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SPECIAL CELEBRATION

Veterans Day personal at South Fayette

The South Fayette School District celebrated Veterans Day in a very personal way. Approximately 40 local veterans joined elementary school students from kindergarten through second grade for a special assembly. Many of the students, faculty and staff had personal ties to military service, so the assemblies enabled them to better understand the respect and appreciation expected toward those who are serving the country or have sacrificed for the nation. Veterans and their host students paraded from the library to the multipurpose room accompanied by performing members of the Little Green Machine marching band. In addition to interacting with veterans and active service members, the students were able to witness how military service impacts the district and their peers as well as encourages values and characteristics such as empathy, respect, civic pride and responsibility. In addition a monument and bench were dedicated to salute veterans and active service members. Situated outside the high school campus, they were part of an Eagle Scout project completed this summer by Jasim Khilij. The bench was crafted, donated, and delivered by Gaydos Monument Co. (a veteran-owned company).

Upper St. Clair headlines Veterans Day commemorations

By Eleanor Bailey Almanac Staff Writer

ebailey@thealmanac.net

With temperatures hovering at 24 degrees and wind chills making it feel colder, state Rep. Natalie Mihalek kept her remarks brief during a Veterans Day commemoration on Nov. 11 in Upper St. Clair.

Her five-minute discourse, however, proved powerful as she addressed her fellow veterans, families and community members crowded together at the Veterans Memorial Park to recognize those that took an oath to protect and defend the nation.

Long before she began her political career in the 40th legislative district in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives, Mihalek served in the Navy’s elite nuclear program, of which only 1% of sailors admitted are women.

Mihalek said that when she left the Navy, she learned what so many already knew –there is no real line that separates the then from now and that most veterans never truly take off the uniform.

“When you raise your right hand and take that oath for the first time to support and defend the Constitution of the United States, you make a promise that doesn't ex -

pire when the enlistment is up. For many of us, that oath becomes part of who we are. And though we may hang up the uniform, that sense of duty stays stitched into us. It just takes on a quieter form.”

Mihalek called this the second oath. “That quiet continuation of service. It's not written down anywhere. There's no ceremony when you take it. There's no signing bonus, nothing of note to post on Facebook, but you can see it every single day.”

She noted the veteran who coaches the Little League team and teaches players about teamwork and accountability; the veteran volunteering at the food bank, the ones serving on the township boards of commissioners or those checking on their veteran buddies and organizing community events.

“The service doesn't come with medals or ribbons, but it's just as honorable,” Mihalek said. “In some ways, it's even harder, because you're drafting your own orders. No one is telling you what must be done, but you instinctively know what to do. You do it. You keep serving.”

She noted that every generation of veterans from World War II to Vietnam; from Iraq

By Jon Andreassi Staff writer jandreassi@observer-reporter.com

For eight years Ma and Pop’s Country Kitchen in Bethel Park has been helping those in need on Thanksgiving by providing free meals.

Erica Diethorn, who owns the restaurant along with her husband, Stephen Diethorn, says the need may be even greater this year. With the ongoing delay in SNAP benefits due to the shutdown of the federal government, Diethorn said they are stocking up on more food than they did last year.

Diethorn said they are “a little bit worried” about folks in the community who rely on the program.

“It’s kind of worrisome,” Diethorn said.

She noted that there are many families in the South Hills who are being affected by the delay in benefits.

“I know that people don’t think that Bethel Park families,

PHOTOS BY JENNIFER DONOVAN/FOR THE ALMANAC

ABOVE: Robert Ferrainolo shares a special moment with his son, Ethan, during Veterans Day activities at South Fayette Elementary School. Ferrainolo serves in the Army. BELOW: Mason Miller, Cody Campbell, Tenioluwa Famuagun, Abbey Miller, Arjun Yadav, and Jasim Khilji (seated) rest and reflect at the new fixture situated outside South Fayette High School. Khilij created the area, dedicated to veterans and active service personnel, as part of his Eagle Scout project.

ABOVE: Ronald Foor, who served in the U.S. Marine Corps, attended Veterans Day activities at South Fayette Elementary School with his wife, Anita, and granddaughter, June Capehart. BELOW: Ronald Kisak enjoyed Veterans Day with his grandchildren, Oliver and Anne Hodgins.

PHOTOS BY ELEANOR BAILEY/THE ALMANAC

ABOVE: State Rep. Natalie Mihalek delivered the keynote remarks during Veterans Day ceremonies held Nov. 11 in Upper St. Clair BELOW: Colin Burns, John Whitman, Blake Davis and Nicholas Deutsch play during Veterans Day activities in Upper St. Clair.

FILE PHOTO

Volunteers prepare food at Ma and Pop’s Country Kitchen in 2022.

to Afghanistan, continue to do this.

Mihalek said Veterans Day is not a day to thank a service person but rather a day of recognition for that enduring spirit of service.

“Veterans know something about this country that not everyone experiences first hand. We've seen what it takes to hold it together. We've seen just how fragile freedom can feel when you're far from home and how strong it becomes when people stand shoulder to shoulder to defend it. We know that America's strength isn't measured by what divides us, but the shared purpose that finds us.”

Mihalek thanked her fellow veterans who keep serving “without a rank on their collar” to the community.

“Service doesn't stop after we're discharged,” she said.

Long after he served as a pilot in the Air Force, Brian Schill is one of those veterans of which Mihalek spoke. After working as the public relations director for Military Affairs Coalition of Western Pennsylvania, he was the executive director of the Peters Township Chamber of Commerce and a board member of the Pennsylvania Association of Chamber Professionals. A past president, he is involved with the Rotary Club of Upper St. Clair-Bethel Park. Schill also served as the master of ceremonies for USC’s annual Veterans Day Observance. He acknowledged and thanked patriots like Mihalek who are the voices of thousands of brave men and women who serve or have served. He noted the numerous dignitaries in the audience from politicians to township employees, including the police and fire departments.

The ceremony opened with an invocation by Pastor Kelly Black from Christ Church. She also closed with a benediction.

Members of the Marine Corps League Detachment 726 and members of Scout Troop 366 served together as the honor color guard. Luke and Abel Rademaker-Dolan lead the Pledge of Allegiance.

The Upper St. Clair High School Chanticleers sang the national anthem while the trombone quartet of Colin Burns, John Whitman, Blake Davis and music teacher Nicholas Deutsch played an armed forces medley. Ella McIntyre and Max LaSalle distributed letters to the present. They were crafted by Steams Elementary students.

The ceremony also included a flyover, featuring a UHIN Huey helicopter.

According to Schill, the chopper was “flown quite a bit” during the Vietnam War and was courtesy of RS Aviation in Washington, PA. Ron Carrado and Marion Clemens coordinated.

“Carrado was fortunate enough to purchase one of these,”

ABOVE: Rose Turzak, a member of the Historical Society of Bethel Park, looks at a book that contains memorabilia from veterans during their service to the country. The book was on display along with photos submitted by Bethel Park residents of their loved ones during an open house held on Veterans Day at the Schoolhouse Arts and History Center. BELOW: Luke and Abel Rademaker-Dolan lead the Pledge of Allegiance while Air Force veteran Brian

salutes the flag during Veterans Day commemoration ceremonies in

their

Sean Dolan, served in the U.S. Coast Guard, Schill served in the Air Force. Schill was the master of ceremonies for the event held Nov. 11 at Veterans Park.

Schill said. “He refurbished it. We're very fortunate this year because of the shutdown.”

Due to the budget issue in the federal government, Air Force or Navy flyovers were unable to be performed.

Ched Mertz gave the ceremony a salute. He and his wife, Rachel, were on the committee that helped create the event and the memorial park. Mertz has not missed a Veterans Day commemoration.

“This country should and does go all out for veterans,” Mertz said. “They laid their future plans, everything they wanted to do in the future, on the line for this country. All gave some and some gave all,” he said. “This day really tells the story of what these brave men and women have been willing to do.

“They should be placed in the highest place in the country for what they’ve done and

still are doing,” said.

Mt. Lebanon, Bethel Park pay tribute

Upper St. Clair was not the only community to honor its veterans. Mt. Lebanon held a commemoration that featured former Navy Seal Brian Loughridge as its keynote speaker and Bethel Park held an open house at the Schoolhouse Arts and History Center.

The Schoolhouse displayed photos of veterans submitted by citizens and a book that contained letters to loved ones from veterans from the trenches.

In addition, a room dedicated strictly to the military was open for tours. The Veterans Room contains a plethora of information on wars in which Americans participated as well as uniforms, weaponry, pictures, badges and medals.

“Anything related to the

military,” said Ron Werkmeister. “People are continuously donating to this room. It keeps growing and is really a very interesting place. There’s a lot of history here.”

The room is open on special occasions such as Veterans Days. The Bethel Park Historical Society also does tours on a regular basis. “They also can be scheduled,” noted Werkmeister.

Bethel Park is also taking orders for the Wreaths Across America program. Wreaths cost $17 each. Checks made payable to Bethel Park Historical Society should be addressed to 2600 South Park Road, Bethel Park, PA, 15102.

Bethel Park High School will lead a formal ceremony at noon Saturday, Dec. 13, when wreaths will be placed at Bethel Cemetery.

Visit historicalsocietybp@ gmail.com for further details.

ABOVE: A UH-IN Huey helicopter, used during the Vietnam War, flew over the ceremony held at Veterans Park in Upper St. Clair. It was courtesy of RS Aviation in Washington, PA. The flyover was coordinated by Ron Carrado and Marion Clemens. BELOW: Jeannette and Ron Werkmeister have purchased five wreaths to donate for Wreaths Across America. The Bethel Park Historical Society is coordinating the fundraiser for veterans. Visit historicalsocietybp@gmail.com for further details.

of the

and

MEALS

FROM PAGE A1

South Park, Mt. Lebanon, Bridgeville, they don’t think that a lot of people are in need. They think more of the inner city, but they’re wrong,” Diethorn said.

She added that she personally knows people who rely on SNAP to feed their families.

“It’s not that these people don’t work. They just don’t make enough to afford much in food once they pay for the rising costs of utilities and rent,” Diethorn said.

Though Diethorn and her husband have already started buying and freezing ingredients, the real work begins the Wednesday evening before Thanksgiving. That is when volunteers form an assembly line at their restaurant to prepare the meals.

Each person gets a turkey meal and a ham meal. Last year, Diethorn said they gave out 1,100 meals to 550 people.

“So we were anticipating this year, maybe more, because of the economic situa-

tion,” Diethorn said. Ma and Pop’s Country Kitchen, located at 2840 South Park Road, Bethel Park, provides the meals from 10:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. They offer dine-in, pickup and delivery options.

They ask that anyone who may be in need reserve their meal before Nov. 21. Reservations can be made by calling 412-595-8451 and pressing option two to leave a message with your request.

So far, Ma and Pop’s Country Kitchen has already received calls from nearly 300 people.

Diethorn says they continue the Thanksgiving tradition because they have the means to be able to provide the assistance.

“First of all, I feel like if you’re in a position to be able to help people, in my faith, I believe that we should,” Diethorn said.

She added that she also feels it is important to give back to the community.

“If you’re going to be a business person in an area, it’s important to become a part of that area,” Diethorn said.

PHOTOS BY ELEANOR BAILEY/THE ALMANAC

Schill

Upper St. Clair. While

father,

Ella McIntyre (right) passes out hand-written letters from elementary students in Upper St. Clair to veterans during a commemoration celebration held Nov. 11 at Veterans Park.

Members

Marine Corps League Detachment 726

members of Scout Troop 366 served together as the honor color guard. They are pictured carrying the flags into the Veterans Day service held Nov. 11 at Veterans Park in Upper St. Clair.

P.T. council narrowly passes resolution allowing Sunday morning youth sports

By Jon Andreassi Staff writer jandreassi@observer-reporter.com

Peters Township will permit youth sports organizers to schedule games and practices for Sunday mornings after a resolution was narrowly approved by council.

Council voted 4-3 on the resolution, which still restricts township-sponsored events at the municipality’s facilities.

Voting in favor were Allison Shanafelt, Matt Rost, Tom Pirosko and Frank Kosir Jr. Opposed were Gary Stiegel Jr., Robert Lewis and Frank Arcuri.

The resolution will allow youth sports leagues to hold activities on township fields before noon Sunday.

Prior to the Nov. 10 vote, township Manager Paul Lauer read a letter opposing the

change from former councilwoman Monica Merrell. Merrell wrote that it could be disruptive to families who attend church or otherwise spend time together on Sunday mornings, and that is a window of time for other types of recreation at Peterswood Park.

“That window of time on Sunday morning without all the sports traffic is the best opportunity for dog walkers, bicycle riders, runners, recreational walkers to use Peterswood Park. Because once the sports activities start, it is a nightmare to navigate the area,” Merrell wrote to council. “People who do not have kids in sports should have time for access to the park as well.”

Though Kosir voted for the resolution, he did express some reservations.

He pointed out that for parents with kids enrolled in youth sports, they are already travelling to other communities for games on Sunday mornings. So amending the policy will allow for home games.

However, Kosir said officials should monitor the community’s response.

“I’m probably going to vote in favor of this, but I do want to say … I think in a year’s time we need to revisit this and see whether or not we’re receiving complaints about the noise, the traffic,” Kosir said. “Because Sunday morning is still supposed to be somewhat a time of peace. I mean, obviously, Sunday is not a day of rest anymore like it was when we were kids, unfortunately. Still, Sunday mornings should be a time of peace, if nothing else.

USC counselor selected for national fellowship

Dr. Jennifer Kirk has been selected as one of the inaugural fellows in the Designing Your Life Fellowship, a national initiative launched by the National Association for College Admission Counseling (NACAC) in partnership with the Strada Education Foundation.

Kirk is the counseling curriculum leader at Upper St. Clair High School. Rooted in Stanford University’s renowned DYL framework that is based on the “Designing Your Life” book, the fellowship will train counselors on how to help students build self-awareness, explore career pathways, and create meaningful education-to-ca-

reer plans that are aligned with their values.

“Dr. Kirk’s selection for this fellowship is a recognition of her extraordinary contributions to the field of postsecondary advising,” Da-

vid Hawkins, chief education and policy officer at NACAC, said. “She has been chosen because her work exemplifies the best of our profession: a deep commitment to equity, a bold vision for student success, and a heart for transformative practice.”

Kirk is among 34 professionals from across the country chosen. Fellows will complete a 12-month hybrid training experience taught by leading innovators at New York University and Dartmouth College. For more information about the Designing Your Life Fellowship, visit www.nacacnet.org.

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Youth sports leagues will now be able to schedule activities for Sunday mornings at Peters Township’s fields.

Dr. Jennifer Kirk

Sisters launch community clean-up days

Three Upper St. Clair students are leading the charge to keep their community clean.

Sisters Briere (grade 9), Ashlyn (grade 7), and Talon Etter (grade 5) recently launched USC Community Clean-Up Days, collecting more than 20 bags of trash during their inaugural event on Oct. 12, along a 2.5-mile stretch of Route 19. Plans for additional Clean-Up Days are already underway.

“Our goal is to bring students, families, and neighbors together to help keep Upper St. Clair beautiful and litter-free,” Briere said. “We love our community and wanted to take the initiative to make a difference by organizing volunteer clean-up days throughout the year. It’s a great way to care for the environment, build school and community pride, and give students an opportunity to earn community service hours.”

The project began when the sisters noticed increasing amounts of litter along Route 19 and throughout the township. Concerned about the impact on the environment and local wildlife, they decided to take action.

The girls wrote a letter to Upper St. Clair Township’s director of public works Rich Botz. It proposed the community clean-up day along Route 19.

“Public Works responded supportively and, recognizing the safety concerns of working near a busy roadway, recommended the girls contact the USC Township Police Department,” Lora Etter, the girls’ mom, said. “Lieutenant Michael Lindenfelser offered to provide a police escort to ensure participant safety and expressed his appreciation for the girls’ initiative. Both the USC Public Works and Police Department commended their effort and stated that they would provide any support necessary to help bring the project to life.”

The Etter family is grateful for the continued support of township police during the Oct. 12 clean-up event.

“Officer Patrick kept us safe on Route 19 and made the experience even more positive with his upbeat and supportive presence,” Etter said.

The sisters’ idea quickly grew into something larger than a single event.

“The girls realized this should not just be one clean-up day but rather an ongoing community effort to reduce litter, protect local wildlife, and promote pride in keeping Upper St. Clair clean and beautiful,” Etter said.

While the first clean-up day was made possible through collaboration with both the USC Public Works and Police departments,

Upper St. Clair students participate in leadership skills building

Thirty rising seventh- and eighth-graders recently spent a week of their summer building leadership skills while giving back to the community as part of the Fort Couch Leadership Academy.

The annual program challenged students to reflect on what leadership means to them both individually and as a team. Throughout the last week of July, participants engaged in a series of tasks designed to promote self-awareness, collaboration and service-based leadership.

The Leadership Academy was

by Fort Couch Middle School teachers

who led students through exercises in teamwork and reflection.

“This program helps students understand that leadership comes in many forms and that even small actions can make a lasting difference,” DaVia said.

“When service is combined with leadership, students have the opportunity to make meaningful connections to their communities.”

This year’s academy partnered with the South Hills In-

terfaith Movement (SHIM) and the Center for Energy Policy and Management at Washington & Jefferson College.

In collaboration with the energy center, students assembled and donated bags of energy-efficient household supplies to a community center in Washington. With SHIM, they helped beautify a local community garden and toured the organization’s food bank to witness the direct impact of service-based leadership.

“We believe that learning is not just about knowledge, it’s about experience and collabora-

tion,” Luxbacher said. “We want students to reflect on their own lived experiences while working together to positively impact our local and larger communities.”

The academy emphasizes core values such as teamwork, productivity, openness, integrity, courage, commitment and reflection.

“Our aspiration for the week is that students can acknowledge, define and exemplify the core tenants of leadership which will, in turn, enhance their academic and social-emotional growth as middle school students,” DaVia said.

These Open Houses start at 1 p.m. with a discussion of the benefits of retirement living with our Director of Marketing followed by guided tours at 1:30 p.m. Light refreshments will be served, and guests will have the opportunity to learn more about Concordia’s amenities and financial strength.

Registration is preferred, but walk-ins are welcome. To RSVP for an open house or to schedule a personal tour, call Director of Marketing Christie Wahlen at 412-294-1351.

“It is simply three sisters motivated to make a positive impact and en-

others to take part in caring

PHOTO SUBMITTED

Jon Swanson, Teddy Muhl, Ashlyn Etter, Briere Etter, Lora Etter, Rick Etter (back), Talon Etter, Kim Daly (back) and Abby Daly

facilitated

Mike DaVia, Eliza Luxbacher, Erin Bruce and Dan Zelenski,

School news

NOAA SCHOLARSHIP

Zachary Griffith of Venetia was one of two University of Alabama students selected for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Ernest F. Hollings Undergraduate Scholarship.

The Hollings Scholarship includes a two-year academic award of up to $9,500 per year and a 10-week, full-time, paid summer internship opportunity at a NOAA facility. Scholars also receive funding to present their NOAA research projects at two national scientific conferences.

Forty-five UA students have been offered scholarships since the program's inception in 2005.

Griffith is a chemical engineering and chemistry dual major and physics minor in the Randall Research Scholars Program. He conducts research with Dr. Zhongyang Wang on the structure and kinetics of anion exchange membranes as separators for liquid-interface fuel cell applications.

This summer, Griffith is conducting research at Oak Ridge National Laboratory as part of the Department of Energy's Summer Undergraduate Laboratory Internship Program, utilizing dynamic electrical impedance techniques to study the

memresistance of neuromorphic circuits.

Outside of research, Griffith is the design team lead for UA's ChemE Car competition, as well as president of the UA Electrochemistry Society chapter. He previously received the Outstanding Sophomore commendation from the Randall Research Scholars Program.

DAVERN AWARDED

Aiden Davern of Mount Lebanon earned one of the Phillips 66 STEM scholarships, which recognizes academic potential and those pursuing a career that will power the future. He will attend the University of Pittsburgh.

Davern was among more than 50 students across the United States selected from a competitive pool of applicants who plan to study science, tech-

LIBRARY LOVE

nology, engineering, or math (STEM) at a technical school or four-year college, with a goal of entering the energy, chemicals, or manufacturing fields.

Students pursuing a technical education will receive $2,000 scholarships. Those attending a four-year university will receive $5,000. Scholarships are renewable each year through graduation, as long as students remain enrolled full time and meet GPA requirements.

BW GRADS

Several area residents recently graduated from Baldwin Wallace University in Berea, Ohio. They included:

Malorie Glancy of Upper Saint Clair High School. She graduated summa cum laude with a Bachelor of Science in Education, Middle Childhood Education.

Lauren Reid of Canonsburg. A Canon-McMillan High School alum, she graduated summa cum laude with a Bachelor of Science, Psychology and Industrial and Organizational Psychology.

Alyssa Saghy of Upper Saint Clair. She graduated with a Bachelor of Science, Biology.

Erik Tagg. A Chartiers Valley High School alum, he graduated with a Bachelor of Arts, Accounting.

The Friends of the Bethel Park Public Library (FBPPL) recently donated $25,000 to the Bethel Park Public Library. The donation is from proceeds of the FBPPL’s various events, such as the Purse Party Bingo. With this donation, the Bethel Park Public Library plans to renovate the library doors to make them accessible and ADA compliant. The FBPPL is a nonprofit organization that promotes the Bethel Park Public Library and fundraises to provide resources that the library cannot purchase through its budget. Officers of the group are: president, Mary Ann Raymer; vice president, Mary Moore; secretary, Julie Clarvit; and treasurer, Fran Cort.

• Hearing but not understanding certain words

• Struggle to understand people wearing a mask

• Difﬁculty understanding conversations in noisy environments like restaurants

• Frequently asking people to repeat themselves

• Having to turn the TV up loud in order to understand what is being said THERE IS NO CHARGE OR OBLIGATION FOR

Video otoscope inspections will be held for a limited time only. Schedule yours today!

Zachary Griffith

students attend Leadership

More than 90 Upper St. Clair High School students strengthened their leadership skills this July during the school’s summer Leadership Academy, a multi-phase program designed to develop student leaders throughout their high school experience.

The academy includes four sequential phases, beginning with Phase I for incoming freshmen and culminating in Phase IV for rising seniors. Each phase builds on the last, combining interactive activities, real-world experiences and college-level theory to help

students both understand and apply leadership principles.

“This experience offers students a unique opportunity to get exposed to leadership ideals that they may not have engaged with before,” said teacher facilitator Dawn Mostowy.

Students in Phase I engaged in self-reflection and interactive leadership scenarios centered on the core philosophy: Who you are is how you lead. Key themes included risk-taking, integrity, openness and effective communication. One highlight was a field trip to Camp Guyasuta, where stu-

dents challenged themselves on a high ropes course and zipline.

Phase II focused on servant, visionary and relational leadership styles. Students visited The Education Partnership, a local nonprofit, where they assembled backpacks, wrote thank-you notes and organized supplies for underfunded schools.

In Phase III, students enrolled in the University of Pittsburgh’s College in High School (CHS) course, “Theories of Leadership.” This six-week class explored leadership ethics and theory while offering students the opportunity to earn both a grade and honors weight.

Phase IV offered a capstone experience for rising seniors, who co-created curriculum and facilitated Leadership Academy sessions for their peers. Students completed more than 10 hours of preparation in advance, reviewing lesson plans and learning instructional strategies. They then independently led discussions, taught content, and adjusted on the fly when needed – gaining valuable experience in leadership, communication, and problem-solving.

business! Chris Slota

Bowled over by toilet humor

Since becoming a mom, I’ve had all sorts of cliches kindly thrown at me: They’re not little for long! The days are long, but the years are short! You need only worry when they’re quiet! That last one, I recently learned, is just as true as the others.

One of my son’s favorite games is Taking Things Out of One Thing and Moving Them to Another Thing (TTOOOTAMTTAT). He loves opening my sock drawer, dragging one sock across the bedroom and tossing the clean hosiery into the hamper. After filling the hamper, he one-by-one takes the socks out of it and returns them to the empty drawer – all the while, grinning like he’s accomplishing the most incredible task.

On a recent morning following a night of not great sleep, I decided to give myself a break and let my son practice playing independently. We holed up in my bedroom where, just as I expected, he gleefully began playing TTOOOTAMTTAT while I cozied up on the floor with my book club book.

I watched for a few minutes as my son, wearing a smile that took up his whole wide face, marched between the sock drawer and the hamper. Satisfied he was having the time of his life, I cracked open my book and lost myself in another world, looking up occasionally to respond to my little boy’s earnest babblings. Time passed pleasantly. Too pleasantly. About a chapter into the novel, I realized the room was … quiet. Hyper aware of the lingering silence, I tore myself from the book and scanned the room. Bedroom door, closed, check. Dog lounging lazily on his oversized bed, check. Son playing innocently … ah,

there he was, little legs propelling him forward, from the bathroom back into the bedroom. From the bathroom?!, I thought, alarmed.

“What’re you doing?” I asked in a voice dripping honey. Delighted, my son squealed and pulled a long, black compression sock (a remnant of my pre-motherhood running days) from the drawer.

“Another sock!” I exclaimed, encouraging his play. “Do you think it goes in the hamper?”

To my surprise, my son walked past the hamper.

“Does it go on the bookshelf?” I wondered, genuinely, but my son passed the bookshelf, too.

“Hmm, where do you think the sock …” I began; and then, as my son entered the bathroom, I said, more sternly, “No, no, we don’t throw away …”

He wasn’t throwing socks in the trash can, though. I watched, dumbfounded, as my sweet baby boy let out a delighted laugh and tossed the sock into the toilet. With one long stride I crossed the room and stood next to my son, who looked up at me, pleased as punch with his “reorganization” of the sock drawer, as I looked down in horror at a toilet overflowing in socks.

The instinct to scold my son was usurped by an overwhelming urge to laugh. I didn’t want to encourage this

behavior, but the toilet water was clean, my son hadn’t tried flushing the socks, and everything about the moment – the colorful arrangement of socks floating in a commode, my son’s big, brown eyes gleaming, the fact I’d let it happen, really – was sitcom-funny, and I could not hold back a belly laugh. My son’s giggles harmonized with my own, and the two of us stood, cracking up at his very boyish behavior.

“We don’t do this,” I said finally, shaking my head, a smile still on my lips. “We don’t put clothes in the toilet.” Like my son placing the socks one-by-one into the commode, I removed the garments and tossed them in the hamper he usually put them in (clean water or not, those toilet-y socks were not going on my feet before being washed!).

“You’re something else,” I laughed, patting my son’s head.

Then I left my book club book on the floor and led my little guy into his bedroom, where real, fun toys are kept. While we began a raucous game of pushing wooden cars around the room, I made a mental note to keep the bathroom door closed and my eyes open, even when practicing independent play. Because it might not be a cliche, but kids are never too young to start with the toilet humor.

Katherine Mansfield is a former staff writer for the Observer-Reporter who now serves as a full-time mom and freelance writer. When she isn’t chasing her toddler around, she pens essays, poems and fiction at https:// katherinemansfield.substack. com/.

Years of service: 11 years

Position: Assistant Ad Director

What you like about your job: This position combines two delightful roles: partnering with local businesses to reach their goals and leading an incredible group of marketing professionals. The events we host, along with a number of our multimedia campaigns have made profound impacts in Southwestern PA and it’s a pleasure to be apart of them!

What do you enjoy about helping small businesses?

The joy I experience from our work does not come from making a sale! I get excited when we see a client reach a goal, overcome an obstacle they were struggling with, and help them in some way to succeed and grow.

What are some of your hobbies?: Bowling, golf, pickleball, tennis, and spending time with my three dogs and wife, Meg!

PHOTO SUBMITTED

Upper St. Clair High School students participated in the Leadership Academy this summer. USC

Academy

sports

REASON TO CELEBRATE

Neupaver enables P.T. to skate past football opponents

By Eleanor Bailey Almanac Sports Editor ebailey@thealmanac.net

Cole Neupaver credits hockey for his success on the football field.

The Peters Township senior plays forward for the high school hockey club as well as elite amateur teams such as Pittsburgh Pens Elite and Vengeance, which played in nationals three years ago.

“Hockey’s a pretty physical sport so it translates pretty well in football,” he said. “Hockey helps me tremendously with balance and everything like that. I mean I’m trying to mimic what I do on skates on the field.”

So what Neupaver lacked on the playing field, he’s made up with his finesse and hockey skills.

According to Peters Township football coach TJ Plack, Neupaver came out for the team last year as a junior. He suffered a hand injury that ended his season his junior year.

This autumn, however, he’s been the catalyst of the Indians’ rushing attack. He has accumulated 1,034 yards and scored 10 touchdowns during the regular season. He’s also caught 14 passes for an additional 169 yards.

“He’s only played for a couple years but he’s doing great things,” Plack said. “He has a lot of really good qualities. Low center of gravity, strong legs, excellent vision,” he continued. “He's the fastest kid on our team. He's got top-end speed.”

Neupaver gets that from his father, Chris, who was a standout running back for the Indians before earning all-confer-

ence accolades while playing at Carnegie Mellon University and earning a bachelor’s engineering degree as well as his MBA from the Tepper School

of Business.

“His dad was a good running back. Straight-line speed,” Plack said. “Cole though is the full package.”

South Fayette recovers from WPIAL loss

Lions rebound with PIAA win over Hollidaysburg

As bitter as South Fayette’s loss in the WPIAL soccer championship match was, there was a silver lining for the Lady Lions. Their season wasn’t over.

“We have more to play for,” coach Nick Rosser told his girls after their double-overtime loss to Fox Chapel in the Class 3A final played Oct. 29 at Highmark Stadium. As the District VII runner-up, South Fayette entered the PIAA tournament. The Lady Lions faced Hollidaysburg in the opening round of action on Nov. 4 and posted a 5-0 shutout.

In the victory, Silvi Rossi and Lily Chiappetta scored two goals each while Mia Deramo provided the other tally. Chiappetta and Gabby Beinecke dished up two assists apiece while Rossi picked up one. Caitlyn Thompson and Lainey Kuglar combined for the shutout in the nets. The PIAA reprieve came on the heels of a 1-0 defeat to the Foxes. The loss ended South Fayette’s bid for a third

Neupaver plays on both sides of the ball. He’s a strong safety on defense and has recorded 24 tackles, four more for losses, and intercepted one pass during the regular season.

“Cole plays the whole game. Plays all the defensive downs and all offense,” Plack said. “He’s a grinder. He’s special. One of the best I’ve had.”

Neupaver submitted one of his best performances of the season during a 42-14 victory

over Bethel Park on Nov. 7 at Confluence Financial Partners Stadium in McMurray.

In the WPIAL Class 5A quarterfinal contest against the Black Hawks, he scored a career-high five touchdowns, four on runs of 1, 2, 4 and 8 yards and one on a 6-yard scoring strike from Nolan DiLucia. Neupaver rushed for 131 yards. He also pulled in four passes for 62 additional yards.

“I have to give a shout out to

my line,” Neupaver said. “We had some kids hurt this game and some young guys stepped up.” Neupaver singled out left tackle Tony Lepri and right guard Noah Griffin in particular. Both are juniors.

“They were truly incredible,” he said. “I can’t wait to see how well they do next year.”

To reach the WPIAL semifinals for the third year in a row,

Hellmann

By Eleanor Bailey Almanac Sports Editor

Ethan Hellmann cemented his name in the record book at Upper St. Clair .

During a 36-26 victory against Woodland Hills on Nov. 7 at the Wolvarena in Turtle Creek, the senior quarterback completed a 42-yard pass to Bryce Jones to become the all-time leading passer in school history.

Hellmann has passed for 5,478 yards and 68 touchdowns.

““The achievement means a lot because playing high school football eventually comes to an end and after my career I want to be remembered,” Hellmann said. “So getting my name in the record book is definitely meaningful to me.”

Mac McArdle held the previous record. A four-year starter in the late 1990s, he passed

for 5,334 yards.

Hellmann said he never considered the milestone until after his freshman year because then he realized he would have the opportunity to start for three more years.

“The record really didn’t register in my mind,” he added.

“That’s Ethan,” said USC coach Mike Junko. “It was great to see him get the record but he’s one of those kids that is more concerned with winning. I have heard some of our players bring (the record) up to him but his response is always the same. He doesn’t care if he throws for 10 yards in a game as long as we win.”

As a freshman quarterback, Hellmann helped the Panthers reach the WPIAL finals. USC lost to Pine-Richland, 34-3, in

and

PHOTOS BY ELEANOR BAILEY/THE ALMANAC

Cole Neupaver makes his move to the end zone after making a reception during firsthalf action in the WPIAL Class 5A playoff game. Neupaver scored five touchdowns and rushed for 131 yards in Peters Township’s 42-14 win against Bethel Park.

ABOVE: Reston Lehman (14) of Peters Township celebrates after making a sack during WPIAL Class 5A playoff action. BELOW: Gabe Kitka sacks quarterback Evan Devine during

PHOTOS BY ELEANOR BAILEY/THE ALMANAC

Mia Deramo (17) of South Fayette battles Caylie Wilkinson (6) of Fox Chapel for the ball while Paige Capek (36) and Silvi Rossi (4) look on.

Silvi Rossi (center) bows her head during the runner-up medal ceremony after South Fayette lost to Fox Chapel, 1-0, in double overtime.

ELEANOR BAILEY/THE ALMANAC

Ethan Hellmann maneuvers his way downfield and out of danger during WPIAL playoff action. A senior, Hellmann recently broke the all-time passing record at Upper St. Clair during a 36-26 win against Woodland Hills.

Neupaver and the Indians have dedicated themselves to the game.

“Hockey and football are both

with

We’re here and it’s November but we’ve lived this every single day since January.”

In addition to his coaches, Neupaver doffed his hat to his father for providing motivation.

“Our coaches know what we need to do and it’s been pretty hard,” he said.

“Every single summer, every single weekend, we’d be around the fields. Even when I didn’t want to do it, my dad also would push me to be my best because he knows what needs to be done, too. He’s really helped me out a lot.”

Defense helped the Indians out, particularly in the second half of their quarterfinal contest. Peters Township held Bethel Park scoreless after allowing first half touchdowns by David Dennison (3-yard run) and Santino Nowozeniuk (46-yard reception from Evan Devine.) Pitt recruit Reston Lehman and Stanford commit Lucas Shanafelt spearheaded the pressure on Devine, who completed seven of 20 aerials for 185 yards, 120 of them on four grabs by Nowozeniuk.

A key play in the game when the pair combined for a sack and forced fumble that eventually catapulted the Indians to a two-touchdown lead at the start of the final frame, 28-14. Lehman also had a fumble recovery later in the quarter.

Of Lehman and Shanafelt Plack said, “They are a major issue for defenses. Teams

worry about them and rightfully so but when we get people keying on them we have some other weapons. I think Cole (Neupaver) made a lot of plays because those guys were getting all the eyeballs.”

As the Indians continue their playoff run, additional eyes are focused on Neupaver. He’s hoping to parlay his success into a collegiate career.

“I’m still going to play hockey this winter once football is over but I’m going to try and play football in college. We’ll see how it goes,” he said.

NOTE: Nolan DiLucia

completed 12 of 21 passes for 126 yards and one score against Bethel Park. The Villanova recruit also rushed for the team’s final touchdown on a 13-yard run. Anthony Maiello kicked the extra points for the Indians while Xavier Jackson converted for the Black Hawks. Both were standout soccer players for their respective clubs.

Maiello and Jackson were both selected to the All-WPIAL team. Jackson recently garnered All-State accolades from the Western Pennsylvania Soccer Coaches Association.

consecutive WPIAL title. The Lions had beaten Moon in a shootout for the 2023 championship and blanked Fox Chapel, 4-0, in the 2024 final.

Fox Chapel avenged that loss when Lily McLaughlin scored with 68 seconds remaining in the second overtime frame. Pitt recruit Emily McKee assisted.

The Lady Lions outshot the Foxes, 25—19.

Caitlyn Thompson recorded six saves for South Fayette while the defense of Abbey Spalla, Maria Gabriel, Rylee Binion and Nora Davidson thwarted McKee, who was credited with eight shots, four of them on target.

For the Foxes, Lia Pizzella turned back nine attempts on goal, including five shots on target by Mia Deramo. Quinn Miller and Gabby Beinecke as well as Davidson and Harper Zapf in a substitute role, also put shots on target for the Lions.

The PIAA playoffs continued with quarterfinal action on Nov. 8 and a rematch between the Lady Lions and Fox Chapel could be on the horizon. They could meet in the semifinals set for Nov. 11.

The PIAA championships are scheduled for 1 p.m. Nov. 18 at Northeastern High School in Manchester.

“There’s a goal out there to reach,” Rosser said.

The Lady Lions entered the PIAA tournament as undefeated Section 3 champions (10-0). They were 18-2-1 overall. Seeded second in the WPIAL, they beat Elizabeth Forward, 5-0, Montou, 5-3, and Moon, 4-1, to reach the district championship match.

Hellmann

overall.

During that 2022 campaign, Hellmann completed 56 of 90 passes for 920 yards and nine scores while splitting time with Julian Dahlem, who made good on 63 of 100 aerials for 971 touchdowns.

As a sophomore, the Panthers finished 8-2 but did not earn a playoff berth.

In 2024, USC won the Allegheny Six Conference title and finished 11-1 after losing their lone game to Peters Township in the WPIAL semifinals.

During that season, Hellmann had passed for only 960 yards but was efficient, completing 56 of 101 attempts for 15 touchdowns and no interceptions while again sharing time with Dahlem, who rushed for more than 1,000 yards and 14 scores when USC ran its Wildcat offense.

tackles.

After Dahlem matriculated to John Carroll University, Hellmann took over the reins full-time. This fall, he finished No. 2 in the WPIAL in passing, behind Joey Felistky of North Catholic, which competed in the Class 3A semifinals on Nov. 14 against Avonworth.

he did not throw a single touchdown in the win against Woodland Hills.

Instead, the Panthers relied on their resilience, ground game and staunch defense for their 10th victory of the season.

USC fell behind, 14-0, eight minutes into the game but rebounded with a 10-yard TD run by Dante Coury and a 27-yard field goal from Jacobo Echeverria Lozano to pull within 14-10 at halftime.

“I have to give our defense a lot of credit,” Junko said. “They made some great adjustments in the Woodland Hills game that really slowed their attack. John Banbury anchors that unit and we have gotten a lot of contributions from guys like Mason Geyer, Will Stohl, and Caffery Duplessis.”

Scoop Smith and Cam Walter were the big weapons for the Wolverines.

After the win over the Wolverines, which placed the Panthers in the Class 5A semifinals against undefeated Peters Township (11-0), Hellmann had passed for 2,480 yards. He had completed 155 of 227 attempts for 32 touchdowns against five interceptions.

“Ethan is an unselfish competitor that is loved by his coaches and teammates,” Junko said. “That will be his lasting legacy. Not the records that he has broken, but the young man that he has become,” he added. “He has meant a great deal to our program and I wouldn't trade him for any other quarterback in the WPIAL.”

Hellmann wouldn’t trade the experience of playing with his brother, Van, for any milestone. From playing for championships, winning conference banners and passing for as many as five touchdowns to five different receivers in one game, Hellmann has achieved much but the highlight that stands out in his mind is a personal one. It occurred Oct. 20, 2023 in a double-overtime win against Moon, 43-42.

“This (record) definitely ranks high in my career but no highlight or achievement will ever be better than throwing my brother that game-winning pass,” he recalled.

While Hellmann completed 7 of 11 passes for 125 yards,

After three rushing scores by John Banbury and a safety, USC forged ahead to stay, 33-20, outscoring Woodland Hills, 23-6, in the third quarter.

In between Wolverines scores, Echeverria Lozano kicked a 39-yard field goal to complete the Panther scoring.

Coury (101) and Banbury (142) rushed for 100 yards apiece. Nico D’Orazio tacked on eight yards to bring USC’s totals to 271 for the game.

“Those two kids (Coury and Banbury) have really come into their own as running backs,” Junko said. “We have used John more in the playoffs because we really feel that it keeps both guys fresh and he brings a different dimension to our run game. They both finish runs and they root for one another. They are unselfish and are a great compliment to our pass game which has been strong all season.”

On defense, Andrew Gaither and Caffery Duplessi picked off passes. Coury and Nevin Shegan-Si had sacks. Banbury led with six unassisted tackles while Coury and Shegan-Si each had seven total, four of them unassisted. Bryce Jones, Beck Shields and Mason Geyer also all had four unassisted

After a lateral from Carter Akins, Smith returned the opening kickoff for a 99-yard score. He finished with 55 yards rushing. He caught six passes for 92 yards and one touchdown.

“Scoop is a great player,” Junko said. “Probably the most dangerous kick returner I have ever coached against. He has a very bright future at the next level.”

Walter passed for 228 yards and two scores – 27 yards to Malik McCloud and 41 yards to Landon Akins. All in all Junko was pleased with his team’s ability to bounce back and adjust.

“We had trouble with their size early in the game, but I think we got control of the line of scrimmage as the game went on,” Junko said.

“We wore them down.

“We have fought in some close games this year,” he added. “Both of our losses were games that went down to the last play. Those difficult outcomes have shaped and molded this team into a group that believes they can win no matter the circumstance.

“Our kids believe in our culture and at the heart of that is playing for each other,” Junko continued. “They never fail to give their very best. As a coach, that makes you very proud.”

South Fayette was the only Almanac area team to advance to PIAA play.

The Peters Township boys and girls were upset in the semifinals of the WPIAL tournament and ended their seasons. In Class 3A, Bethel Park was eliminated in the consolation contest by Thomas Jefferson, 3-2.

PHOTOS BY ELEANOR BAILEY/THE ALMANAC

Reston Lehman (14) of Peters Township celebrates after making a sack during WPIAL Class 5A playoff action.

ELEANOR BAILEY/THE ALMANAC

Harper Zapf (28) of South Fayette looks downfield to dish off the soccer ball despite being held back by Fox Chapel defender Antonia Linzoain.

ELEANOR BAILEY/THE ALMANAC

Ethan Hellmann eyes a receiver downfield as he prepares to make a pass during recent football action. Hellmann recently became the all-time passing leader at Upper St. Clair with 5,478 career yards and 68 touchdowns heading into the WPIAL Class 5A semifinals.

sights & sounds

Crime novelist talks inspiration, Netflix deals at 8th annual Novel November

By Jon Andreassi Staff writer jandreassi@observer-reporter.com

Speaking to a crowd at the Peters Township High School auditorium, author Shawn “S.A.” Cosby talked about growing up in a family of vociferous readers. His mother enjoyed biographies and historical novels, and Cosby recalled reading detective novels with his uncle.

“Which, side note, those books had these, like, very lascivious covers, and my mom wouldn’t let me read them until we cut the covers off. I never had the heart to tell her … There is so much worse stuff in the book,” Cosby said. Cosby is an accomplished author of crime novels generally set in the American South. On Nov. 6, he was the featured writer of the eighth annual Novel November, an event put on each year by the Peters Township Library Foundation.

His 2023 book, “All the Sinners Bleed,” was a New York Times bestseller, and landed on former President Barack Obama’s summer reading list.

Both “All the Sinners Bleed” and “King of Ashes,” Cosby’s most recent novel, are being adapted into limited series for Netflix.

Maura Kelly, the president of the Peters Township Library Foundation, facilitated a conversation with Cosby at the event, which was followed by a question-and- answer session with the audience.

Cosby told the audience his mother encouraged him to start writing his own stories at a young age after he would interrogate the plots of fairy tales she would read to him.

“Why didn’t the three lit-

tle pigs just build their house out of bricks in the first place?

Why did they mess around with sticks and straw?” Cosby said to laughter from the audience. “She challenged me to write a story when I was 7. ‘Well, write your own story, you can do whatever you want.’”

Another inspirational figure for Cosby was his 11thgrade English teacher. Cosby recalled writing stories for

the amusement of his friends, often about teachers they did not particularly care for.

When his English teacher intercepted a story Cosby was passing to his high school crush, he asked Cosby to stay after class. Cosby was surprised by what the teacher had to say.

“He said, ‘You’re not in trouble. First thing, stop writing stories about teachers … You have a really unique gift

what’s happening

PT REC

Peters Township offers the following at the recreation center:

■ Cardmaking Classes: Ages 18 and over will make hand-stamped holiday cards from 3 to 5 p.m. Nov. 24. Fee is $20 ($30 nonmembers). There is an additional $10 fee for materials due to the instructor on the day of class. Ages 12 to 17 make their own greetings from 6 to 7 p.m. Fee is $15 ($23 nonmembers). All materials and tools are provided to create cards and embellished envelopes.

■ Holiday Lights Tour: Residents are invited to decorate homes and register to be included on the official driving tour map, which will be published online. The deadline to register is Dec. 7.

■ Holiday Trivia: Test your knowledge of seasonal traditions, music and movies from 2 to 3 p.m. Dec. 17. Admission is free. Cookies and refreshments will be provided. Register by Dec. 15.

■ Holiday Family Game Play from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Dec. 3. Ages 5 and over meet for family bonding by competing against other families with holiday-themed mini games. Fee is $1 per person ($2 nonmembers). The sign-up deadline is Nov. 28.

■ Senior luncheons from noon to 2 p.m. Nov. 12 and Dec. 10. This is a free event but guests are asked to bring a covered dish or dessert to share. Luncheons can include a speaker, entertainment or an activity. Preregistration is required.

■ Keychain Creations from 6 to 7:15 p.m. Dec. 9. Ages 13 to 17 create a festive keychain to add holiday cheer to keys or backpacks. Cookies and cocoa will be available. Fee is $5 ($8 nonmembers). Sign-up deadline is Dec. 3

■ Ladies Night from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Nov. 19. Participants will create, design and decorate a tassel Christmas tree sign to add to their holiday decor. Guests can bring snacks to share. Fee is $15 ($20 nonmembers).

Visit www.peterstownship.com to register. Call 724-942-5000 for more details.

COLLEGE CLUB

The College Club of Carnegie will meet Dec. 13 at Scoglio's Restaurant, in the Pinebridge Mall, 1580 McLaughlin Run Road. The Christmas Party-themed event begins with a social at 11:30 a.m. followed

by a luncheon at noon. There will be a gift exchange and 50/50 raffle benefitting the club’s scholarship program.

Women with a post-secondary education can call Therese Condit, membership chairperson, at 412279-4458 for further information.

HOUSE TOUR

The Avon Club’s Holiday House Tour will be held Dec. 6 in Ben Avon. Day tours run from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The candlelight tour is from 6 to 9 p.m. Held every other year, the event is the largest fundraiser for the club’s grant and scholarship programs.

Visit theavonclub.or/house-tour to purchase tickets.

FLEA MARKET

Bower Hill Community Church will hold a flea market from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Nov. 22 at 70 Moffett St. Half-price sale is from 2 to 3 p.m. Rooms are separated into categories: books, jewelry, boutique, toys. There will be a main room and tables also set up in the hallways to accommodate over 60 vendors. Homemade soup and baked goods will be available for purchase at the snack bar.

SH CHABAD

A pop-up Jewish NY deli will be offered Nov. 23 at the Chabad of the South Hills located at 1701 McFarland Road. Pickup is from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. Available are pastrami and corned beef sandwiches, potato knishes, Matzo ball soup and Dr. Brown Soda.

Pre-orders are required by Nov. 20 at www.chabadsh.com/deli

The Chabad of the South Hills will offer Lift Your Life at 7 p.m. Mondays beginning Nov. 18 at 1700 Bower Hill Road. These Kabbalistic teachings elevate daily reality. The monthly gathering for women allows for learning and connecting through meaningful conversation and shared inspiration. Visit chabadsh.com/rcs for more information.

The Chabad of the South Hills will hold a senior lunch at 1 p.m. Nov. 15. Comfort Keepers will deliver a presentation on brain health. Suggested donation is $5. The event is wheelchair accessible. RSVP at 412-278-2658.

COOKIE SALES

The Holy Trinity Serbian Orthodox Cathedral will hold its annual holiday cookie sale from 9 a.m.

PHOTOS: JON ANDREASSI/OBSERVER-REPORTER

Copies of Shawn “S.A.” Cosby’s most recent novel, “King of Ashes,” were available for purchase outside the auditorium.

for this. This is a powerful voice, and you should consider going to college for creative writing,’” Cosby said.

Kelly remarked to Cosby that his books are often touching upon challenging political topics that the country has a “really hard time” discussing.

“And you do it in such a way that you’re not bumping people on the head, and I think people can hear you through your characters,” Kelly said.

Cosby responded that he once received the advice that “nobody wants a 300-page sermon.” So long as the story is good, you can talk about any issue you would like.

“I had a friend of mine ask me, ‘Why are you so political in your books?’ I said every act of art is a political act. Even if you’re not being political, then you’re making a political choice,” Cosby said. “So

for me, it’s important to talk about the things that are important to me.”

Higher Ground Productions, Barack and Michelle Obama’s production company, are adapting Cosby’s novels into series for Netflix. He recalled negotiating with Netflix over the “King of Ashes” series, and being unsure if he would go with the streaming service for the television adaptation or take another offer. Then, he got a call from Barack Obama himself.

“He was just really nice and really fun. He was really funny. We get off the phone and I call my agent, ‘I guess we’re going Netflix,’” Cosby said. The Peters Township Library Foundation already has plans to continue Novel November next year, when they will welcome author Katherine Center.

to 1 p.m. Dec. 6 at 450 Maxwell Drive in Whitehall. In addition to a variety of cookies, there will be nut rolls, nut horns, lady locks and apple strudels for sale. Prices are $15 per pound for cookies; $18 per nut roll, $15 per box of 10 of nut horns or lady locks and $5 per apple strudel. No online pre-orders will be taken. Cash, check or credit card will be accepted on the day of the sale. Call 412-882-3900 or email htcnutroll@gmail.com for more details.

The Taste of Heaven Cookie Sale will be held from 9 a.m. to noon Dec. 16 at St. Gregory Byzantine Catholic Church at 2005 Mohawk Road in Upper St. Clair. While listening to live holiday music, patrons stroll through tables filled with cookies and fill containers with selections of traditional and everyday favorites. There will also be pre-packaged ethnic delicacies, specialty sweets and wrapped “Gifts To Go” for purchase. Cash, credit and debit cards are accepted. Call 412-835-7800 for more details.

CRAFT SHOWS

■ The St. Raphael the Archangel holiday craft show will be held from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Nov. 15 in the SS. Simon & Jude School gymnasium located at 1625 Green Tree Road in Scott Township. There will be 75 tables of crafts, a Chinese auction of items made by the participants, a bake sale and lunch available for purchase. Parking and admission are free.

■ The Independence Middle School PTSO craft show will be held from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Nov. 22 at the school, located at 2807 Bethel Church Road in Bethel Park. Over 40 crafters/vendors will be selling artwork, jewelry, crocheted items, baked goods, 3D printed items, tumblers, nail polish strips, wreaths, pottery, pet gear, purses, sewing items, soaps, essential oils, jams, laser engraved items and crystals. There will also be gift baskets. Food trucks will be on site as well as a concession stand to purchase food and drinks.

■ The South Hills Pet Rescue will hold a holiday craft show from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Dec. 6 at Giant Oaks Winery, 3540 Washington Ave. in Finleyville. Admission is free. Ticket raffle and food available.

GENEALOGY

The Mt. Lebanon Genealogy Society will meet at 1 p.m. Nov. 17

in the audio-visual room at Mt. Lebanon Public Library. World War II historian and memorabilia collector Don Grimm will discuss military dog tags, their history as well as importance and understanding in identification of soldiers in the army. No reservations required. All can attend. Email: Malcolm. andrews1949@gmail.com with questions.

NURSES

The Southwestern Pennsylvania Registered Nurses Club will meet at 9:30 a.m. Nov. 18 at Salvatore's, 5001 Curry Road. Lisa Hopkins from Encompass Health Rehabilitation will speak on "The Art of Flexibility and How it Promotes Wellness” in an interactive session. All registered nurses can attend. Visit www.swparnclub.weebly.com for more information.

PANCAKES

The Scouts BSA Troop 2 pancake breakfast fundraiser will be held from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Nov. 16 at Bethany Presbyterian Church, located at 740 Washington Ave. in Bridgeville. Tickets are $5 for seniors, ages 65 and older, as well as children under 5. All others are charged $10. Meal includes unlimited pancakes, sausage with vegan options, coffee, orange juice or milk and apple sauce. In addition to a hearty breakfast, attendees can chat with Scouts and learn about the organization. Contact info@troop2-pa.org for tickets or more details. Tickets are available at the door.

BLOOD DRIVE

Our Lady of Hope Parish will hold a blood drive from 8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Nov. 22 in Frawley Hall at St. Valentine's Catholic Church, located at 2700 Ohio St. in Bethel Park Visit vitalant.org to schedule an appointment or call 412-726-6942 or 412-884-1283 for more details. Donations in November are eligible for entry into a contest to win one of two $10,000 gift cards.

PRAYER EVENT

The Magnificat Prayer Breakfast for Women will be held from 9 a.m. to noon Nov. 15 at the Diocese of Pittsburgh Pastoral Center-O’Connor Hall, 2900 Noblestown Road. In addition to breakfast, praise, worship and fellowship, the Rev. Daniel J. Roberts, a recently ordained priest who previously had a long career as an actor in Los Angeles, will speak. Registration is $35.

Visit www.magnificatpittsburgh.org to register online.

BOOT DRIVE

The Tri-Community South EMS is collecting boots and clean blankets for the homeless and vulnerable population at 5490 Progress Blvd. Donations also can be dropped off until Dec. 4 at the Bethel Park, South Park and Upper St. Clair libraries as well as Brentwood Bank in the South Park Shops.

EMS

The subscription drive to the Tri-Community South (TCS) 2026 Ambulance Subscription Service, located at 5490 Progress Blvd. in Bethel Park, has begun. Subscribers receive a 50% discount off out-of-pocket expenses related to emergency ambulance service provided by TCS excluding Lift Assists (always $250) and treatment without transport (always $300). Service runs from Jan. 1 through Dec. 31, 2026. Subscriptions are $70 per individual and $90 per household. TCS has served Bethel Park, South Park and Upper St. Clair since 1977. Visit tcsems.org to subscribe. Call 412-831-3710 for further details.

LIGHT UP

Beverly Brite Nite will be held from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Dec. 4 in the Beverly Road business corridor in Mt. Lebanon. In addition to holiday cheer and extended shopping hours, there will be a visit from Santa as well as a tree lighting celebration.

MARKET

The Schoolhouse Market will be held from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Dec. 14 at the Schoolhouse Arts & History Center, located at 2600 South Park Road in Bethel Park. Local artists and vendors interested in participating in future events should email: samantha.giancola.art@ gmail.com for more details.

BOTANICS

Tickets for the fourth annual Dazzling Nights Pittsburgh, a holiday spectacular at the Pittsburgh Botanic Garden, are on sale. The show runs from Nov. 28 through Jan. 3 with entry times beginning at 5 p.m. All tickets are advanced sales and patrons pick times and dates. Prices range from $28 to $34.75 for adults and $25 to $33.75 for children. Ages 3 and under enter free. Visit pittsburghbotanicgarden.org for more details.

Shawn “S.A.” Cosby speaks with Maura Kelly at the Novel November event.

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makeanysuchpreference,limitationordiscrimination.” Statelawsforbiddiscriminationinthesale,rental,oradvertisingof realestatebasedonfactorsinadditiontothoseprotectedunder federallaw. Wewillnotknowinglyacceptanyadvertisingforrealestatewhichis inviolationofthelaw.Allpersonsareherebyinformedthatalldwellingsadvertisedareavailableonanequalopportunitybasis.

ESTATESALE

SCOTTTOWNSHIP(15243) AMAZINGBAGSALEPLUS 75%OFFONFURNITURE!! SATURDAY,NOVEMBER22nd,8am-4pm

ContentsInclude: Sofa,LoveseatandChair,GlassTopEnd Table,FishLamp,FloorLamp,StorageOttoman,LargeGrey TVStand,LargeSamsungTV,SamsungSoundbar& Subwoofer,Turntable,5DiskCDPlayer,PanasonicDVD/CD Player,RCAVHSPlayer,PanasonicVHSPlayers,CDs,VHS Tapes,VideoRewinder,EndTables,RattanFootStools,Wall Art,DanskTrays,Seascape&NauticalPicturesandDécor, Pictures,Candlesticks,Figurines,MarineFigurine,Marine Cane,MarineCorp.ArtPiece,&MarineCorp.Hat,BullDog Collection,Frames,IkeaBuffet,4EmeraldGreenChairs, Stemware,Glassware,IrishCoffeeGlasses,TeaPots, Barware,MartiniShaker,DropLeafKitchenTable,2Swivel Chairs,SmallVizioTV,GEMicrowave,Corelle,Silverware, CanOpener,CoffeeBeanGrinder,Blender,Pots&Pans, CuttingBoards,FoodProcessor,Pyrex,FrenchWhite,Knife Block,KrupsBlender,DeepFryer,Roaster,30CupCoffee Pot,IceCreamMaker,PizelleMaker,CanningPot,Canning Jars,Bookcases,TravelBar,SonyCamcorder,MiniTV, SonyDVDPlayer,VizioMonitor,HPPrinter,Dresser&Mirror, ChestofDrawers,MarbleTopNightstands,MCMHeadboard, Lamps,Butler,ClockRadio,ShoeShine,Linens,TravelBags, CollapsibleTable,Tripod,Labeler,HangingCurios,Mounted SailfishfromtheCoastofFlorida,FishingAccessories, StuffedFish,FishingBooks,FishingRacks,DeskLamp, MagnifyingLamp,FileCabinet,Screen,BeltBuckles,Knives, Frames,Heater,HandicapItems,WheelChairs,Cabinets, SleeperSofa,RollAwayBed,ElectricTypewriter,Andirons, ChestFreezer,DogCrates&Dishes,Toro1800Snow Thrower,FloorFan,BoxFan,SunJoeRototiller,Craftsman ToolBox,CraftsmanEdger,CraftsmanBlower/Vac,CraftsmanHedgeTrimmer,B&DCompoundMiterSaw,Circular Saw,LotsofHandTools,Vises,DetailSander,IndustrialPulley,Jack,Drills,FishingNets,FluorescentBulbs,Extension Ladder,StepLadder,Stools,Conduit,PaintSprayers,Tarps, HitachiSander,ScrollSaw,ElectricNailer,LawnTools,Anchors,lGasCan,WeedWacker,BirdHouse,andSOMUCH MORE!!DON’TMISSIT!!

Directions: BowerHillRoadtoRockhillRoadto345Rockhill Road.

**CASHONLY!!PLEASEBRINGYOUROWNHELP!! MURDOCHESTATELIQUIDATION www.murdochestatesales.com

14” tall, made in Italy Vintage, $500 orig now $50 724-986-3548 MATCH BOOKS (900) - Hotels, cars, airlines, casino, restaurants, golf, presidents, more. $250. 412-337-5165 Meat Grinder 220v can change to 110v $750 724-745-0978

Men’s long/short sleeve tops size large $12 724-469-3769 Men’s Winter jackets size Large $25 724-469-3769 Night stands (2), dark wood $20 or 2/$35 724-469-3769

Olimp weight set 150 lbs. dumb bells, benches, stanchions, racks $400 724-942-4389

Oriental Rug 9’6” x 6’ paid $3,100 asking $500 or best offer 724-554-8770 text please PLAYBOY MAGAZINES (41) Take all for $148. 724-513-9390

PRUNER - Greenworks 6-inch, 24V cordless pruner combo. New in box. New $149+, sell $100. 412-535-3744 Punch bowl glass with ladle and 6 cups $30 412-563-3132 Queen 4 post bed $30 724-469-3769 REMOTE CONTROL DINOSAUR - Fisher Price vintage T-Rex. Works. See eBay for photo. $100 obo.

coffee table book 143 pages 12 x 13.25 x 1 $25 744-809-5746

ROTOTILLER - TroyBilt rear tine, electric start, new tires. Good codition. $300. 724-470-3760 RUN TILL SOLD! Sell Your Merchandise $301 & up for just $19.99* (*for 3 lines) It’s easy to place your ad. Call: 724-222-2200 Fax: 724-222-3982 Email: orclass@observer-reporter. com Mail: Observer Publishing Co. 122 South Main St. Washington, PA 15301 Attn: Classified Dept. DEADLINE: THURS. 10 A.M.

SHELVING - Rivet Rack, 8’x2’x3’ (4 - Sections) Steel - 7 Particle Board Shelving. Each sectionlarge inventory. $50. 724-873-7005

SHOWBOOTHS10x20foot,and 10x10allincluded , in-cludes rollingcarryingcases,lighting, bridge,frontpillar,sidedisplay tableswithlockabledoors, $15,000new. Mustsell. $3,000.412-310-0210 SHOWCASES $100 each or best offer. 724-228-3278 Small Display cases $50 724-228-3278

SMOKER - Master Built,

Tires

Tires Winter Bridgestone Blizzak

P225/40 R18 WS90 9/32 tread two for $160 412-535-3744

Tires Yokohoma Advan Sport P255/35 R18 9/32 tread two for $175 412-535-3744

TRAILER HITCH - Lexus, Rav-4, Curt, Toyota, HD. Like new. $50. 724-255-3691

Travel bag 23” x 11” x 10” NEW $25 724-338-0322

Treadmill, Horizon Club, Model T500 $50 724-678-7676

Treadmill, NEW, Xterra $75 724-255-3691

Vintage - from Italy Ornate Decanter, Tray and 6 glasses $40 724-986-3548

Vintage Recurve Archery Bows (3) 35 - 45 lbs. $60 each 724-945-5282

Wicker Rocking Chair and Nursery Rocker New Condition $100 Both 412-341-3677