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Memorial Day commemorations scheduled throughout South Hills

Bethel Park, Mt. Lebanon, Peters Twp. hosting events

By Eleanor Bailey ebailey@thealmanac.net

The nation pauses its celebration of its 250th anniversary by commemorating a more somber event. On May 25, the country will recognize its fallen heroes and many municipalities will mourn their military personnel who died serving in the United States Armed Forces during solemn services on Memorial Day.

“Memorial Day is a time for us to come together as a community to honor the service and sacrifice of our veterans, especially those who gave their lives for our freedom,” said Bethel Park Mayor Jack Allen.

For more than 25 years, Bethel Park has gathered at its Veterans Memorial.

“To remember and reflect,” said Allen.

This year will be no different as the municipality kicks off the holiday with a wreath-laying ceremony starting at 8:50 a.m. at the memorial plaza, located in front of the municipal building at 5100 West Library Ave.

“This tradition continues to be one of our most meaningful,” Allen said. “This year’s program will be especially powerful, as we recognize those who have fallen and welcome respected speakers who truly embody service and dedication.”

Retired Lt. Col. Shannon Crowley will be the featured speaker. After graduating with a finance degree from West Virginia University, Crowley

was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the Air Force.

An aircraft maintenance officer initially, she worked on B-52 Bombers, KC-135 Tankers, A-10 Warthogs, F-16 falcons, F-15 Eagles and the F-15E Strike Eagles.

Eventually, she earned a Master’s of Business Administration from the University of Arkansas in 1989.

Bethel Park’s Memorial Day commemoration continues with a parade that steps off at 10 a.m. from the municipal building and ends at Bethel Cemetery, adjacent to Bethel Presbyterian Church on Bethel Church Road.

A service, hosted by American Legion Post 760, will be held at the cemetery. State Sen. Devlin Robinson will be the

featured speaker.

Raised in neighboring Brookline, Robinson joined the Marine Corps upon graduation from Central Catholic High School. He served combat tours in Afghanistan and Iraq. After an honorable discharge, he founded the Veterans Medical Technology company and earned a business SEE MEMORIAL PAGE A2

Swimming pools, splash pads opening Memorial Day weekend

Memorial Day marks the unofficial start of the summer, and in the South Hills that means one thing: the beginning of outdoor swimming activities. A number of community swimming pools and splash pad parks will open during the long holiday weekend.

Here is a roundup of the opening dates for the facilities as well as regular hours and amenities.

Bethel Park

In its third season, the Park Avenue Splash Park continues to be Bethel Park’s newest attraction. Hours are 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily, weather permitting, beginning May 23. Seasonal pass holders can enter early, beginning at 10 a.m.

All guests must have a membership card or pass to enter the Splash Park.

Seasonal membership for residents only is $50 per household. A 10-day punch pass for residents is also available for $27 per pass.

Seasonal passes can be purchased at the Bethel Park Community Center. Cash or card payment is accepted.

Single-day passes are available for purchase by credit/debit only at the Splash Park. Daily fee is $3 per person ($5 nonresidents). Dormont

The historic Dormont Pool opens May 23 and continues through Sept. 1. Regular hours of operation will be noon to 7:30 p.m. weekdays and noon to 8 p.m. weekends from June 6 through Aug. 16. The slide is open from 1 to 6 p.m. daily, excluding school weekdays. School season hours of operation from May 26 through June 5 and Aug. 17 to 31 will be noon to 8 p.m. weekends and 4:30 to 7:30 p.m. weekdays. Memorial Day hours are noon to 6 p.m. Admission is free to Keystone Oaks School District residents with proof of residency. Holiday hours for the Fourth of July are

EXPANSION OF NEW NATION STARTED WITH TRIP ALONG OHIO RIVER

fore interstate highways and railroads, it was the rivers that served as the young nation’s first true highway westward. In many ways, the journey chronicled this week represents the true beginning of America’s westward march. What started with a determined group of men leaving Massachusetts in the bitter winter of 1787-88 would culminate in the founding of Marietta, the first organized settlement in the Northwest Territory.

By Art Smith Parkersburg News and Sentinel

Following the Revolutionary War, the newly formed United States were eager to begin expanding beyond the borders of the original 13 states. Land south of the Great Lakes and north of the Ohio River had been ceded to the United States from the British following the Treaty of Paris in 1783. The young country struggled getting the area that would eventually form Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Michigan, Wisconsin and Minnesota organized. Squatters were moving onto the land, there were still pockets of the British, and the Native Americans that had been on the land for centuries were not thrilled about the influx of new people. The passage of the Northwest Ordinance in 1787 would set in motion the authorized development of the land. But even before the ordinance, a group of men were planning how to develop the land once it opened. On Jan. 25, 1786, Gen. Rufus Putnam and Benjamin Tupper started promoting the idea of

$2.8 million needed to reopen Montour Trail tunnel

By Conner Goetz cgoetz@observer-reporter.com

The Montour Trail Council is hoping to raise nearly $2.8 million - the largest single repair project in the nonprofit’s history - to reopen the National Tunnel.

According to council President Julian Wolfe, the council contracted an engineering firm in November to assess the condition of the 112-tunnel after trail users reported chunks of concrete falling from the ceiling.

The assessment determined substantial deterioration along the ceiling of the tunnel was the culprit.

“They assessed that it wasn’t safe, so we closed it immediately,” Wolfe said. The tunnel has remained closed to all traffic ever since.

The 630-foot-long tunnel sits nearly at the middle of the approximately 60-mile trail system that spans Pittsburgh’s South Hills from Coraopolis to Clairton, or “from C to shining C as one of my predecessors called it,” Wolfe said. More than 350,000 bikers, hikers and walkers use the trail each year, making it among the most popular outdoor attractions in the region.

PAGE A2

This image from John T. Faris book, “On the Trail of the Pioneers,” published in 1920, depicts the arrival of Rufus Putnam and other pioneers to the Northwest Territory on April 7, 1788, at the confluence of the Ohio and Muskingum rivers.

ELEANOR BAILEY

Children wait to be doused with water at the Rolling Hills Aqua Park last season. Splash pads and outdoor swimming pools are scheduled to open for the summer during the Memorial Day weekend.

SEE SPLASH PAGE A5

Todd DePastino

Retired Lt. Col. Shannon Crowley

ELEANOR BAILEY

U.S. Marine Corps members carry the American flag during a Memorial Day parade last year.

CONNER GOETZ

Exterior view of the closed National Tunnel on the Montour Trail.

as well as “Main Street America” and arrangement by director Gary Gilroy.

Visit mt.lebanon.org for more details on Memorial Day events.

degree from Robert Morris University and an MBA from the University of Pittsburgh.

In case of inclement weather, the morning ceremony will be moved indoors to council chambers in the municipal building, the parade will be canceled and tents will be on site for the cemetery service. Any changes on Memorial Day will be announced by 7 a.m. at www.bethelparkpa.gov and on all Bethel Park social media.

The Veterans Memorial off Cedar Boulevard will be the site of Mt. Lebanon’s Memorial Day commemoration. The service will be held at 8:30 a.m. May 25.

Blaise Larotonda serves as the Master of Ceremonies and Rabbi Aaron Meyer from Temple Emanuel of the South Hills will deliver the invocation and benediction.

Todd DePastino, who is the founding director of the Veterans Breakfast Club, is the featured speaker. He is the author and editor of seven books, including the award-winning “Bill Mauldin: A Life Up Front,” (W.W. Norton), a biography of the famed WWII cartoonist.

DePastino has a doctorate in American History from Yale University. He has taught at Penn State Beaver and Waynesburg University, where he received the Lucas-Hathaway Award for Teaching Excellence.

The Mt. Lebanon High School Marching Band will perform “Taps”

Ohio

FROM PAGE A1

forming the Ohio Company to settle land near the Muskingum River, in what today is southeastern Ohio. The information appeared in “public prints” and encouraged those interested in being shareholders in the plan to meet at the Bunch of Grapes Tavern in Boston.

The meeting on March 1 of that year at the Bunch of Grapes not only resulted in getting underwriters but also set up a convention to begin a few days later. At the convention, they set up a series of 13 articles that would help form the new settlement.

The next year or so entailed organizing the company and getting funding in place. On March 8, 1787, the associates met again, and Putnam, the Rev. Manasseh Cutler and Gen. H. Parsons were named directors. They came up with the plan to buy land from the Continental Congress. After negotiations the group ended up with 964,285 acres of what Thomas Hutchins, geographer of the United States, considered “the best part of the whole western country.”

At a November 1787 meeting, they decided on the size of house lots. At a meeting at Bracket’s Tavern, the group decided on the makeup of the first party to head to Ohio.

According to the plan, the first group would be made up of four surveyors, and 22 men to “attend” the surveyors; six boat builders, four house carpenters; one blacksmith and nine common workers for a total of 48. On March 5, 1788, Putnam was given “full power to do and transact all matters necessary for the progress of the settlement.” At that point he was already on the road that would in April 1788 lead him to Ohio.

Before the group of 48 men of the Ohio Company could establish Marietta in 1788, they first had to get here.

The trip overland from Massachusetts started Dec. 31, 1787. The trip over the mountains was hard. They battled deep snow, at times building sleds to make their way west.

When they arrived at Sumrells Ferry on the Youghiogheny River they would have to prepare for the second part of their journey, which would take them down tributaries to where the Monongahela joins the Allegheny to form the Ohio River at Pittsburgh, and finally to

The 92nd annual South Hills Memorial Day Parade will start at 10 a.m. May 25 at Brookline Memorial Park Cannon.

The parade proceeds down Brookline Boulevard through Pioneer Avenue and then down West Library/ Washington roads, finishing at Mt. Lebanon Cemetery.

Hosted by the Sons of the American Revolution – Pittsburgh Chapter, the event is considered one of the largest Memorial Day parades in Southwestern Pennsylvania.

The parade units represent Brookline, Beechview, Dormont and Mt. Lebanon in remembering and honoring those that lost their lives in service to the United States.

Each year, the parade committee selects one deceased member from these communities to represent all those who made the ultimate sacrifice. There have been at least 221 men from these communities who died in defense of freedom.

Visit sarpgh.com to participate in the parade or for more information regarding fundraising efforts to maintain and continue the parade tradition.

Memorial Day in Peters Township features a variety of activities including a parade beginning at 9 a.m. at the VFW on Valley Brook Road. The parade features the high school’s marching band.

A ceremony immediately follows the parade in the VFW parking lot. Retired Navy Commander and Aviator

Bill Kern serves as the keynote speaker.

The VFW will be open to the public on Memorial Day and there will be entertainment. From 1 to 4 p.m. the band Ruff Creek will perform.

Additionally the recently completed Veterans Memorial Garden located at Talbot and Moore drives is open to visitors and residents.

The South Fayette-Bridgeville Memorial Day parade starts at 10 a.m. on Washington Pike, near Interstate 79 in South Fayette. A road closure will occur from 9:55

a.m. to 11:15 a.m. from Warchol Funeral Home to the Chartiers Street bridge, and Washington Avenue will close in downtown Bridgeville.

During the parade, all traffic will be prohibited from using those roads, entering/exiting local shopping areas, and using the Chartiers Street intersection.

Finally, to mark the 250th anniversary of independence for the United States, South Park hopes to have 250 people marching down Library and Brownsville roads during its annual

Marietta, arriving 238 years ago on April 7, 1788.

Putnam kept a daily account of what the journey was like. The journals offer a detailed narrative of the struggles faced by the men getting here as well as the early steps in carving a city out of the wilderness.

The 48 men who made the initial trip to what is now Marietta quickly got busy clearing the trees. Trees were needed to build housing, and the land would have to be prepared for crops. Fort Harmar, one of several military outposts along the Ohio River, stood along the western bank on the Muskingum River at the confluence with the Ohio. Members of the Ohio Company chose a spot about a mile upstream on the east side of the Muskingum to build Campus Martius, a fortification that would provide protection from attacks by native Americans. Today the Campus Martius Museum details the journey and contains Putnam’s house and the Ohio Land office, the oldest building in the state. Food was plentiful at first for those setting up the new town, with deer and bison easy to find.

By the summer of 1789 it was becoming harder to find enough food to eat thanks to a clearing out of the animal by Native Americans angry over a treaty. An early frost in October ruined an already weak corn crop forcing the citizens to turn to their neighbors across the Ohio River for help. Isaac Williams, the owner of the Virginia plantation in what would later become Williamstown, W.Va., sold corn to Capt. Johnathan Devol and Isaac Barker who paddled across the river to make a deal.

The naming of the young city took even longer than the planning of it. Many in the Ohio Company also had strong connections to the Scioto Company further down river. The Scioto Company had connections to France

so many favored naming the new city on the Muskingum “Marietta” to honor Marie Antoinette, queen of France, to gain support from the monarch.

A lot of other names had been suggested prior to Marietta being the officially chosen name on July 2, 1788. Castrapolis, Adelphia, Muskingum, V de Mariana, Marianne and Mariana were all considered.

Marietta was the first city created in the Northwest Territory. None of the cities settled before Marietta were done so under United States law because the land was not officially part of the nation. Not until the Ordinance of 1787 was the establishment of the Northwest Territory possible. The ordinance gave a pathway for lands to be settled and eventually to become states. There were plenty of people throughout the area, however. In fact, those that founded Marietta passed by many of them on their way down river.

People were trying to settle Martins Ferry as early as 1779. Nearby Wheeling, Va., had been a town since 1769 when Ebenezer Zane decided it would be a good place for a community by marking trees with an axe. Wheeling, of course, was already part of Virginia, and Virginia had been a state from the start.

The 48 men aboard the Adventure Galley would have passed both settlements on their way to the ”frontier” that would become Marietta less than 100 miles south.

In other states of the Northwest Territory, people were setting up towns long before 1788.

Vincennes, founded in 1732, is Indiana’s oldest city – it was settled by the French and had a thriving fur trade. Sault Ste. Marie was settled as early as 1668, making it the oldest city in Michigan. There are several communities in Illinois that are older than Marietta. The largest, Peoria, was founded in 1691 by

French explorer Henri de Tonti.

Further north in Wisconsin, Green Bay was settled in 1754 as Baie Verte (French for “The Green Bay.”)

Although Marietta got a jump start on other cities in Ohio, it never grew to be a large town. During the early growth period, thousands passed the city on their way further south; flatboats filled the river on their way to Kentucky and Cincinnati, which quickly grew larger than Marietta.

Today the efforts of the Ohio Company are celebrated. Tourism is an important part of the region’s economy. The Sternwheeler Valley Gem provides river tours on the Ohio and Muskingum rivers, and Campus Martius Museum tells the story of the establishment of the Northwest Territory and features the home of Rufus Putnam. A new Ohio River Museum is under construction where the 174-foot sternwheeler W. P. Snyder Jr. helps to explain the role the rivers played in the history of the area.

Efforts are also under way to restore the 1938 National Memorial to the “Start Westward of the United States.” The sandstone monument is the centerpiece of Muskingum Park. It was carved by Gutzon Borglum and dedicated by President Franklin Roosevelt to mark the 150th anniversary of the Northwest Territory.

With westward expansion at hand for the new nation, it’s also important to delve into how the new federal government worked to tie together the existing states and the new frontier, which will come next week. One of the most important pieces of that plan was the creation of the National Road. Approved by Congress in 1806 with work getting underway in 1811, the road would eventually stretch from Cumberland, Md., to Vandalia, Ill.

Memorial Day parade.

The veterans of VFW Post 6664 are inviting all those who have served and those currently in service to march. Participants should gather by 9:30 a.m. at St. Joan of Arc Church. The parade begins at 10.

Accommodations will be available for veterans with limited mobility and their family members who are assisting them.

Call 724-421-6511 for more details.

Tunnel

FROM PAGE A1

Now, the council has launched the “Support the Tunnel” campaign to raise the $2.75 million necessary to install a steel lining along about half of the interior surface of the tunnel to permanently address the deterioration. The council will utilize a “triad approach” to fundraising, pursuing state grant funding, philanthropic contributions and support from local businesses.

As a private 501(C)(3) non-profit organization, the council receives no funding in recurring tax revenue or direct state investment, relying on fees from paid members and charitable contributions, Wolfe said.

“It’s an enormous expense for a small nonprofit like us,” he said. “We do have a small savings we can use, but the majority of funding will need to come from donors and grants.”

Wolfe said the council is “optimistic” that it will receive some degree of grant awards from state agencies, since the group has a strong track record of successful application for previous projects.

Depending on how soon the council can secure the required funding, Wolfe hopes that construction to reopen the tunnel can begin sometime in early 2027.

Many Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources grant programs announce their recipients at the end of the calendar year, so the council will have to wait until then to determine if it will receive any state support during this funding cycle.

Wolfe said interested parties can contribute online at https://montourtrail.org.

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view of the closed National Tunnel on the Montour Trail.

ELEANOR BAILEY

Representatives from each of the United States military units carry the flag of their respective branches during last year’s Bethel Park Memorial Day parade.

FILE PHOTO

Reenactors arrive by flatboat in Marietta, Ohio during events that were part of the 1938 sesquicentennial celebration of the city’s establishment.

EVERYBODY DANCE!

Flash mob boogies in unison at Tanger Outlets

By Garrett Neese gneese@heraldstandard.com

At first, the May 2 crowd at Tanger Outlets could have been mistaken for the normal cluster that forms when some friends run into each other on a busy shopping day.

It kept growing past coincidence, until more than 80 people milled around between the Coach and American Eagle stores.

Then, at 2 p.m., the mall’s central space became a dance floor.

For several minutes, the crowd bounced their hips, steptouched backwards, and when the lyrics commanded, clapped their hands as they joined in the fun of International Line Dance Flash Mob Day.

The annual day, launched by a pair of Germans in 2020, inspires hundreds of flash mobs around the world. A map on the day’s website showed dances planned in every continent but Antarctica.

Nancy Brown of Collier heard about the flash mob and told students in the line dance classes at the Jewish Commu-

nity Center of Greater Pittsburgh.

It gets the body moving, she said. And by requiring dancers to memorize steps, also keeps people thinking.

“It’s good for the brain, and it’s fun,” Brown said. “It’s music everybody likes, and it’s a much better way to exercise than running on a treadmill or something.”

Tanger’s mob was formed by Linda Caputo of Canonsburg, who teaches line dances at

three venues around the area.

She heard about the celebration and liked it. Her first call was to Tanger, which quickly agreed to host.

To provide the music, she brought in Neal Hinterlang of North Huntingdon, who hosts line dance nights at the Meadows as DJ Neal.

Caputo chose a mix of Sister Sledge’s “Everybody Dance,” one of three songs with accompanying dances available to choose from on

the official website.

An instructional video listed the dance as “absolute beginner” level, making it as inclusive as possible. Alternate versions were also available for arms-only dancers, wheeldancers and kids.

“It’s great,” Caputo said, looking around at the crowd that was still gaining in numbers minutes before the dance.

“We chose an easy song, so everybody could be part of it.”

Many of Caputo’s students came to join in. Carmen Osborn of Penn Hills has been doing country-and-western line dancing for a little over a year.

“There’s a socialization,” she said. “You get to meet people who have something in common.”

Dancers formed lines next to friends new and old. As the music began playing, people on all sides of the mob whipped out their phones to capture the moment.

When the song ended, the dancers applauded.

And when Caputo told DJ Neal to run it back, they gleefully jumped back in.

Mackenzie Gallant of Wash-

ington learned about the flash mob through Hinterlang’s line dance nights.

A regular attendee, it only took her 10 minutes of watching the instructional video to learn the steps.

Gallant was joined by her children: Aiden, 6, who joined in the dance; Dallas, 2; and Wyatt, 1, who Gallant carried as she danced.

“I really enjoyed being able to include my kids in it, and you don’t get to do that very often,” she said. “That was really exciting.”

GARRETT NEESE

The flash mob that joined in a line dance at Tanger Outlets numbered more than 80 even before the music started, which inspired even more people to join in.

GARRETT NEESE

Linda Caputo leads a flash mob in a dance May 2 at Tanger Outlets. More than 80 people joined in on “Everybody Dance” in celebration of International Line Dance Flash Mob Day.

GARRETT NEESE

The flash mob at Tanger Outlets performed a simple line dance to “Everybody Dance” — then joined in for an impromptu repeat.

Upper St. Clair junior Smith performs in All-State orchestra

Upper St. Clair High School junior clarinetist

Kiki Smith performed as a member of the Pennsylvania Music Educators Association All-State Orchestra April 22-25 at the Kalahari Convention Center in the Poconos.

The All-State Orchestra was comprised of 151 student musicians from across the commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Under the direction of Dr. Paul Shewan, profes -

sor of instrumental studies at Roberts Wesleyan University, the orchestra performed music by Berlioz, Copland, Elgar and Moncayo.

In addition to orchestra, Smithi is a member of the high school’s Honors Wind Ensemble and previously participated in marching band. She is a student leader of the Chinese Club and was recently inducted into the National Honor Society.

Upper St. Clair places in Pennsylvania Math League

Upper St. Clair High School placed eighth among 92 Pennsylvania schools competing in the Pennsylvania Math League (PML) this year, with three students finishing among the top 50 scorers statewide.

Yuwen Xiang, John Whitman and Lyman Thomson earned top50 honors in the commonwealth. Upper St. Clair was one of only two schools from the Pittsburgh region to place in the top 10, joining North Allegheny Senior High School.

Students are supported by Emma McDonnell, gifted education teacher, who

emphasizes the value of challenge-based learning.

The PML competition consists of six monthly contests from October through March. Each 30-minute contest includes six questions spanning topics such as algebra, geometry, trigonometry, probability and sequences. The final questions are designed to challenge the highest-performing students.

The Pennsylvania Math League aims to promote student interest, confidence and excellence in mathematics through rigorous competition.

Upper St. Clair recognized for music education

The Upper St. Clair School District has been named a 2026 Best Communities for Music Education (BCME) recipient for the 11th consecutive year, recognizing the district’s sustained commitment to providing high-quality music education for all students.

The annual designation, sponsored by the NAMM Foundation, honors school districts across the country that demonstrate outstanding achievement in music access, participation and support.

Upper St. Clair is one of 16 districts in Allegheny County, 141 in Pennsylvania and 1,008 nationwide to receive the distinction this year.

“Earning this recognition for the 11th year in a row speaks to the strength and consistency of our music program and the educators who make it possible,” Dr. Amy Pfender, deputy superinten-

dent, said. “We are proud to offer students meaningful opportunities to explore, create and grow through music as part of a well-rounded education.”

According to the NAMM Foundation, award recipients are selected through a comprehensive application and review process that evaluates funding, instructional time, participation rates, facilities and community support. Applications are verified by an independent research and evaluation firm to ensure rigor and credibility.

Other Allegheny County school districts recognized in 2026 include Bethel Park, Chartiers Valley, Clairton City, East Allegheny, Fox Chapel Area, Moon Area, Mount Lebanon, North Allegheny, North Hills, Pine-Richland, Shaler Area, South Allegheny, South Fayette Township, West Allegheny and Woodland Hills.

Kiki Smith

Yuwen Xiang Lyman Thomson

John Whitman

SUBMITTED PHOTOS

The Upper St. Clair High School marching band is part of the school district’s music department, which recently earned distinction as one of the best communities for music education.

and for Labor Day,

7 from noon to 3 p.m. with the Doggie Dip Swim to follow.

Daily admission is $8. Children under age 3 are admitted for free.

Pool passes are available for purchase. Resident fees are $85 for ages 3 to 17; $105 for ages 18 to 64, $185 for families and $70 for seniors.

Season pass benefits include early entry at 11:45 a.m. on weekends and a dedicated entry line at the gate.

There are no rain checks or refunds. The pool may close due to inclement weather or low attendance.

Call 412-561-8900 during regular office hours for passes or more details.

Lockers are available for use and cost a quarter per opening. Swim lessons are also offered. Contact boro.dormont.pa.us for details.

School groups, summer camps and organizations can schedule events two weeks in advance. Admission is $5 per guest. Contact KNeagoy@boro.dormont.pa.us to schedule a group visit.

Mt. Lebanon

The Mt. Lebanon outdoor swim center opens May 23.

The pool will be open from noon to 7 p.m. on Memorial Day, May 25 and on the Fourth of July.

During school days, May 27 to June 4, the pool will be open from 4 to 7 p.m. Adult lap swimming will be held from 7:15 to 8:15 p.m.

Regular pool hours are 11 a.m. to noon for adults and lap swimming as well as noon to 7 p.m. general admission.

The center offers lap swimming and recreational swimming for all ages as well as includes a bathhouse, family changing rooms, pool heater, zero depth leisure pool, double slide tower, spray features, 50-meter lap lanes, poolside rock climbing wall and a snack bar.

Daily admission is $12 for adults, ages 19 and older; and $11 for seniors ages 62 and older as well as children, ages 3 to 18.

Season passes and memberships are available for purchase in person at the recreation center and require a photo ID. Individual fees are $154 for ages 19 to 61 and $138 for ages 3 to 18 as well as seniors,

Children shoot out of a slide at an area water park last season. Outdoor swimming activities commence the Memorial Day weekend as facilities open across the region.

ages 62 and older. Family passes range from $360 to $454, depending on number. Call 412-343-3409 or 412-5614363 for more information.

Peters Township

In its second season, the Rolling Hills Aqua Park will be open Memorial Day through Labor Day and is located at 110 Warriors Way in McMurray.

Hours of operations are 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Saturday and noon to 7 p.m. Sundays.

Daily passes are available for $3.50 ($7 nonresidents) per person. A season pass costs $50 ($100 nonresidents), and can include up to four people. An extra fee of $5 ($10 nonresidents) applies for additional admissions.

The facility is available for rent. Fee is $225 for the party room; $175 for the shelter. Nonresidents pay $50 and $350 respectively. Only residents can rent the full facility from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. June 1 to July 31. Fee is $1,000. Visit peterstownship.com to purchase season passes or for rentals. Call 412-770-2025 for more information.

Scott Park

The Scott Township pool opens May 23 at 1 Park Drive.

Hours are Friday through Monday and holidays, except the Fourth of July, are noon to 6 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday hours are noon to 8 p.m.

Adult lap swimming and senior citizen hours are noon to 1 p.m. Monday and Friday and 11 a.m. to noon all other days. Senso-

ry-friendly swim hours are 11 a.m. to noon weekends. The facility is available for rent for private and semi-private pool parties.

Family night sessions begin June 6 and are offered from 6 to 9 p.m. Mondays and Fridays. Balls and clear rafts are permitted. Children must be accompanied by a parent.

Swimming lessons will be offered. Fees are $60 for residents and $80 for nonresidents. Visit scott-twp.com or call pool manager Benon Brewer at 412276-5300 ext. 255 for more information.

South Fayette

The splash pad at Fairview Park is open from Memorial Day to Labor Day from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Admission is free. Features are designed for children up to age 12 but all youth and adults can use the amenities. The facility also includes a concession stand, pavilion, restrooms, water fountain and solar-powered picnic tables that have wireless charging. Attendants monitor the facility and the area is under video surveillance.

Visit southfayette.com for more details or contact 412-221-8700 for more information.

Upper St. Clair

The outdoor swimming pool located at the Community and Recreation Center in Boyce Mayview Park in Upper St. Clair will open May 23. Visit twpusc.org for more details.

ELEANOR BAILEY

Ross Farm to rebuild with centuryold barn from neighboring property

By Mike Jones mjones@observer-reporter.com

Three months after a devastating fire destroyed the historic “old barn” on Route 519 and killed 147 sheep, the Ross Farm is getting a new barn as it rebuilds the flock.

Amy Ross Manko, who owns the 178-acre property in North Bethlehem Township, didn’t have to look far to find a replacement for the 117-yearold barn that burned to the ground Feb. 2.

Less than a half-mile down the road sat a similarly sized barn located on the Ross Farm’s neighboring property that was built by Charles Ross, who was the brother of Ross Manko’s great-grandfather, Frank L. Ross Sr., who started her family farm.

“The beauty of all this is it’s actually a Ross family barn.

That property was the twin to my property,” Ross Manko said. “All that’s left of Uncle Charlie’s property is that barn. And that barn will now move to my property so it can be loved and protected and brought back into production as an actual farm barn.”

That side of the family sold its property to the Ritter family decades ago, and the barn that can be seen from Route 40 as people pass by the intersection with Route 519 has not been in use for about 60 years. But when Ross Manko’s historic barn was lost, discussions began about how to repurpose the sister barn that was built in the early 1910s.

Ross Manko recently had a conversation with Washington County Historical Society Executive Director Clay Kilgore and National Road Heritage Corridor Executive Director Sarah Collier about the neighboring barn that had sentimental value to her family. Ross Manko remembers when she was a little girl riding in the car with her

mother, Marjorie Ellen Ross Phillips, who would always tell her daughter she wished they could bring it back into the family one day.

“If I could have any barn in the world, I would want Uncle Charlie’s barn right next door,” Ross Manko told Kilgore and Collier.

They approached the Ritter family who owns the property now and pitched the idea to donate the barn to the historical society, which would in turn give it to Ross Manko so long as it would remain a protected historical landmark on

her working farm. Later this summer, a company that specializes in barn-moving will lift the entire structure off its current foundation and move it less than a half-mile down the road to the Ross Farm and place it on the exact foundation where the “old barn” sat.

“The Ritters were very receptive to the idea of having the barn moved off the property and it having a second life,” Ross Manko said.

For being more than a century old and having not been used for about half of its life, the barn is still in relatively good condition, Ross Manko said. The barn is covered in vines and weeds, which can be easily removed, and it will need a new coat of paint and some roof patches, but she is hopeful they will be able to move the flock in and store hay inside by the end of the summer. The size is similar to the “old barn,” although it won’t look exactly the same since the dimensions are slightly different, but Ross Manko thinks it will still be a landmark for travelers on Route 519 like the last one was for the community.

“It’s a little sad and tired, but it’s going to be amazing. I’m really excited for the opportunity to make it a (working) barn again,” Ross Manko said. “It doesn’t look like much now, but once (the vines are) all pulled down, it’ll be in good shape. It’s pristine inside.”

While the barn is being donated, there still will be costs associated with removing all of the rubble from the old bar, rebuilding the foundation and transporting the new structure. While some of that cost will be offset by the insurance, the bulk of it will be paid for through generous donations and fundraisers from the knitting and fiber community that rallied around Ross Manko after the fire.

“The knitting and fiber community has gone absolutely above and beyond,” Ross Manko said. “I’m calling it ‘The barn that yarn built’ (with) people raising money. It’s been quite remarkable.” All of this finally came together last Saturday on what would have been her son Drew Ross Manko’s 31st birthday. Drew, who was the sixth generation to run the farm and raise sheep, died Sept. 17 following a brief illness. The loss of her son compounded with the fire in February made the last halfyear especially difficult, but the outpouring of support and the donation of the new barn has Ross Manko “cautiously optimistic” about the future. Even through tragedy, Ross Manko and friend Melinda Wamsley, who runs Boss Mare Shearing and had been caring for the animals to help following Drew’s death, have been working to rebuild the flock. They now have 65 sheep living in other barns on the property, some of which will be taking on the starring roles in the annual “Running of the Wools” sheep races down South Main Street in Washington on Saturday. But without a barn, the Ross Farm would not be able to rebound with its heritage-bred sheep grazing the fields.

“You can’t rebuild the flock without the barn, and you can’t rebuild the barn without the flock. I’m overwhelmed by the way the community came together,” Ross Manko said. “We’re well along the road and things are progressing much better than I thought they would. I wasn’t expecting all of this.”

MIKE JONES/OBSERVER-REPORTER

This barn at the crossroads of Route 40 and Route 519 will be donated to the Ross Farm after its historic “old barn” burned down Feb. 2.

COURTESY OF AMY ROSS MANKO

Amy Ross Manko holds one of the lambs brought to the Ross Farm in North Bethlehem Township to help repopulate the flock after 147 sheep died Feb. 2 when the “old barn” on the property burned down.

sports

MT. LEBANON FLAG FOOTBALL FUTURE BRIGHT

Blue Devils look beyond loss to Shaler

By Eleanor Bailey ebailey@thealmanac.net

“What ’til Next Year” isn’t just the collective mantra of loyal baseball fans. It has emerged as the slogan for the Mt. Lebanon flag football team after its loss to Shaler, 26-13, in the WPIAL semifinals.

“We are so proud of our team and what we accomplished, but we are looking forward to trying to win the WPIAL championship next season,” said Shawn Curren, who shares coaching duties with Michael Rost.

During the WPIAL’s inaugural season of flag football for females, the Blue Devils posted a 14-2 overall record.

“We are fortunate to have a great group of girls and coaches,” Rost said. “The core has been playing since our start three years ago and have only improved with time. We achieved a lot this season.”

Lebo entered the playoffs as the runner-up to undefeated USC in Section II. The Panthers blanked the Blue Devils, who were missing key players because of injuries, 28-0, during the regular season.

After blanking Bethel Park, 48-0, in the playoff opener, and upsetting the Panthers, 28-8, in the quarterfinals, the Blue Devils met the undefeated Titans (17-0) for the championship.

Shaler went on to beat Plum, 34-0, in the title game played May 8 at Upper St. Clair High School stadium. Turnovers played a key

role in Lebo’s loss to Shaler. The Titans converted three Lebo miscues into touchdowns. Shaler intercepted four passes in the triumph, three of which resulted in scores.

“Shaler is a great team,” Rost said. “They make every tackle and force you into short yardage throws. Turning the ball over three times against them puts you in a deep hole.”

USC, SF, BP advance in baseball playoffs

Section 2 baseball teams flexed their muscles in the first round of the WPIAL Class 5A playoffs as Upper St. Clair, South Fayette and Bethel Park posted decisive wins against their Section 1 opponents and advanced to the quarterfinals scheduled for May 19.

USC blasted Plum, 16-5, in a game played May 12 at Gateway High School.

Evan Smirniw carried the big stick for the Panthers, pounding out four hits in four plate appearances. He homered and tripled and drove in six runs.

Nolan Wilson, Brooks York, Tanner Schroeck and Luke Marchinsky also contributed to USC’s 16-hit attack. Wilson homered and drove in four runs. York drove in two runs while Marchinsky collected three hits and two RBI. Schroeck doubled and drove in a run.

Max Dietrick earned the win on the mound. He scattered six hits over five innings. With the win, USC improved to 10-9 overall and advanced to play Moon, a 17-1 winner over Baldwin, at 6:30 p.m. May 19 at Ross Memorial Park in Washington. The quarterfinal matchup is a showdown of Section 2 teams as the Tigers won the division with a 9-3 record. USC finished in a tie for third place with a 6-6 slate.

Bethel Park, which also posted a 6-6 section slate, defeated Latrobe, 6-1, in its playoff opener at Plum High School.

Mike Bruckner hurled four frames and struck out four in picking up the win on the mound. Matthew Hughes closed out the game, striking out four in three in-

nings of work.

Ben Thomas led the offensive attack with three hits. Nick Rillo and Bruckner each tagged two hits, including doubles. Eric Miehl drove in two runs with a double. Owen Turoski and Michael Hladio also had doubles in the game. With the win, the Black Hawks improved to 13-8 overall and advanced to play Thomas Jefferson, which edged Mars, 3-2, at 6:30 p.m. May 19 at West Mifflin.

Trey Skeen powered South Fayette past Franklin Regional, 8-2, in a game played at West Mifflin. He homered and tossed a two-hitter on 88 pitches. Skeen had two hits in the game and drove in two runs Jacob Bostian also drove in two runs for the Lions, who exploded for five runs in a pivotal sixth stanza that snapped a 2-2 deadlock.

With the win, the Lions improved to 12-9 overall and advanced to face second-seeded Penn-Trafford at 4 p.m. May 19 at West Mifflin. The Warriors were 4-1 winners over Fox Chapel in their playoff opener.

SOFTBALL

Despite a late-game rally, South Fayette succumbed to Thomas Jefferson, 3-2, in girls softball.

The Jaguars scored twice in the first frame and tacked on a third run in the third before the Lions scored two runs in the top of the sixth.

Caroline Kelly smacked a two-run single while Liv Bonacci stroked a double in the game for the Lady Lions, who finished the season at 10-9 overall.

Despite the loss, Emma Earley pitched well for the Lady Lions, striking out seven, walking

two and scattering three hits.

In the second game of a doubleheader played at Pleasant Valley Elementary field, Canon-McMillan shutout Mt. Lebanon, 7-0. With the contest scoreless the Lady Macs erupted for four runs in the fifth and three tallies in the sixth.

Rebecca Davis tagged three hits, including two doubles, in the loss for Lebo, which finished the season at 8-12 overall.

VOLLEYBALL

Upper St. Clair swept Hempfield, 3-0, in the first round of the WPIAL Class 3A boys’ volleyball playoffs. The Panthers won the matches, 25-20, 27-25 and 25-18.

Aidan Chambers led the way with 13 kills. Beckett Cummins followed with six. With the win, USC improved to 12-5 overall and advanced to the quarterfinals to take on Butler (14-4).

Also in boys volleyball, Peters Township edged Norwin, 3-2, and Mt. Lebanon dispatched North Hills, 3-1.

LACROSSE

The Peters Township girls dropped a 19-10 decision to Moon at Chartiers Valley High School stadium.

In the first-round Class 3A playoff contest, sophomore Abby Yates racked up four goals for the Lady Indians.

In other lacrosse action, the Bethel Park boys and girls teams posted first-round wins. The Lady Hawks defeated North Hills, 15-6, and the boys followed with a 12-5 triumph over Latrobe.

Finally, Chartiers Valley beat

Kayla Lowery, Naudia Zotter and Octavia Dixon had interceptions while Zoey Cieslak had a Pick-6 that gave the Titans a 12-6 lead with one second left in the third quarter.

Rost praised the Titan defense for making “great reads” as well as plays that forced the Blue Devils to throw long sideline passes rather than short dumps in long yardage situations.

“Our girls were just trying to make plays against a great defense, and Shaler was ready for it,” he said. “While those three plays went against us, we also had a number of great throws and catches on offense that allowed us to stay in the game.”

With 6:35 to play, Lebo only trailed, 19-13.

After a reception by Elizabeth Twyman put the ball on the 1-yard line, Lily Schaerli capped the drive with a touchdown to narrow the gap.

With 2:38 remaining, however, Dixon picked off another Lebo pass. After Cieslak rushed to the 1-yard line, Emily Thomas dove

into the end zone to punctuate the victory with 1:56 to play.

“Our performance against Shaler says a lot about our team,” Rost said. “Despite three turnovers, the team never lost faith, and we were in the game until the end. Obviously Shaler is a very good team and we played them more competitively than anyone else.”

Shaler bolted ahead, scoring on its first possession of the game. Both teams traded interceptions in the first quarter Emma Curren had the pick for the Blue Devils. Sophomore Ava Silva and Schaerli, a junior, accounted for the Blue Devil scores. Both played key roles in Lebo’s success this spring. Silva made contributions on both sides of the ball. “On defense she reads everything well, is a sure tackler, and breaks on the ball,” Rost said. “On offense, she has great hands and is very skilled at getting open, especially over the middle. When we need 10 yards for a first down, she almost always finds a way.”

Schaerli, who was injured and unable to play in the first match-up against rival

Mt. Lebanon runner-up in WPIAL team track championships

SUBMITTED PHOTO

Mt. Lebanon secured runner-up honors during the WPIAL Class 3A team track and field championships. The Blue Devils were undefeated section champions as well setting themselves up for a strong showing in the district individual finals. The top finishers in the WPIAL advanced to the PIAA championships scheduled for May 22-23 at Shippensburg University.

By Eleanor Bailey ebailey@thealmanac.net

Mt. Lebanon grabbed the runner-up trophy during the WPIAL Class 3A girls track and field team championship meet held recently at West Mifflin stadium.

North Allegheny won the team title. The Tigers toppled the Blue Devils, 81-69, as well as Norwin, 89-61, and Hempfield, 97-53, in the quadrangular final.

“The girls worked very hard and came together throughout the season to earn WPIAL runner-up honors,” said Lebo track coach Oscar Shutt. “The team focused on improving at practice each week and it showed in the results.”

The Lebo girls captured the Section VI title with an undefeated record of 6-0. The section featured Upper St. Clair (5-1), Baldwin, Bethel Park, Thomas Jefferson, Peters Township and West Mifflin.

In addition to hard work, Shurr said his team “had amazing senior leadership and a number of freshmen who were surprising contributors.”

Freshman Tamsin Holliday emerged as one of the topranked runners in the 1600- and 3200-meter runs for the WPIAL meet.

Lily Cramer, Lauren Krebs and Lucy Tang not only competed well in the hurdles, the seniors also contributed to the relays. Shutt said the 4x100 and 4x400 relays had been “very strong” all season.

Carmela Guillen, Krebs, Dina Simovski, and Cramer comprised the 4x100 at the WPIAL team finals while Ava Mylen, Krebs, Tang, and Cramer made up the 4x400. Additionally, Keira Kraemer has begun to return to the form that enabled her to dominate the indoor season. She finished third in the state in the triple jump but nursed an injury throughout the

The Blue Devils reached the finals by emerging as the winner of one of the four semifinal meets. They defeated Butler, 81-69, Knoch, 113-39, Blackhawk, 13218, and New Castle, 135-15.

early part of the season, which began in March. With a trophy in hand, the Blue Devils anticipated a strong showing at the individual WPIAL track and field championships held May 13 at Slippery Rock University. (Results were too late for publication in this edition of The Almanac.)

“It is exciting that we had representatives in nearly every event at the WPIAL meet,” Shutt said. “We hoped to get some relays through to the state meet as well as the three in the hurdles, plus Keira and Tamsin and maybe a few others.”

The PIAA track and field championships are scheduled for May 22-23 at Seth Grove Stadium on the Shippensburg University campus.

South Fayette Norwin reached the track team finals by edging South Fayette in the semifinals. The two teams had tied, 75-75, in head-

Sewickley Academy, 10-5, in Class 2A girls action.

ELEANOR BAILEY

Lily Schaerli of Mt. Lebanon eludes a Shlaer tackler during WPIAL flag football playoff action. During the semifinals, the Blue Devils dropped a 26-13 decision to the Titans

ELEANOR BAILEY

Ava Silva is congratulated by her teammates after scoring a touchdown for Mt. Lebanon. Despite Silva’s score, the Blue Devils lost to Shaler, 26-13, in the semifinals of the WPIAL girls flag football playoffs.

ELEANOR BAILEY

Veda Krishna (1) of Mt. Lebanon rushes for yardages after making an interception in a 26-13 loss to Shaler.

ELEANOR BAILEY

Ava Silva (7) of Mt. Lebanon eludes tacklers. After her big rush, Silva caught a touchdown pass for the Blue Devils in a 26-13 loss to Shaler.

USC, made a difference in Lebo’s playoff run.

“Lily is a special player,” Rost said. “Her speed, quickness, and change of direction are unparalleled.

“She can also throw, making her a dual threat on offense,” he continued.

“The other team has to be aware of where she is on every play. That opens up a lot for us on offense.”

Schaerli also starts on defense.

“It is helpful to know that no one is outrunning her to the end zone,” Rost said. “She’s also a great kid and teammate.”

Emmanuela Alagbe was the lone senior on the Lebo roster. She was a wide receiver and linebacker for the Blue Devils.

“She’s been with us since the beginning and we will miss her and wish her the best as she starts college in the fall,” Rost said.

“She’s always smiling and is a great teammate who’s made some important plays for us over the last three years.”

By returning all of its starters and a number of younger players that are improving, Mt. Lebanon is considered a top contender for a WPIAL title in 2027.

“We expect other teams to improve, but feel great

about our chances to win it all next year,” Rost concluded.

In addition to Schaerli and quarterback Caroline Rost, the Blue Devils will do so with a plethora of juniors, who will assume the role of senior leaders next season. The returning juniors also include: Veda Krishna, Claire Kiley, Emma Curren, Shaylin Short, Elizabeth Twyman, Arabella McGonigle, Caitlyn Horgan and Kaylee Sirott.

In addition to Silva, Ella Harkiewicz, Laurel Huzzard, Izzy Dowiak, Lucy Sussman, Madi Harpst, Kaia Lee and Makenna Tappe are sophomores

Freshmen are Evelyn Quinlisk, Lena Baker, Noella Gouker, Elaine Wu, Brandy Calderone, Gracie Hughes, Ivy Marino and Vivian Malone.

“From our returners to our first year players, they all contributed in unique ways to make the team better,” Curren said.

Curren also noted that many of the players are involved in multiple activities.

“Juggling their time between flag football and track, club soccer, AAU basketball, orchestra, etc., makes their performances on the field even more impressive. We’re thankful for their efforts and look forward to next year.” Flag FROM PAGE B1

to-head competition

which also featured Upper St. Clair and Connellsville.

The Lady Lions won their sixth straight section banner with a 6-0 record. The Section VII division included runner-up Chartiers Valley (5-1), Canon-McMillan, Moon, West Allegheny, Trinity and Montour.

“Our program has been really blessed over the past decade or so with great athletes that have committed to our program and philosophies, and, in my mind, I have the best coaching staff in the WPIAL,” said head coach Scott Litwinovich.

The Lady Lions certainly have the best hurdler. Delaney Schumaker had a strong spring heading into the WPIAL championships to defend her titles. Schumacher showed her prowess as she led the Lady Lions to the team title during the 61st annual Butler Invitational held in mid-April. She was responsible for 24.5 of her team’s 58 points. She set the meet record in winning the 300-meter hurdles in 42.96. She also captured gold in the 100 hurdles with a 14.50 time.

“Delaney certainly carried the day,” said Litwinovich. “She was really tuned in for her 300 race, and it certainly showed. In her 100, she continues to run smoothly and confidently.”

Litwinovich sees little variations in Schumaker’s technique. She “tweaked” her start and “executed” as well as he has seen in her races but her steadiness is what enables her to succeed.

“In terms of differences (from last year), there really aren’t many,” said Litwinovich. “She’s certainly stronger after another year of strength training. But, her consistency in all aspects has really allowed her to maintain her high level of achievement.”

Angela Zeng is another achiever. The WPIAL cross country champion won the 1600-meter run at Butler and helped the 4x800 relay secure gold.

As far as the rest of the meet, on the girls side,

“Our girls distance runners continue to carry a heavy load for the team,” Litwinovich said. “We have been blessed with a group of girls that continuously set a very high bar for themselves. This allows for great competition, but also great training sessions. They are all so versatile and can really compete in most events from the 400m and up.”

South Fayette emerged in the throwing events as Lauren Biernacki tossed the javelin 118 feet. The measurement was a personal record for the sophomore.

Several South Fayette boys enjoyed success at the Butler Invitational.

Luke Sinton ran the first ever sub 50 second 400m (49.97s) in our program history.

“That was a big deal for him and set himself up for a great postseason,” Litwinovich remarked.

Litwinovich added that Neil Joshi has come on strong in the jumps while Evan Dawson and Griff Martin continue to pace the distance squad. Among the team’s top throwers are Elijah Rexrode and Evan Early. All were expected to perform well at the WPIAL championships.

ELEANOR BAILEY

Mt. Lebanon quarterback Caroline Rost discusses strategies with her coaches Shawn Curren (center) and Jaime Silva (left) during a timeout in the WPIAL flag football semifinals.

ELEANOR BAILEY

Elaine Wu of Mt. Lebanon stretches for the first down before being tackled by a Shaler defender.

ELEANOR BAILEY

Lily Schaerli is brought down by two Shaler defenders but not after the Mt. Lebanon running back picked up critical yardage during the WPIAL semifinals.

sights & sounds

PITTSBURGH BALLET UNVEILS

DETAILS OF ITS NEW VERSION OF

‘The Nutcracker’

Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre (PBT) has unveiled the characters and storyline of its new production of “The Nutcracker,” which will premiere in December 2027.

PBT’s new version of “The Nutcracker” is an updated adaptation. The updated version will succeed PBT’s current production of Terrence S. Orr’s “The Nutcracker,” which will end its 24-year run this December.

“Our new annual holiday production of ‘The Nutcracker’ will dazzle audiences for many years to come. We are thrilled to begin sharing elements of it with Pittsburgh,” said Adam W. McKinney, Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre artistic director. “It promises to be a unique and unforgettable experience. I am sure that audiences will be excited about the combination of traditional story and characters alongside new, lovable characters and fascinating plot changes.”

With the story by PBT artistic director Adam W. McKinney and Trey McIntyre and choreography by Trey McIntyre, PBT’s all-new “The Nutcracker,” set in early 20th-century Pittsburgh, will feature new choreography, costumes, sets and Pittsburgh-inspired themes that celebrate the city’s rich history. The production will stay true to the classic story and its primary characters while introducing new characters and fresh twists and turns in the story. Tchaikovsky’s score will remain, along with a new selection from the

what’s happening TOUR

The Historical Society of Mount Lebanon

will conduct a walking tour at 5:30 p.m.

May 18. Titled “Saints & Stained Glass,” the tour will take walkers inside two of the community’s historic churches – St. Bernard and Mt. Lebanon Evangelical Presbyterian. The 90-minute tour covers the history of the churches with a focus on their stained glass.

Participants meet at the main side entrance of the Presbyterian church on Washington Road.

Fee is $10 ($15 for nonmembers). Visit lebohistory.org to order tickets.

TICKETS

Discounted summer amusement tick-

ets are available for purchase in person at the Peters Township recreation center, located at 700 Meredith Dr.

Tickets are $43 at Kennywood; $35 for Sandcastle and $40 at Idlewood & Soak Zone. All are any-day passes and all sales are final.

Visit peterstownship.com for additional restrictions or call 724-942-5000 for more information.

KIDS SHOW

Miss Cassidy Creates will be presented at 6:30 p.m. at the Peterswood Park Amphitheater.

This is an all-ages dance party with something for everybody. Groove to a mix of throwback favorites and kid-ap-

original 1892 production of “The Nutcracker.”

Beloved characters, including Marie, Fritz, Uncle Drosselmeyer, the Nutcracker, Rat King, Snow Queen and King, Snowflakes and Sugar Plum Fairy will remain in this version of the ballet. Traditional dances such as “Waltz of the Snowflakes,” “Waltz of the Flowers” and the “Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy” will also remain. Other dances will have the same music with new characters dancing in them. Traditional characters who were missing from PBT’s previous version will once again be included in the new “The Nutcracker,” including the Dew Drop Fairy and Mother Ginger. New characters, inspired by Pittsburgh, will also be introduced in Act II divertissement dances. This new version of “The Nutcracket” will be set in Pittsburgh in 1906.

“The Nutcracker” is one of the most well-known ballets of all time, and is based on German author E.T.A. Hoffman’s 1816 tale “The Nutcracker and the Mouse King.” The PBT has performed six different versions of “The Nutcracker” annually since its inception in 1969. The current version, choreographed and conceived by former PBT artistic director Terrence S. Orr, has been staged at PBT for 24 years. The last production of this version will run Dec. 4-27, 2026. For information, go online to pbt. org.

proved hits while joining interactive games, call-and response fun and group dances.

Beedles Ice Cream food truck will be on site.

Visit peterstowsnhip.com or call 724942-5000 for more details.

RETIREMENT

A free retirement readiness event will be held from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. June 2 at the Upper St. Clair community center

This community panel event brings together local experts in estate planning, Medicare, financial planning, and real estate for a discussion as well as question-and-answer session. Visit go.theflourishgroup.net/register-retirement-readiness-southhills to register or for more details.

CHABAD

Celebrate Shavuot from 5 to 6 p.m. May 22 at the Chabad of the South Hills. In addition to a light dairy dinner with cheesecake and ice cream, hear the Ten Commandments. There will be children’s games and activities including acrylic flower arrangements. RSVP at chabadsh.com/shavuot/.

LIBRARY

The Mt. Lebanon library’s board of trustees will hold regular meetings for the 2026-27 year on May 19, July 21, Sept. 15, Nov. 17, Jan. 19, Feb. 16, March 16 and April 20. Meetings will be held

Arts Landing kicking off its first summer

The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust has announced some of the events that will be happening at Arts Landing, the new civic space it is opening in downtown Pittsburgh.

They will include live music, fitness classes, food trucks, movie nights and more. All events will be free and open to the public.

“Arts Landing was designed to bring people together,” said Kendra Whitlock Ingram, president and CEO of the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust. “Our summer activities will welcome residents and visitors to experience something new and return to the Cultural District often.”

Some of the events on tap include:

n A rotation of Pittsburgh food trucks will be at Arts Landing every Wednesday starting June 17 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

n Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre is having a dance and fitness program most Saturdays starting June 20 from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. Classes include pilates, barre fitness, ballet and more for all levels. Classes are for those aged 14 or older.

n Jazz musicians will be playing every other Tuesday starting

June 16 starting at 5 p.m.

n On every other Wednesday starting June 24 at 6:30 p.m., Jeff and Colleen Shirey, founders of Salsa Pittsburgh, will bring salsa classes and openfloor dancing to Arts Landing.

n Great Lawn Movie Nights are planned. Visitors can bring a blanket or chairs and enjoy a movie under the stars. The series will start with “The SpongeBob Movie: Search for Square Pants,” on June 28 at 9 p.m. On July 26 at 8:45 p.m.,

“Willow” will be shown. “The Lion King” will be screened at

at 7 p.m. on the third Tuesday of each month in Meeting Room B of the library located at 16 Castle Shannon Blvd.

The board does not meet in June, August, October, or December.

All meetings are open to the public. A link to attend the meeting virtually and information about providing citizens’ comments is located on the agenda posted to the municipal website the week before each meeting.

Meeting dates are subject to change. Changes to this schedule will be posted in the library, on Mt. Lebanon Cable TV Channels 21 and 34, and on the library web page.

Agenda and approved minutes from previous meetings are available on the municipal website, www.mtlebanon.org.

PT REC

Registration for the following Peters Township recreation programs is being accepted online at peterstownship.com or at the recreation center located at 700 Meredith Drive. Call 724-942-5000 for more information.

Ladies Night from 6:30 to 8 p.m. May 20. Ages 18 and over create a rustic wood floral box to display flowers and decorations throughout the season. All supplies provided. Fee is $15 ($20 nonmembers).

Stars, stripes and crafts will be held from 2 to 3 p.m. June 18. Ages 3 to 5

will create patriotic crafts while learning about the Fourth of July. Fee is $5 ($8 nonmembers). Children must be accompanied by an adult. Iphone 101 will be held from 1:30 to 3 p.m. June 4. The session will teach the basics from adding contacts to downloading and using apps and browsing the web. Bring phone, Apple ID and password to class. Fee is $5 ($8 nonmembers). Registration deadline is June 2.

Dance Explorations Session III begins June 10 and is held from 6:15 to 6:55 p.m. Wednesdays. Ages 3 to 5 gain confidence, musicality and body awareness through ballet, jazz and tumbling. Fee is $40 ($60 nonmembers).

Craft Cutting Machine Class is held Tuesdays from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. through June 23. Fee is $50 ($75 nonmembers) plus material fee of $25.

Dance with DnB magnets for adults, ages 18 and older, on Tuesdays from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. and for youth, ages 5 to 17, Tuesdays from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. Bollywood, folk, contemporary, belly-fusion dance will be featured. Fee is $150 ($225 nonmembers).

Card making for adults from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. Monday, May 18, and for youth, ages 12 to 17, from 1 to 4 p.m. June 15. Fee is $35 ($53 nonmembers). Students create hand-crafted cards with embellished envelopes. All materials provided.

Summer Day Camps will be offered for

8:15 p.m. Aug. 30, and “Batman” will close out the series Sept. 27 at 7:30 p.m.

n Designed for children ages 2-12, Family Fest offers a day of free family fun with activities, entertainment, and performances throughout Arts Landing. They are set for July 25, Aug. 15 and Sept. 19, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. each day.

The Cultural Trust and community partners will soon announce programming plans for America’s 250th anniversary in Pittsburgh. The Grable Playground at Arts Landing is now open. Downtown Pittsburgh’s first playground is now open and being actively used. Visitors will not find typical swing sets and see-saws; instead, expect play equipment with artful expressions made with natural materials. Select equipment is for ages 2-5 years and 5-12 years, respectively.

Arts Landing’s inaugural public art program is on display and open for viewing 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily. The schedule for the inaugural season can be seen at TrustArts.org/ArtsLanding.

chess, volleyball, theater, sports, science and cooking. Details and registration information can be found on the website. Babushkas & Hard Hats: This bus trip explores Pittsburgh’s steel heritage and highlights the people, places and events that shaped the Steel City. Tourists will visit the Bost Building, Carrie Blast Furnaces and Pump House while learning about the 1892 Homestead Strike.

Lunch is included. The bus departs at 8 a.m. and returns at 4:30 p.m. on July 23. Fee is $210.

LEBO REC

The Mt. Lebanon recreation department is offering the following: Leboolympics from 4 to 6 p.m. May 28 at the high school track. Ages 5 to 12 compete in specific age groups. Entry deadline to register is May 20. Daddy-Daughter dinner dance from 4 to 7:30 p.m. May 31 at the Crowne Plaza Hotel. Kindergarten through fifth grade girls can attend. Registration deadline is May 17.

A Hockey Golf Camp will run from 8:30 a.m. to noon from July 6-10 for ages 9 to 11 and from July 13-17 for ages 12 to 14 at the ice center and golf course. Summer camps for soccer, art, chess, science, baseball, public safety, playground and sports beginning in June. Registration is open. Visit mtlrec.activityreg.com to sign up or for more information.

COURTESY OF THE PITTSBURGH CULTURAL TRUST Arts Landing is located in Pittsburgh’s downtown.

COURTESY OF THE PITTSBURGH CULTURAL TRUST

The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust’s Arts Landing has had its soft opening and will be having its grand opening with the Dollar Bank Three Rivers Arts Festival in June.

The logo for the new version of “The Nutcracker” being presented by Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre. It will debut in 2027.

FOOD TRUCKS

A Family Affair

All Things Empanada

Ash & Kris Kitchen

Bammaw’s

Brody’s

Mac & Cheese

Caustelot Creamery

Cilantro & ajo

Cousins Maine Lobster

D Soda Company

Dirty Bird

Chicken N’ Waffles

MAY 22, 23 & 24

EBWINGZ

Ekernally Yours Gourmet Popcorn & Sweet Treats

Farmhouse Kitchen & Bakery

Ember’s Wood Fired Pizza

Fat Cat Mac Attack Food Truck

Forlini’s Kitchen

Frost Fairy

Gil’s Pit Beef

Hermes food truck

Hoshi

BACK BY POPULAR DEMAND

EQUALHOUSINGOPPORTUNITY

Allrealestateadvertisementsinthisnewspaperaresubjecttothe FederalFairHousingAct,whichmakesitillegaltoadvertise“any preference,limitationordiscrimi-nationbasedonrace,color,religion, sex,handicap,familialstatusornationalorigin,oranintentionto makeanysuchpreference,limitationordiscrimination.”

Statelawsforbiddiscriminationinthesale,rental,oradvertisingof realestatebasedonfactorsinadditiontothoseprotectedunder federallaw.

Wewillnotknowinglyacceptanyadvertisingforrealestatewhichis inviolationofthelaw.Allpersonsareherebyinformedthatalldwellingsadvertisedareavailableonanequalopportunitybasis.

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 transfer fee and endowment fee. 412-831-0433 MT. LEBANON CEMETERY Companion crypt, lower level by Peaceful Fountain, location 13B, Level 4. New is $25,000. Selling for $18,250. Call Rose, 973-610-7726 or email: roseikelly@gmail.com Other Animals