie, and the remaining amount will be used to benefit our current Jarigu dam expansion and treatment project.”
For Mamakos and Bottonari, seeing videos of residents using the newly completed well was a powerful reminder of the impact
students can have on communities around the world.
“Knowing that the Dekpevie community now has a reliable and fresh water source really puts things into perspective,” she said.
“It reminds us how something we take for granted every day, like clean water, is life-changing for someone else. It also proves that we students do not need to wait until we are older to make a difference. It truly shows how much of
an impact a group of students can make when we work together.”
The Hope for Ghana Club was founded in spring 2025 after Mamakos and Bottonari began exploring ideas for their International Baccalaureate Middle Years Programme (MYP) project. Through Mamakos’ grandmother, the students were introduced to Dr. Steve Greene, founder of Hope for Ghana.
“After speaking with him, I
what’s happening
ART SHOW
The Schoolhouse Market will be held from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. June 27 at the Bethel Park Historical Society building located at 2600 South Park Road. Local artists, crafters and vendors will have products for purchase. Admission is free.
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 for Better Balance are among the courses available.
Visit wroc.westminster-church.org to register or call Kathy Long at 412835-663 for more information.
HEALTHY EATING
The South Hills chapter of PlantBased Pittsburgh meets from 6:30 to 8 p.m. every third Monday at the Sunnyhill Unitarian Universalist Church on Washington Road in Mt. Lebanon.
Plant-Based Pittsburgh is a non-profit organization that promotes healthy nutrition and living through a whole foods plant-based lifestyle.
The group will host a potluck on July 15 and host a special guest speaker on July 20.
Email terriwest@plantfullypittsburgh. com for more details.
CRAFTS
The South Park Women’s Club’s 32nd annual craft show will be held Oct. 10 at the Broughton Fire Hall and the group is seeking “unique” crafters and vendors for the
event, which features a variety of homemade items as well as offers refreshments, a bake sale, auction and raffle baskets.
Contact Kathy at spwc.craftshow@ gmail.com for further details. Applications are being accepted for John McMillan Presbyterian Church’s annual Christmas Affair.
Space is limited for the event scheduled for 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Nov. 7 at 875 Clifton Road, Bethel Park.
Each year, more than 50 artisans showcase a wide variety of handmade goods and holiday gifts at the event, which also includes a festive Gingerbread House, chance auction and the Kris Kringle Kafé. Admission is free.
Crafters interested in applying or learning more should call 412-7591634 or email: christmasaffairjmpc@ gmail.com.
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 29 — 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 which benefit residents of Bethel Park in the areas of arts
and culture, health and recreation, education and safety.
Concerts begin at 2:30 PM. Doors open at 1:30 PM. Parking is limited.
FLEA MARKET
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. 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.
PT REC
Registration is being accepted for session and one-day programs that start in July and August. Visit www. peterstownship.com to sign up or call 724-942-5000 for more details. Among the following courses and classes being offered include:
Hoops Stars Basketball on Tuesdays beginning July 7. Ages 2 to 3 meet at 5 p.m. Ages 4 to 5 meet at 5:30 p.m. Ages 6 to 8 meet at 6:30 p.m. Participants learn the basics of dribbling, passing, shooting, positioning, defense and rebounding and then apply the learned skills in game situations.
Card making for adults paired with a youth, aged 8 and over is offered from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. July 13.
Card-making for adults, ages 18 and older, will be held Aug. 24. Fee is $35 ($53 for nonmembers).
Volleyball camps for intermediates from 4:15 to 5:30 p.m. and from Aug. 10-13 and 3 to 4:15 p.m. Aug. 17-20. An advanced camp runs from 4:15 to 5:30 p.m. Aug. 17-20. Ages 9 to 16 are eligible. Fee is $75 ($112 nonmembers).
Guitar lessons for ages 6 to 12 from
munities through sustainable development projects.
“What sets this organization apart for us is its focus on sustainability,” Mamakos said. “Specifically, their commitment to building water wells creates a lasting impact for these communities, rather than just offering a single, temporary fix.”
The Hope for Ghana Club includes approximately 15 student members. Club leaders hope to expand participation and increase their impact in the coming school year. Students can sign up to get involved during the school’s annual rush event in September.
PHOTO
knew instantly that I wanted to expand my involvement beyond just a one-time MYP project,” she said.
“I realized that this needed to be a collective effort to make a measurable difference, so I called upon my friend, Augusta, to help me bring this vision to life. Together, we created USC Hope for Ghana to sustain and maximize our impact.”
The students were inspired by Hope for Ghana’s mission to serve rural and often underserved com-
“Next year, we plan to hold another Walk for Water event to raise money for our Jarigu dam expansion and treatment project and to spread awareness of the water scarcity crisis Ghana faces today,” Mamakos said. “We also plan on hosting more fundraising events throughout the school year.”
Hope for Ghana will host a charity golf outing on Friday, July 10, 2026, at Manor Valley Golf Course in Export, Pennsylvania. Visit hopeforghana.com/golf for details.
Community members can also watch a video showcasing the completed clean water well and the impact it is already having on residents by visiting youtube.com/ watch?v=8yioEuRsoRg
9:30 to 10:15 a.m. Mondays and for ages 18 and over from 10:30 to 11:15 a.m. beginning July 6 at the Peterswood Park outdoor amphitheater. Fee is $115 ($173 nonmembers).
Pickleball instruction is offered for six weeks for ages 18 and over beginning July 6 and 7. Monday, Tuesday and Thursday sessions are offered from 9 to 10 a.m. for the B1 course that focuses on strokes, rules and court fundamentals and teaches the basics of the game. The B2 course, which reinforces skills through cooperative drills and repetitions as well as focuses on situational play and practice, runs from 10 to 11 a.m. Mondays and Tuesdays. Fee is $120 ($180 nonmembers).
AQUATICS
A junior swim lesson instructor camp will be offered from July 13-17 at the Community & Recreation Center located at 1551 Mayview Road in Upper St. Clair. Call 412-221-1099 for more details.
GARDEN CLUB
The Giant Oaks Garden Club will meet July 2 at St. David’s Episcopal Church, located at 905 McMurray Road. Lunch begins at 11:15. Steve Neubauer from Neubauer’s Flowers & Market will discuss and demonstrate summer floral design at 1 p.m. Guests can attend for $6. Guests must register by calling 412-7604221.
CONCERTS
Michael Christopher & Coastal Country is the first of the summer concerts and events to be held at the Peterswood Park amphitheater. The group performs on June 24.
All summer concerts start at 7 p.m. unless otherwise noted on Wednesdays and food trucks will be on site.
The line-up also includes: Velveeta on July 1; Pittsburgh Dueling Piano
Allstars on July 8; Almost Taylor, Taylor Swift Tribute on July 15; Day One on July 22; Radio Tokyo on July 29; Dancing Queen on Aug. 5; The Delaneys on Aug. 12; Street Level (6 p.m.) on Aug. 19; and Desperado: Eagles Tribute Band (6 p.m.) on Aug. 26.
Special events include: Zootopia on July 17; Lilo and Stitch on Aug. 7; Wild World of Animals (6:30 p.m.) on Sept. 2, and Hocus Pocus on Oct. 9. Beer and wine are permitted and available for purchase at concerts only.
Visit peterstownship.org or call 724942-5000 for more details.
VENDORS
Registration is open for local businesses and organizations that wish to set up a booth in Mt. Lebanon Park for the community’s July 4 celebration. The event runs from noon to 5 p.m. Businesses, food vendors and non-profits must register. Additionally, high school-age workers are needed to run carnival games. They will be paid $10 per hour.
Visit mtlebanon.org to sign up or for more details.
REUNION
The South Park High School’s Class of ’76 will hold its 50th reunion Aug. 21 at the Cottage, located at the South Park Fairgrounds, near the clock building. The picnic begins at noon. Tickets are $30 per person. Guests can attend. The reunion committee will provide food and cake. Classmates and guests should bring their own beverages, snacks and sides. RSVP by Aug. 1 to: Lou Ruzzi at 1616 Conor Drive, South Park, PA, 15129. For more information call: 412-7597411 or 412-552-9843.
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Ghana children line up to fill their cups with water from a clean well that was provided to the community, thanks to the fundraising efforts of Upper St. Clair High School students.
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A Ghana mother gives her child a sip from a cup filled with clean water from a well. Through the fundraising efforts of the Upper St. Clair High School Hope for Ghana Club the well was constructed in the community of Dekpevie.
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A plaque in a Ghana village thanks the students from Upper St. Clair who were responsible for raising money for the construction of the clean-water well.
Plots
candle $15 724-531-3757
Antique Childs Wood 2 drawer Roll Top desk $50 724-747-1752
ATV jack / hoist, Sears Craftsman Motorcycle, never used $99 724-222-0176
BENCH - Feather back 36” bench with arms. Light oak finish. Amish made. $295. 724-809-5746
Black Purse large w/ compartments, brand new from Kohl’s $35 724-531-3757
BLOOD PRESSURE MONITO - LCD display, adjustable wrist cuff. Brand new. Never used. $20. 724-809-5746
Carpet cleaner handheld, Bissell, Power Partner Plus, 20’ cord $10 724-379-4162
Casserole dish large oblong, with lid and carry case $25 724-531-3757
CD PLAYER - Sony CDP-CE500 5-disc compact disc changer, with remote. $120. 724-809-5746
1971Center Console $300 AS IS 412-908-3289
CHAIN SAW - Ryobi 16”, Gas Excellent condition. $85. 724-222-0176
CHAIR - Vintage rattan, swivels and rocks. Good condition. $50. 724-470-3729
Children’s Swan Shaped Rocker seats, 2 hand made/painted $200 724-747-1742
Computer cart on wheels 15.6 square x 21.7 $10 412-997-4870
Computer desk with lamp Both Oak 26” wide $15 412-997-4870
Cup Party Pack - 30 cups, like new, nice for party $10 724-413-9932 No text
DAY BED - Solid wrought iron, single, with mattress. $100. 724-255-5305
DECANTER - Vintage, crystal with cobalt blue stopper. Very heavy. $25. 724-746-0473
DINING ROOM SET (3 pieces)
Table with 6 chairs, hutch, buffet. $800. 412-519-6873
DOLLS Collector from 1940’s (10), young girls, by Duches on N.Y./N.Y. & Sugar-Loaf
$50 All 412-831-3445
DRYWALL TOOLS Used. Box of screws
$50. or best offer 412-908-3289 END TABLES - Glass, two tier. Beautiful, excellent condition. $50 for both. 724-747-0528 Entertainment Center 53.5 Wide, 50.2 High $40 412-997-4870 Ethan Allen wicker loveseat 5’ long like new, pretty design $60 724-746-0473
Folk Art Estate 5’ Cabinet, Noah’s Arc Motif $150 724-747-1752
CEMETERY PLOTS (4) Washington Cemetery, 4 plots in Section 4,
319, Plots 5,6,7,8. $4,000 or best offer. 724-222-4698
CEMETERY PLOTS (5) Woodruff Memorial Park, Route 19, Washington. $2,000 per plot. 412-296-1581 COMPANION LAWN CRYPT Crypt for 2 at Forest Lawn Gardens, McMurray, Devotion section, Lot 117-B. $6,500, will negotiate. Call 386-416-9605
COMPANION MAUSOLEUM Space for 2, includes opening and closing. Notre Dame Mausoleum, Queen of Heaven, McMurray. $18,500 or best offer. 724-350-7941 or 724-416-7975
JEFFERSON MEMORIAL
CEMETERY - Companion lawn crypt for 2, in the Garden of the Pillars of Faith, Lot #1270. $4,000. I will pay
JACUZZI - 4-person jacuzzi hot tub. Paid $17,000 6 months ago. Asking $10,000. 724-710-4442 JEANS - Ladies size 10. Rock & Republic and J&M. $15 for both. 724-413-7168 Lane end tables $25 for pair 724-413-9932 No texting
ContentsInclude: Gor-geous Thomasville Table with 10 Chairs,NumerousOilPaintingsthroughouttheHouse, Easel,Mirrors,Curios,Chairs,Lamps,Sofas,Henredon Chest,PrismLamp,CapodeMonteLamps,Pedestal,Small MarbleTopTable,FireplaceScreen,HighHeelChair,HowardMillerGrandfatherClock,AsianChair,FauxTree, Florals,OversizedChair,PurpleChair,PurpleVelvetSofa, DropLeafCoffeeTable,Recliner,FootStools,AreaRugs, Tapestries,Ottomans,ArmChair,Sconces,TuftedSofa, HeartShapedChair,LeatherSofa,LeatherRocker/Recliner, ElectricChairwithVibrator,ClubChair&Ottoman,Tile Table,TuftedLeatherOfficeChair,FileCabinets,Vintage RecordPlayer,DVDs,VHS,Books,BookTable,Book Lamp,Globe,Laminator,SharkVac,CanonCamera, SteelerBags,Podium,GreyhoundStatue,GingerJars, BrassEagleClock,BrassAsianPedestalPlanter,Asian Screen,DemiluneTables,Pedestals,Clocks,MantelClock, Chests,China,Candlesticks,TeaPotCollection,TeaCups, BlenkoCollection,JewelTea,DesertRose,CookieJars, PunchBowl,SoupTureen,Stemware,GoldFlatware,Cake Plate,Roosters,Wok,Dinnerware,CanisterSet,Rooster Lamps,Fiesta,PioneerWomen,BubbleGumJukeBoxes, PrincessPhone,BakingSupplies,TeaCart/Bar,TileTop Table&Chairs,Sculptures,HeadVases,ScottyDogDoor Stops,Orchids,ArmoredKnight,Soldiers,Perfumes,VintagePowderJars,VintagePerfumeBottles,VintageHats, VintageBedTrays,VintageJewelry,Jewelry,JewelryArmoire,VintagePurses,HatBoxes,VintageGloves,Vintage Mirror&BrushSets,VintageMotherofPearlPurse,Lipstick Purse,Mens&Women’sClothing,DressForm,Man’s DressForm,DesignerScarves,MKShoes,Uggs,Ties, Shoes,Boots,Purses,KingMetalPosterBed(NoMattress), WickerBedTray,Nightstands,AdjustableTwinBed,LuggageRack,HighBoy,Butler,DogBed,DollHouse&Furniture,ChenilleSpreads,Linens,VintageClothing,Coats, SuedePoncho,ClothesSteamer,SlatePoolTable, Wreaths,CeramicTree,ChristmasTrees,Halloween,SewingMachine,InversionTable,Elyptical,ExerciseBike,Body byJake,BistroSet,Chaise,FloorLanterns,LargePottery, AfricanDécor,Elephant,LionPicture,ConcreteLions,CementFigurines,BirdBaths,WroughtIronTable&2Chairs, Umbrella,Settee,Planters,WickerSettee,WickerChair, GardenSeats,2ChaiseLounges,Hammock,SmallGreen House,FlowerCart,CeilingFan,SportCrest10Speed Bike,OutdoorWaterproofCatHouse,Generator,andSO MUCHMORE!!DON’TMISSIT!!
Directions: WaterdamtoSpringdale,RightonValley,Right onSiennaTrail,LeftonBowerHill,RightonHardwoodto 132HardwoodDr.(1stHouseonLeft!) **CASHONLY!!PLEASEBRINGYOUROWNHELP!! MURDOCHESTATELIQUIDATION www.murdochestatesales.com
Miscellaneous All Around Fence Co. Pressure Treated Yellow Pine Posts 7896 National Pike, Uniontown 724-439-0331 allaround@allaroundfence.com Autos
SPREADER Salt Dogg SHPE0750 .75 cubic yard, electric, hopper spreader, 1/2 ton and 3/4 ton for truck or utility vehicle, for salt or sand. $3,800. 724-350-2232 TRACTOR - John Deere 2008 MFWD 25.5 hp, with 6’ brush hog, 5’ tiller. Can be sold separately. $14,000. 724-208-5636
AUDI
AUDI WASHINGTON 453 Racetrack Road,Washington, PA 866-414-9744 www.audiwashington.com
BUICK
BUDD BAER BUICK 83 Murtland Avenue, Washington, PA 724-249-6047 www.buddbaergm.com
SOLOMON BUICK
2605 E Roy Furman Hwy, Carmichaels, PA 724-966-2600 solomonautogroup.com
CHEVROLET
BORTZ CHEVROLET 249 Roy E. Furman Hwy. Waynesburg, PA 15370 724-627-6171 www.bortzchevy.com
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
SOLOMON CHRYSLER Routes 40 & 43 Brownsville, PA 724-785-8000 www.solomonauto.com
SOLOMON CHRYSLER 2605 E Roy Furman Hwy, Carmichaels, PA 724-966-2600 www.solomonauto.com
SOUTH HILLS CHRYSLER 3344 Washington Rd, McMurray, PA 15317 724-941-4300 www.southhillsauto.com
DODGE
ROTOLO’S DODGE 58 Route 88, North Charleroi, PA 15022 888-269-6183 www.rotolomotors.com
SOLOMON DODGE
2605 E Roy Furman Hwy, Carmichaels, PA 724-966-2600 www.solomonauto.com
SOLOMON DODGE Routes 40 & 43 Brownsville, PA
724-785-8000 www.solomonauto.com
SOUTH HILLS DODGE 3344 Washington Rd, McMurray, PA 15317 724-941-4300 www.southhillsauto.com
FIAT
SOUTH HILLS FIAT 3344 Washington Rd, McMurray, PA 15317 724-941-4300 www.southhillsauto.com
FORD
FOX FORD
743 E. High Street, Waynesburg, PA 724-627-3151 www.foxfordwaynesburg.com
SOLOMON FORD Routes 40 & 43 Brownsville, PA 724-785-5500 www.solomonauto.com
STAR LAKE FORD 1212 S. in front of Main St 724-947-3381 www.starlakeford.com
WASHINGTON FORD 507 Washington Road, Rt. 19, Washington, PA 888-706-6128 www.washingtonford.com
GMC
BUDD BAER GMC 83 Murtland Ave. Washington Pa 724-249-6047 www.buddbaergm.com
SOLOMON GMC 1777 McClellandtown Rd, McClellandtown, PA 724-602-4678 solomonautogroup.com
HARLEY DAVIDSON
STEEL CITY HARLEY DAVIDSON 1375 Washington Road, Washington, PA 724-225-7020 www.steelcitymotorcycles.com
HONDA C. HARPER HONDA 106 Harper Drive Belle Vernon, PA 15012 724-929-8000 Ext. 227 Chuck Calcek www.charperhonda.com
WASHINGTON HONDA Rt. 19, Strabane Square Washington, PA 15301 724-222-2213 www.washhonda.com
HYUNDAI
WASHINGTON HYUNDAI
305 WashingtonRd. Rt. 19 at Strabane Square Washington, PA 724-222-2216 www.washhyundai.com
JEEP
ROTOLO’S JEEP 58 Route 88, North Charleroi, PA 15022 888-269-6183 www.rotolomotors.com
SOLOMON JEEP
2605 E Roy Furman Hwy, Carmichaels, PA724-966-2600 www.solomonauto.com
SOLOMON JEEP Rt. 40 & 43, Brownsville, PA 724-785-8000 www.solomonauto.com
SOUTH HILLS JEEP 3344 Washington Rd, McMurray, PA 15317 724-941-4300 www.southhillsauto.com
KIA
SOUTH HILLS KIA 3644 Washington Rd, McMurray, PA 15317 724-942-3000 www.southhillsauto.com
LINCOLN
SOUTH HILLS LINCOLN Route 19, McMurray, PA 724-941-1600 www.southhillslincoln.net
MAZDA
BUDD BAER MAZDA 83 Murtland Avenue, Washington, PA 724-993-4430 www.buddbaermazda.com
MERCEDES-BENZ
JOHN SISSON MERCEDES-BENZ 470 Washington Road Adjacent to Gabriel’s, 724-206-6000 www.johnsissonmercedes.com
NISSAN
JOHN SISSON NISSAN 470 Washington Road Adjacent to Gabriel’s, Washington, PA 724-223-8600 www.johnssissonnissan.com
RAM
ROTOLO’S RAM 58 Route 88, North Charleroi, PA 15022 888-269-6183 www.rotolomotors.com
SOLOMON RAM 2605 E Roy Furman Hwy, Carmichaels, PA 724-966-2600 www.solomonauto.com
SOLOMON RAM Routes 40 & 43 Brownsville, PA 724-785-8000 www.solomonauto.com
SOUTH HILLS RAM 3344 Washington Rd, McMurray, PA 15317 724-941-4300 www.southhillsauto.com
SUBARU
BUDD BAER SUBARU 71 Murtland Avenue, Washington, PA 724-222-0700 www.buddbaersubaru.com
TOYOTA
SOUTH HILLS TOYOTA 2403 Washington Road Canonsburg, PA 15317 724-743-1144 www.southhillstoyota.com
VOLKSWAGEN
THREE RIVERS VOLKSWAGEN 3694 Washington Road, McMurray, PA 724-941-6100 www.3riversvw.com
Pre-owned dealers
Air Conditioning / Heating
Coleman Mitchell Heat-
OLIVERIO AUTO 1110 Laurel Hill Road McDonald, PA 15057 724-926-2155 www.oliverioauto.com
PREMIERE AUTO SALES 667 E. Maiden St., Washington, PA 724-223-0600 www.premiereautosales.com
RT. 18 HOMES AUTO SALES 940 Henderson Ave., Washington, PA 724-225-5308 www.18autosales.com
THREE RIVERS AUTO SALES 30 South Central Avenue Canonsburg, PA 15317 724-338-2923 www.3riversvw.com
TREGEMBO MOTORS I-70 Exit 32B, Bentleyville, PA 724-239-2200 www.tregembomotors.com
WARNE MOTORS INC. 107 East Pike Street Canonsburg, PA 724-746-5956 www.johnwarnemotors.com
