Global interests lead USC grad to CNN, China
By Jill Thurston Staff writer
Following her graduation from Yale University in 2021, Upper St. Clair graduate Claire Zalla, 26, has taken a deep dive into the field of global affairs and come up with some remarkable experiences, including working at CNN and studying in China under a prestigious graduate scholarship.
Zalla is a Schwarzman Scholar and an Emmy Award winner, earned from her time working as Fareed Zakaria’s researcher on his CNN news and analysis program, Fareed Zakaria GPS.
A 2017 Upper St. Clair High School graduate, she recently returned to
Book bans focus of discussion at Mt. Lebanon Library
By Brad Hundt
Staff writer
bhundt@observer-reporter.com
MT. LEBANON — Perhaps the most insidious effect of book-banning drives isn’t the actual removal of titles from library shelves, but the fear it instills in librarians.
When the possibility of an angry call to a trustee or a social media mob being sicced on them is on the table, some librarians might well think twice about stocking a controversial title, especially if they are worried that their job could hang in the balance.
It’s a form of self-censorship, according to Katherine Locke, co-president of the Pennsylvania chapter of the group Authors Against Book Bans.
“They anticipate a parent or board member will have a problem with it,” she explained.
Locke was one of five panelists participating in a discussion on book censorship at the Mt. Lebanon Public Library on Oct. 10. “The Past and Present Concerns of Book Banning in America” was moderated by Robyn Vittek, the library’s director.
Earlier this year, the library’s board approved a resolution making the library a book sanctuary. As a book sanctuary, books will not be removed from shelves if they meet the library’s collection development policy. The resolution also pledged that the library would offer education on book banning, hold talks on the topic and make endangered books widely accessible. The library became the first book sanctuary in Pennsylvania, following in the footsteps of the Chicago Public Library, which became a book sanctuary in 2022.
“Material will not be removed just because a person or group doesn’t like it,” Vittek said.
The last couple of years have seen a raft of widely reported attempts to ban books, many powered by activist groups and fueled by social media. A report released this month by the advocacy group PEN America said book censorship in the United States is “rampant and common.”
“Never before in the life of any living American have so many books been removed from school libraries across the country,” the report states. “Never before have so many states passed laws or regulations to facilitate the banning of books, including bans on specific titles statewide…”
SEE BANS, PAGE A2
Pittsburgh from China after earning a global affairs master’s degree from Tsinghua University in Beijing as a Schwarzman Scholar.
Zalla left her position as Zakaria’s researcher in 2024 to study in China.
Her work with the team at CNN for coverage of the Israel-Hamas War was later nominated and awarded an Emmy in breaking news coverage in September 2024, after Zalla was already in China for her master’s program.
“During my time at CNN with the Fareed Zakaria GPS program, we had a total of three Emmy nominations and we won for outstanding breaking news coverage of the Israel-Hamas war, as part of a team effort with the
other CNN programming occurring during that weekend,” Zalla said.
“It was a great honor to be included and to be nominated,” Zalla said.
Her weeks at CNN were fastpaced. Zalla said she would spend Tuesday and Wednesday researching and preparing, working with Zakaria on his monologue, and with other producers on their interviews for the show, and then tape the show on Thursday, sometimes only to have to start over in the case of newsworthy events on Friday or Saturday before the show would air.
“When you are covering the world, a lot of things can occur between Friday night and Sunday morning when the show would air. So sometimes,
we would have an entire show prepared and something big and newsworthy enough would happen and we would have to essentially throw out a lot of what we had done and do a live show on Sunday mornings. This happened when Russia invaded Ukraine. We did many live shows during the Israel-Hamas war. That’s why we were included in the Emmy that we won,” she said.
Zalla said her desire to gain a deeper understanding of China prompted her to apply for the Schwarzman Scholarship program, which awards a one-year, fully funded master’s degree in global affairs to a limited number of students.
Project preservation
Bethel Park School District, historical society documenting history of closing grade schools
By Paul Paterra Staff writer ppaterra@observer-reporter.com
As the Bethel Park School District moves closer to the opening of its new elementary facility in the fall of 2026, a movement is afoot to make sure that the six closing elementary schools will not be forgotten.
Project Preservation is in place to honor the memories of the Neil Armstrong, Memorial, Ben Franklin, Abraham Lincoln, William Penn and George Washington elementary schools while inspiring the future, which involves the new $133 million Bethel Park Elementary Center. The new school will accommodate up to 1,800 students.
“The goal is to preserve the history of the community, in particular the schools that will be closing,” said Tim Moury, president of the Bethel Park Historical Society. “We want to document anything special or interesting.”
Voices, photos and memorabilia from the closing schools is being collected. There are plans for a video to capture the individual identity of each school.
SEE SCHOOL, PAGE A2
COURTESY OF CLAIRE ZALLA
Claire Zalla holds her Emmy, awarded to her while working at CNN for breaking news coverage.
PHOTOS: BRAD HUNDT/OBSERVER-REPORTER
About 60 people attended a discussion on book censorship at Mt. Lebanon Public Library on Oct. 10.
Robyn Vittek, director of the Mt. Lebanon Public Library, moderated the discussion, “The Past and Present Concerns of Book Banning in America.”
Fisher of
COURTESY OF BETHEL PARK SCHOOL DISTRICT
Ravi Kancharla, left, and Madeline Dunn show off Memorial Elementary School paraphernalia.
USC initiative turns learning into action
Fourth-graders at Streams Elementary School in Upper St. Clair kicked off a new initiative that connects classroom lessons with real-world impact.
The program, After-School Action, was created by fourthgrade PYP teacher Amanda Royer and will be offered several times throughout the year. The initiative gives students opportunities to extend their learning through projects that demonstrate how small efforts can make a meaningful difference.
“As part of our IB-PYP programming, ‘action’ is an essential element of student learning,” Royer said. “It challenges children to apply their knowledge in real-life ways, demonstrate empathy, and recognize their own power to positively impact their community. Through After-School Action, students will continue
to explore small yet meaningful ways they can contribute – whether through service, kindness, or other projects of support.”
The first session, Operation Morale Boost, welcomed about 25 students who crafted paracord bracelets to send to active-duty military personnel. The bracelets serve not only as symbols of encouragement and support but also as practical tools for service members stationed far from home. The project also reflects Streams Elementary’s yearlong focus on serving, supporting, and honoring veterans.
Third-grade teachers Anne Conrad and Emily LaSalle provided additional support during the event. As they worked, students practiced new skills and also saw how small acts of kindness can provide comfort to others.
Streams Elementary, which serves students in kindergarten through grade four, emphasized that the project represents an important step in helping children see themselves as caring, principled, and active members of the global community.
“Their work reminds us that no action is too small when it comes to making a difference,” Royer said.
The next After-School Action service opportunity, Operation Holiday Spirit, is slated for November. Students will create customized holiday ornaments for soldiers deployed during the holiday season. The Soldiers Angels organization will attach the ornaments to stockings sent overseas.
“I'll also share information on how students can stuff their own stockings to spread even more cheer,” Royer said.
School
Continued from Page A1
“We want to really capture that on a video, so 50 years from now the kids will be able to look back and say this is where I went to school and this is what I did,” Moury said. “So many things that aren’t there today, people forget about.”
Each of the schools has a long history, with the youngest being Neil Armstrong Elementary School, which opened in 1970. The oldest is Bethel Memorial, which opened in 1949.
Moury, a 1980 graduate of Bethel Park High School, said memorabilia collected will be on display at the Bethel Park Historical Society building, 2600 South Park Road, itself a former schoolhouse. It was built in 1892 and served as a schoolhouse until 1958.
“The school district has been fantastic to work with,” Moury said. “We’re doing this
as a joint project. If there’s anything we want to take from a building we can have it in our museum. We really want to make a place to preserve the history, whether the buildings remain or they get taken down. We’re going to walk the buildings and one of the things we hope to get from each building is the dedication plaque to really show when the buildings were built.”
There already is much on display in a room dedicated to the schools, including some old uniforms and class pictures.
“We’re starting to build up a library that at some point will be open up to the public,” Moury said. “I think the building has been a great community asset. Most everything in here has a story.”
Anybody who wishes to donate may stop at the historical society or connect by email at historicalsocietybp@gmail. com.
District Superintendent Dr. James Walsh said it is im-
portant to remember the past while looking into the future.
“The community has a lot of pride in its history and experiences and they don’t want to lose that,” Walsh said. “We’ve closed several buildings way before my time at Bethel Park. Those buildings are gone. The memories are gone. I think they regret losing that history and those memories and highlights from those schools. I love the idea of trying to capture the best parts of these current schools before they close so we don’t lose them and can cherish them for as long as we can.”
Walsh said having the entire elementary school population in one building will offer more opportunity for teacher collaboration.
At Bethel Park’s recent Community Day celebration, many people stopped by the historical society’s booth to contribute to the initiative, sharing memories and memorabilia of the schools.
“I saw a real steady stream
of folks come by and offer their memories,” Walsh said.
“A lot of them were willing to go on camera and offer anecdotes and memories that will be captured in a documentary. Some of them had memorabilia that they were willing to share.”
Moury said there are plans to sell keepsake ornaments from each of the schools, with proceeds going to the Bethel Park Education Foundation.
There also will be an open house at the end of the school year at each of the schools to welcome back alumni or teachers or anyone interested in walking through one of the buildings.
“I’ve had several people reach out and say I went to this school and would like to go through it one more time,” Moury said. “It’s important to preserve the past, because you have to know where you were. You can’t change history but it helps tell you how you got to where you got and maybe helps you plan where you want to go.”
Global
Continued from Page A1
“I applied because in my opinion, China is and will continue to be a significant player on the world stage. I spent a lot of time at CNN reading about China in English language publications, but I wanted to explore the country for myself and broaden my perspective,” Zalla said.
The Schwarzman Scholarship is awarded to about 150 students worldwide, and about 40% of those invited are from the United States, according to Zalla.
“We all lived and studied together in Schwarzman College at Tsinghua University in a curriculum that focused on global affairs, China and leadership,” she said.
Unfortunately, she did some unexpected research on the health system in China after breaking both of her elbows while leading the volleyball team at Schwarzman College. She was given the opportunity to withdraw, but opted to continue with the help of her fellow students.
Day to day living as a result was difficult. “I got creative, and had support from friends
Bans
Continued from Page A1
Vittek said, “I can’t emphasize how important this is to libraries of all types.”
She pointed to a study from the American Library Association that found that there were more than 2,000 instances of titles being challenged in the United States in 2024, and that only 16% of those challenges came from individual parents. The rest came from organized groups and governmental entities, and books on subjects relating to race and the LGBTQ community were among those most commonly targeted.
“I’ve seen these things happen in real time,” according to Edha Gupta, a student at the University of Pittsburgh. While she was in high school in the Central York School District, she led a group that opposed
in college. Youtube was helpful with learning how to put T-shirts on,” she said.
Zalla persevered and defended her capstone just days after having her arm braces removed, and she gave accolades to the medical staff who treated her.
“I had really excellent care, the hospital staff was amazing, my therapist was great and I had access to English-speaking caregivers. “ She is not sure what is next. Her injury led to delays in looking for a position in the areas of geopolitical advisory, conflict management, or AI policy, but she is looking forward to the next opportunity.
“I learned so much at CNN; I was paid to learn, covering a different topic every week, Russia, Ukraine, AI, China, whatever it might be, to the point of being able to correct copy that would be used during the show,” said Zalla.
“To me, journalism is a kind of public service and I felt a duty to the public to be as accurate as possible to the best of my ability.”
Of her time in China, she said she “found the people to be really kind and exceptionally hard working,” the food delicious and the natural scenery breathtaking.
a ban on books and materials from a diversity resource list. The district’s school board decided to reverse the ban after the protests.
Book bans, according to Rich Ting, a senior staff attorney with the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Pennsylvania, “are a piece of an attack on freedom of speech and freedom of thought.” About 60 people attended the discussion. Panelists suggested that if they were concerned about the specter of book bans and other forms of censorship that they get involved on a local level, attend school board meetings, and be aware of what is happening in their communities.
“Don’t assume that your neighbor knows what’s going on,” Gupta said.
Locke added, “We vastly outnumber the people who want to ban books. People know that banning books is bad.”
COURTESY OF BETHEL PARK SCHOOL DISTRICT
Students like these at Memorial Elementary School will be moving into the new Bethel Park Elementary Center for the 2026-27 school year.
SUBMITTED
Streams Elementary School students Gianna O’Rourke and Ella McIntyre work together on their bracelets to be sent to active-duty military personnel.
USC rec center project proposed
Recommendations for facility enhancements to the Community & Recreation Center (C&RC) were presented recently at the October regular meeting of the Upper St. Clair Board of Commissioners.
There are two main phases of work proposed for the project.
Phase 1 would focus on the outdoor pool area and include adding six lap lanes, basin expansion of the main pool, additional deck space and shade, speed slides, a splash pad area and revised entrance area with turnstiles.
Phase 2 is aimed at upgrades to the indoor facility and includes removal of the hard wall between the two fitness rooms
Students
to allow for flexibility in use of the space, the addition of two new family changing rooms (equipped with adult changing tables for enhanced accessibility and comfort), a new entrance to the locker rooms from the indoor pool, and revised entrance to the C&RC. This would move the location of the control desk and add turnstiles for entry into the facility. The C&RC Implementation Advisory Committee (IAC) was formed in November 2024 to study the recommendations provided in the C&RC Post COVID Facility Assessment, which was presented at a publicly advertised meeting of the Board of Commissioners in July 2024.
Over the course of this past year, the IAC has evaluated enhancement options for the C&RC prioritizing the report’s recommendations with a focus on safety, operational demands on the facility and the expressed desires of Township residents and C&RC members.
A vote is expected to be held during the Nov. 3 regular meeting of the board of commissioners to seek approval for the recommendations. The meeting begins at 7:30 p.m. Visit www.twpusc.org or www.facebook.com/twpusc for a detailed budget estimate of the project as well as visuals and renderings.
named national merit semifinalists
Several South Hills area students have been named semifinalists in the 2026 National Merit Scholarship Competition (NMSC).
Mt. Lebanon led the list of area high schools with 10 students that placed among the top 1% of all juniors nationwide who completed the PSAT in October 2024. The test is the basis for the National Merit Scholarship Competition.
The Mt. Lebanon seniors are Katherine Ding, Alexander Fu, Emma Kottler, Vivian Luo, Samuel Maxim, Jonathan Ramachan-
dran, Benjamin Tan, Samuel Wetzel, Jerry Yu, and August Zentner. Eight Upper St. Clair High School were selected as semifinalists. They are Luke An, Prachi Chetlur, Sara Gillespie, Pritika Gupta, Zahra Hossain, Arth Italiya, Thomas Mallison, and Jeffery Zhang.
Three seniors from South Fayette High School were honored as semifinalists. They are Yuhan "Hannah" Luo, Dan Mano, and Tejas Palukuri. They are now eligible for three types of scholarships for undergraduate study including the $2,500 National
Merit Scholarship. Additionally, South Fayette High School had 15 students named as Commended Students in the scholarship competition. Peters Township matched South Fayette with three selections. The recognized seniors are Allison Griffith, Calla Heinrich and Joshua Zheng. Bethel Park had several commended students. Among them were Timothy Burt, Charlotte Gaston, Samuel Hoppe, Grace Perdziola, Kuon Verbosky, and Parker Walton.
Green Tree church to hold pet remembrance service
By Jon Andreassi Staff writer jandreassi@observer-reporter.com
A Green Tree church is inviting those who have lost a pet to have their departed animal included in a remembrance service on Nov. 1.
The service will be held at 11 a.m. at Unity Presbyterian Church at 1146 Greentree Road. The service will be led by Pastor Karen Claassen.
Carolyn Kozlowski, the director of Unity’s Creatures of the Creator Pet Ministry, said this will be the seventh remembrance service held at the church.
“We incorporate a lot of unique elements in our service because the overarching purpose of it is just to honor the pets that people have lost,” Kozlowski said. “It’s a full-blown worship service, an hour long.”
The Creatures of the Creator Pet Ministry itself began in 2018.
“Our mission at the pet ministry is to advocate for all of God’s creatures and to provide services,” Kozlowski said.
Through the ministry the church holds many events in
addition to the remembrance service, including monthly donation drives for local animal rescue groups. “They’re the smaller groups that don’t get the exposure that the larger shelters get,” Kozlowski said. Part of the remembrance service will be a naming ceremony, where those who have registered will have their pets’ names read aloud as they step forward to light a candle for their deceased furry family member.
“We have the animal's picture displayed on a slideshow. Then they get a free memorial token as well,” Kozlowski said. Attending the service will be Carnegie-based artist Bernadette Kazmarski, who will be taking orders for customized votives, a suncatcher or a memorial photo of pets. A luncheon will follow. Those interested in having their pets included in the service must register no later than Oct. 27. They should email their names, contact information, the name of their pet, and photos of their pet to ckozlowski@unitypresbyterianchurch.org.
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HONORING SETON LASALLE CATHOLIC HIGH SCHOOL MARCHING BAND
Eli Jacobs - 12th Grade
Aaron Shaeffer - 12th Grade
Addison Bible - 11th Grade
Cayden Johnson - 11th Grade
Collin Jacobs - 11th Grade
Briauna Carney - 10th Grade
Trinity Carter - 10th Grade
Frankie Dambrogio - 10th Grade
Caroline Jesso - 10th Grade
Neilan McAllister - 10th Grade
Veronica Memole - 10th Grade
Sarah Sites - 10th Grade
Jackson Harms - 9th Grade
Autumn Schidlmeier - 9th Grade
Sophie Toprani - 9th Grade
Asher Ward - 9th Grade
Henry Novak - 8th Grade
Nolan Bible - 7th Grade
Patrick Rodriguez - 7th Grade
CHEER SQUAD
Adeline Strobel - 9th Grade
Aislynn Hoyt - 9th Grade
Alana Sheffer - 10th Grade
Alyssa Bartko - 10th Grade
Arianna Gaudelli - 9th Grade
Ayla Keener - 9th Grade
Bailey Pendleton - 12th Grade
Eden Loritts - 10th Grade
Emily Horensky - 9th Grade
Gianna DiMasi - 12th Grade
Kate Gilmore - 12th Grade
Kate Manion - 12th Grade
Kylie Lopez - 9th Grade
Macey Pendleton - 10th Grade
Maeve Williams - 12th Grade
Maya Moser - 9th Grade
Natalia Hatten - 12th Grade
Rekiya Seymore - 12th Grade
HONORING SOUTH FAYETTE TWP SCHOOL DISTRICT
CHEERLEADERS
Evelyn
Peters Township approves $489K in HVAC, rooftop repairs
By Jon Andreassi Staff writer
jandreassi@observer-reporter.com
Peters Township council approved more than $489,000 in repairs to the community recreation center. Council voted unanimously at its meeting Monday to approve contracts through COSTARS to replace the rooftop HVAC units and the portion of the roof where those units are positioned. The recreation center is located at 700 Meredith Drive.
The HVAC replacement will cost the township $415,000, while the rooftop repairs will cost $74,500. The township had budgeted the entire project at $750,000.
“Those roofs and those HVAC units are the ones that were installed when the rec center was constructed,” said Township Manager Paul Lauer. “They’re over 20 years
“THOSE
ROOFS AND THOSE HVAC UNITS ARE THE ONES THAT WERE INSTALLED WHEN THE REC CENTER WAS CONSTRUCTED. THEY’RE OVER 20 YEARS OLD AT THIS POINT.”
— PAUL LAUER, PT MANAGER
old at this point.” Council also voted unanimously to allow the incoming Coughlin’s Law Restaurant to pay a reduced traffic impact fee.
Lauer explained that Coughlin’s Law will be unique in Peters Township in that it will have extensive outdoor seating. That seating will not be in use for nearly half of the year. “In this particular case what the ordinance does not distinguish is if you have indoor seating or outdoor seating at the restaurant,” Lauer said.
The impact fee for Coughlin’s Law was calculated to be $60,800. Council approved a discounted fee of $51,300.
Coughlin’s Law will be located at 615 E. McMurray Road, which is directly across the street from the Peters Township municipal building. It will be the restaurant’s third location, with sites in Mount Washington in Pittsburgh and Ohio Township, Allegheny County.
Co-owner Brian Vetere previously said they hope to open their doors by September or October 2026.
Water company plans $3.5M in upgrades
American Water is embarking on a series of upgrades to its infrastructure in four communities in Washington County.
Several of the projects have started, which will replace more than two miles of water main, and will cost about $3.5 million. The company says the work will improve reliability, reduce service disruptions and make water flow easier for firefighters in Peters, Cecil and Mt. Pleasant townships and the City of Washington.
In a news release, Tiffany Reed, the senior manager of operations for Pennsylvania American Water, explained that the company “makes continuous investments in our infrastructure.” She said projects are prioritized based on such factors as age, a history of breaks or service interruptions,
and a need for larger mains to handle system demands.
The water mains being replaced were installed in the 1950s, according to the company.
Work will be happening in Peters Township at the following locations:
■ Route 19, from Old Oak Road to Center Church Road
■ Center Church Road, from Route 19 to Wilhaven Road
■ Canterbury Lane, from Lakeview Drive to Squire Lane
■ Robinhood Lane, from King Richard Drive to Lakeview Drive
■ High Street, from Pleasant Avenue to the dead end
■ Spring Street, from Pleasant Avenue to the dead end
In Mt. Pleasant Township, work will be happening on
Cherry Valley Road from house number 155 to 114. In Cecil Township, it will be on Ridgeway Drive, from Muse Bishop Road to its dead end, and in Washington it will be in the G Alley, from Beach Street to its dead end.
A project is also planned in South Fayette Township in the southern part of Allegheny County on Wheatland Circle.
When work is occurring, customers could experience temporary service interruptions, water pressure that is lower than normal and discolored water. Work will be done on weekdays between 7 a.m. and 5 p.m., with the exception of the Route 19 project in Peters Township – work will occur between 8 p.m. to 6 a.m., and not occur on weekend nights, according to Pennsylvania American Water.
Golfing gold rush
By Eleanor Bailey Almanac Sports Editor ebailey@thealmanac.net
A one-stroke victory over Fox Chapel in the WPIAL Class 3A championship match on Oct. 9 at Cedarbrook Golf Course was par for the course for the Peters Township girls golf team
For the Lady Indians have snuck past everybody this season. Peters Township uncharacteristically dropped five matches this fall, finishing 11-5 overall. The Indians also posted a 9-3 section record and a second-place showing.
“We barely got that,” said PT skipper Mike Lacey. “We had to win the last match just to get here.”
This autumn, however, the Lady Indians were without three players who contributed to a string of WPIAL titles. Peters Township won three banners from 2022-2024 before adding the 2025 crown and fifth in program history.
“We lost a lot of players to graduation and we replaced them with non-experienced players that have been playing JV,” Lacey said.
Hence, he said, the trophy he clutched in his arms while shedding a tear, was “the most surprising” one of the past four. “We knew it was going to be close. I told the girls that it’s going to come down to every shot and it came down to one shot.”
The Lady Indians edged Fox Chapel, 344-345, for the championship.
“This was really surprising because we didn’t think we would be here and we didn’t think that we could compete against a senior-team like Fox Chapel,” Lacey said. “So it was quite surprising.
“The course was really tough. It was playing long. It was wet and we’ve got a lot of young players that don’t hit it as far as the older girls. We just never quit though,” Lacey added.
PT’s youth included sophomore Betty Glyptis carding an 80 and freshman Autumn Merck posting a 95. Juniors Olivia Ondrejko and Fiona Valley finished with 80 and 100 respectively.
By Eleanor Bailey Almanac Sports Editor ebailey@thealmanac.net
Bobby Ruffolo acknowledges that golf is an individual sport. The activity, however, requires a collective effort at South Fayette High School.
“When you start understanding it’s about we, then we can be great,” said Ruffolo, who has coached the Lions since 2013. “That’s how we approach it.”
On Oct. 9, that process worked as South Fayette captured the WPIAL Class 3A team championship in boys golf. The Lions fired a 385 score on the Gold Course at the Cedarbrook Golf Course to win the title by four strokes over Fox Chapel, which edged North Allegheny for runner-up honors. The Foxes and Tigers tied with 389 scores before an extra-hole playoff to determine second place.
“I have to compliment everyone,” Ruffolo said.
“We said we can’t make big numbers,”
Class
advantageous, that we made bogey be our worst score.”
Senior Sam Bishop led off for the Lions and produced the second-best score of the match. He fired a 2-over 73, four strokes off the pace set by medalist Carson Kittsley from Fox Chapel.
Though seniors Brady Newman and Hayden Downs produced identical 84 scores, Noah Nickolas, Hudson Vennum and Jackson Stephens finished with 76, 78 and 74 scores to close out the victory.
“A couple of our guys didn’t have their best days but their teammates sure did pick them up,” Ruffolo said. “We backloaded our lineup today with two birdie makers just in case we needed them and Jackson and Hudson held down the anchors.”
By Eleanor Bailey Almanac Sports Editor
With a conference championship in hand, Peters Township cannot sleep on its final regular season contest at Bethel Park. The Indians will visit the Hawks’ Nest for a 7 p.m. kickoff on Oct. 24.
“It’s an important game for them at their place, which is a great place to play,” said PT coach TJ Plack. “Whether they need a win to get into the playoffs or for seedings, they are playing for a lot. They are backed up against the wall and they will be ready to go in their final game at home.”
Meanwhile, the Indians are preparing to sharpen their skills for another run at a WPIAL championship.
Peters Township won the 2023 Class 5A title. They have reached the finals four times in the past five years, including last year’s runner-up showing against Pine-Richland, which is favored to repeat having been ranked No. 1 throughout the year. Against the Black Hawks, the Indians will tune up their defense, which is allowing just 7.8 points per game, and look to reduce penalties.
Bethel Park owns one of the top offenses in the WPIAL, averaging 41.3 points per game, as well as the top onetwo punch in quarterback Evan Devine and tailback David Dennison. Devine ranked No. 4 in the district in passing with 1,633 yards and 20 TDs after a 5732 loss to Upper St. Clair while Dennison ranked No. 7 in rushing with 1,119 yards and 17 scores.
“Bethel Park is well-coached and they do a great job offensively of scoring points. We have to try to squash that,” Plack said.
Ruffolo said. “We just needed to make sure if we put ourselves behind a tree, in a bunker or someplace that wasn't
Throughout the regular season, the seniors held the squad together. After a 2-2 start, the Lions reeled off 10 victories and won the section banner.
“We also are having too many penalties. We have to reduce those.”
In general, Plack has been pleased with his team’s resilience. The Indians have been tested even though their undefeated record isn’t an indicator. They battled USC down to the wire before posting a 24-20 victory and they came back from a 10-point deficit to beat Moon, 21-10. Plus, though the score is not a reflection of the score, they defeated South Fayette, 31-7. “South Fayette was a tough conference win,” said Plack of his former alma mater. “They are well-coached and have good players. When you walk
into South Fayette, you can’t let up at all. They play everybody well.
“Throughout the season, we have persevered. When we got down against Moon, nobody blinked. There was no finger-pointing. We kept with the gameplan and kept playing. We have been resilient and have shown who we are.”
Nolan DiLucia continues to demonstrate that he is one of the best quarterbacks to have ever played in the WPIAL.
In the win against South Fayette, DiLucia passed
The Peters Township men’s and women’s soccer clubs claimed undefeated section crowns as they head into the WPIAL playoffs among the top seeded teams.
The Lady Indians, who are the defending Class 4A champions, finished 10-0 in Section 2 after wins against Baldwin, 7-0, and Mt. Lebanon.
They were 14-2-2 overall after an overtime loss to Fox Chapel, 3-2, on Oct. 13. The Foxes are ranked among the top Class 3A clubs. They were runners-up to South Fayette in last year’s championship contest and look to challenge the Lions as well as Moon and Plum in the Class 3A tournament.
In the loss to Fox Chapel, Brynn Busch and Katie Froelich scored the goals for Peters Township.
In the win against Lebo, Mandy Pirosko, Marina Hajnosz and Busch scored. Against the Highlanders, Hajnosz and Busch tallied two goals each while Livia Adamshick provided the other score.
The PT men finished atop the Section 2 standings with a 9-0-1 record after posting home victories against Canon-McMillan, 3-1, and Upper St. Clair, 1-0. In the shutout, Jake Gawenus registered the game-winning goal with 17 minutes to play while Jack
Stewart recorded the shutout in the nets.
Against the Big Macs, Charlie Lulich, Cam Glass and Keegan Kelly scored goals. Stewart again excelled in goal, making his third penalty kick save of the season.
The Indians were 12-0-1 heading into their regular-season finale against Trinity on Oct. 15. (Results unavailable at press time.) They defeated Brashear, 9-2, in their final home game, thanks to tallies by Anthony Maiello (2), Colin Froelich (2), Cole Caledonia, Gawenus, Lulich, Kelly and Logan Richmond.
In Class 3A boys soccer, Bethel Park clinched the Section 2 title with a 12-0-2 record after edging Ringgold, 3-2, on Oct. 14. The Black Hawks were 12-1-3 heading into their regular-season finale on Oct. 15 against Canon-McMillan. Adam Benrabia scored the game winner with 75 seconds left in regulation. Julian Koontz and Tom Opferman tallied the other goals for the Black Hawks. The top four teams in each section qualified for the playoffs and the WPIAL soccer committee met Oct. 15 to determine playoff pairings and brackets.
The WPIAL championships are set for Oct. 30 to Nov. 1 at Riverhounds Stadium.
John Banbury sprints past defenders during Upper St. Clair’s
against Bethel Park. Banbury rushed
two
in the victory.
ELEANOR BAILEY/THE ALMANAC Peters Township golf coach Mike Lacey discusses strategy with Betty Glyptis during WPIAL
3A team championship action.
Continued from Page B1
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passing list with 7,835 career yards. Only seven other players have exceeded 8,000 passing yards in the history of the WPIAL.
DiLucia ranked eighth in the WPIAL in passing this season after the win against the Lions. He had completed 93 of 137 passes for 1,549 yards and 14 touchdowns. Against South Fayette, DiLucia completed 14 of 25 attempts. He connected with Reston Lehman for two scoring strikes measuring 26 and 8 yards. Cole Neupaver pulled in a 5-yard TD aerial from DiLucia as well.
“TEAMS PEG US AS BEING A TEAM THAT THROWS THE BALL AND I THINK WE DO THAT WELL, BUT WE CAN RUN IT TOO.”
— MIKE JUNKO, USC COACH
berths while the three other wild-card slots will be determined by the WPIAL football steering committee.
In the win, Lucas Shanafelt had a Pick-6 for 76 yards and Anthony Maiello kicked a 28yard field goal as well as four extra points.
The PT defense also contained Drew Welhorsky. The senior signal caller has passed for over 1,000 yards this fall, but was held to 63 yards against the Indians. Welhorsky scored SF’s lone touchdown on a 1-yard rush.
after he scored a touchdown in Upper St. Clair’s 57-32 win against Bethel Park. Coury churned out 144 yards and three touchdowns on 17 carries in the victory.
“We were efficient.”
James Gardner, Kenny Davis, Will Stohl, Mason Geyer, Chase Kaczmarek, Ryan Robbins and Jake Gillespie are among the linemen paving the path for the Panthers offensively.
The top four seeds, which looked to be Pine-Richland, Peters Township, Woodland Hills and Upper St. Clair, as of Oct. 15, earn a first-round bye as well as home-field advantage for their first post-season game. “That’s so important,” Plack said. “For us, this season, the crowds have been so electric. For our biggest game against St. Clair, the place was filled and the atmosphere was amazing. So having homefield matters.”
Meanwhile, though Devine did get his yards (236), the Black Hawks dropped a 57-32 decision to Upper St. Clair. Devine was 13 of 25 and tossed three TD passes – a pair to Santino Nowozeniuk and one to Charles Simmons.
Additionally, Dennison rushed for 134 yards on 22 carries. He rushed for two scores.
The Panthers flexed their muscles, this time with the ground attack. They surprised Bethel Park by rushing for 317 yards and six touchdowns.
“Teams peg us as being a team that throws the ball and I think we do that well, but we can run it too,” said USC skipper Mike Junko. “We feel like we are a balanced attack.
While Ethan Hellmann, who ranks No. 2 in the WPIAL in passing, did throw for 159 yards and two touchdowns, Dante Coury churned out 144 yards and three touchdowns on 17 carries. John Banbury also rolled up 101 yards and two scores on eight carries. Josh Snyder also rushed for a TD.
“It all starts up front,” Junko said. “The offensive line from the inception really won the line of scrimmage and John and Dante are a load to bring down themselves.
“Offensively, we’ve really grown each week as a team,” Junko continued. We know we can throw it if we want to but there’s a lot of opportunity in the run game and those guys up front were calling for it.
“Their confidence is growing. It’s not just with our quarterback. You are starting to see it with the rest of the crew because it’s opened some things up for us. That’s fun to watch.”
USC as well as Moon, which played each other on Oct. 17 (results unavailable at press time), found themselves battling for runner-up honors behind Peters Township in the Allegheny Six Conference standings heading into the final week of the regular season.
The Panthers travel to winless Baldwin for their conference finale on Oct. 24 while the Tigers travel to South Fayette.
In Class 5A, a total of 12 teams make the playoffs.
Class 6A
Mt. Lebanon slipped to 1-7 overall after dropping a non-conference clash against Penn Hills, 19-14. In the loss, Patrick Smith rushed for a 9-yard touchdown and tossed a 5-yard scoring strike to Kris Kambitsis. Smith rolled up 180 yards of offense while Kambitsis caught six passes in the game.
The Blue Devils were 1-3 in the Quad County Conference heading into their two final games at home against Hempfield on Oct. 17 and at Norwin on Oct. 24. Only Central Catholic and North Allegheny had qualified for one of the four playoff berths in Class 6A heading into the final two weeks of action. Both had 7-1 overall records.
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“If you like old-school WPIAL football, this was the game to take it all in,” Junko said.
The top three in each of the Allegheny Six, Big East and Northeast conferences earn
Chartiers Valley’s bid for a conference championship slipped away when the Colts dropped a 42-18 decision to Trinity on Oct. 10. The Colts close out the regular season entertaining Ringgold at 7 p.m. Oct. 24. After the loss to the Hillers, the Colts were tied with the Jaguars for the runner-up spot in the Big Six Conference. Both were 2-1 in the conference and 6-2 overall before squaring off on Oct. 17. (Results unavailable at press time.) In the loss to the Hillers, Luke Miranda completed 24 passes for 323 yards. He tossed two scoring strikes to Julius Best (14 yards) and Damien Holloway (29 yards) and scored once on a 3-yard run.
Holloway caught eight aerials for 120 yards in a game, where CV committed four turnovers, including a Pick6, that contributed to the defeat. The Colts were held to six points in the second half.
ELEANOR BAILEY/THE ALMANAC Chase Kaczmarek celebrates while Kenny Davis (51) hoists Dante Coury
Veteran Mt. Lebanon sportswriter publishes book about Penguins
By Rick Shrum For the Observer-Reporter rshrum@observer-reporter.com
Dave Molinari has witnessed the Pittsburgh hockey club hoisting the Stanley Cup five times and chronicled their championship experiences in frenzied fashion – crafting and filing a news article within a half-hour of the team’s ascents to the pinnacle.
Now, for a 43rd season, he is covering the team, this time for the online outlet Substack after decades of writing about the team for the old Pittsburgh Press, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette and other news outlets. A sportswriter since the late 1970s, he began covering the Pens while working for the Press.
His expertise is so storied that in 2009, the Professional Hockey Writers Association bestowed him the Elmer Ferguson Memorial Award, given to a print journalist annually “to recognize distinguished members of the newspaper profession whose words have brought honor to journalism and to hockey.”
The award is named after Canadian sports journalist Elmer Ferguson and is housed at the Hockey Hall of Fame. Molinari’s expertise also recently captured the attention of Reedy Press of St. Louis. Molinari said the publisher called him about a year ago and asked whether he was interested in pursuing a book about the Pens. “I said, ‘I’ll do it. I need the money,’” he said with a smile.
This month, Reedy published Molinari’s hard-cover, 176-page book, “The Pittsburgh Penguins: An Illustrated Timeline.”
During his tenure on the beat, Molinari, a Mt. Lebanon resident and Penn State graduate, has learned to appreciate the opening line of another book, the classic “A Tale of Two Cities” – “It was the best of times, it was the worst of times.”
The line epitomizes a significant part of the Penguins’ 58-year history. The team occasionally has been the scourge of the National Hockey League, but there have been long stretches when it has had a dickens of a time competing.
“They had quite a hole to dig out of,” Molinari said of a franchise that was formed in 1967 via league expansion and which mostly struggled during its first two decades. During that desultory period, Molinari said in an interview, “they had a bankruptcy and one of the classic collapses in playoff history (los-
ing a 1975 series to the New York Islanders after being up three games to none).
“It was clear it would be a long time, if ever, that they would be successful.”
The successes eventually came, however, thanks to an influx of gifted players and front-office moves. The team hired two well-regarded hockey men for the front office, Bob Johnson as coach and Scotty Bowman as director of player development, who helped to reverse the fortunes of a team by 180 degrees.
The Penguins won their first divisional title and initial Cup in 1991, under the direction of Badger Bob and Bowman. Three superstars led them on the ice: forwards Mario Lemieux and Jaromir Jagr, and goaltender Tom Barrasso. Pittsburgh would repeat as titlist a year later.
“I didn’t think the team would win the Stanley Cup because they hadn’t won a thing before,” Molinari said. “I didn’t expect anything more grandiose than a playoff appearance. You could see they had potential, and that if everything broke right, they could win a few rounds.”
what’s happening
Their drafting of Lemieux in 1984
was pivotal. By finishing a pathetic 1658-6 (38 points), the Penguins had the first overall draft selection and went for the multi-talented forward who would prove to be a generational player.
“That was the worst season in team history – or best, considering how things worked out in the big picture,” Molinari said. He added, point blank, “They had a bad team and made an effort to be worse.”
The Penguins also won championships in 2009, 2016 and 2017. “The Penguins were very good in the back-toback seasons,” Molinari said. “And they had the personnel in 2018, but probably were worn down.”
Their formidable run continued, though. The Penguins would qualify for the playoffs an astounding 16 seasons in a row (2007 to 2022), but failed to reach the postseason the past three springs.
During this decline, “there has been a heavy reliance on an aging core of three players who are all in their late 30s,” Molinari said, referring to Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin and Kris Letang. “It’s unusual for any player to still be in the league at that age.”
HOLIDAY SALE
The Church of Atonement in Carnegie, located at 618 Washington Ave., will hold its annual holiday sale from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Oct. 24 and 25. The Saturday sale will close from noon and reopen at 1 p.m. for a bag sale. Items for sale include seasonal decor, linens, ornaments, floral arrangements and home items. Donations, lightly used, clean and new, will be accepted until Oct. 17. Call 727-512-0579 for more information.
WOODVILLE
The Harvest of the Spirits will be the theme for a seasonal program to be held from 4:30 to 8 p.m. Oct. 26 at Woodville, a national historic landmark located at 1375 Washington Pike in Collier Township. Regular house tours will be given from 1 to 4 p.m.
Among the live demonstrations and seasonal traditions featured will be corn husk doll making, garden talk, bonfire gathering, ghost stories, turnip carving, cherry bounce and hot chocolate demo. Music of the 18th century will be presented by Alex Brown. Admission is free. Call 412-221-0348 for more details.
OPEN HOUSE
A Christmas open house will be held from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Nov. 1 at the Landscape Center by Evanovich, located at 2741 South Park Road. Vendors, offering seasonal items, will be available as well as food, music and refreshments. Call 412-835-6699 for more details.
SUPERHERO
A Superhero Night will be held from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Nov. 7 at the Peters Township
recreation center. In addition to meeting a variety of super heroes, attendees can compete in action-packed games and participate in activities. Costumes are encouraged to be worn. Fee is $5 ($8 nonmembers). The registration deadline is Nov. 5. Visit www. peterstownship.com or call 724-942-5000.
PT REC
The Peters Township Recreation Center is accepting registration for classes. Visit peterstownship.com or call 724-942-5000.
The following will be offered:
■ Mario Kart Tournament will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. Oct. 24. Race through exciting courses while competing to be the ultimate champion. The registration deadline is Oct. 22.
■ Dance Explorations starts its sixth session on Oct. 29. Classes are offered Wednesdays from 6 to 6:40 p.m. for 3-year-old students and from 6:50 to 7:30 p.m. for ages 4 to 6. This introductory class combines ballet, jazz and tumbling to develop self-confidence, musicality and body awareness. Leotard, tights and ballet shoes are appropriate attire. Fee is $40 ($60 nonmembers).
■ Hip Hop Dance for ages 5 to 12 is offered from 6:35 to 7:20 p.m. Tuesdays. The course offers routines featuring various styles of oldschool, street dance, modern funk and hip hop while boosting coordination, muscle memory, socialization and confidence. No experience necessary. Fee is $38 ($57 nonmembers).
■ Dance with DnB Magnets is offered from 7 to 8 p.m. Tuesdays. Ages 18 and older
learn Bollywood, folk, contemporary and belly-fusion dance. Fee is $113 ($168 nonmembers).
community center.
HALLOWEEN
■ Speed and agility meets from 5 to 6 p.m. Thursdays. Ages 8 to 15 focus on proper sprinting mechanics to help them excel in a variety of sports. Fee is $75 ($112 nonmembers).
■ Jiu Jitsu will be offered from 4:45 to 5:45 p.m. Mondays for ages 7 to 12 and from 5:45 to 6:45 p.m. Mondays for ages 13 to 17. Students learn the martial art through various drills, exercises and partner-based training. Students should wear tight-fitting athletic clothing.
■ Senior luncheon will be held from noon to 2 p.m. Nov. 12 at the recreation center. Luncheons include entertainment, a speaker or interactive activity. While the event is free, guests are asked to bring a covered dish or dessert to share. Registration is required. Call 724-9425000.
■ Artful Screams will be held from 10 to 11:15 a.m. Oct 23. Ages 7 to 11 can attend this creative painting class. Materials are included. Participants may want to wear a smock or old clothing. Fee is $8 ($12 nonmembers).
■ Mad Science Halloween Spooktacular from 1 to 4 p.m. Oct. 24 for ages 6 to 12. Fee is $42 ($63 nonmembers.)
MARKETS
No Cook Tuesdays return Oct. 21 in Bethel Park. Food trucks will be on hand from 4 to 7 p.m. and located in the parking lot at the community center. The indoor market returns with many of the outdoor vendors on Nov. 18. Hours are 4 to 7 p.m. at the
Continued from Page B1
“We set a goal at the beginning of the year to try and win the section but it’s extremely difficult because Upper St. Clair, Moon and West Allegheny are all wonderful teams,” Ruffolo said. “We got behind a bad spot with our start but then just kind of got on a roll.
“Give the boys a ton of credit. They worked really hard. We do practice rounds every weekend and myself and our other coaches join the players so we can give them input.”
The Lions received plenty of support from the players’ parents as well as community businesses. For example, Hickory Heights Golf Club permits the Lions to practice and play matches there for free.
“For them to open up their facility for us to use with very limited restrictions is unusual beyond belief,” Ruffolo said.
“In a dog-eat-dog world, that doesn’t always happen. So we can’t thank Hickory Heights and the staff enough.
“Last but not least, the parents have been so supportive. They come to all the matches. They stand on the 18th hole waiting for all the kids to come off.
“We do have a family here,” Ruffolo continued. “It’s pretty cool.”
The 2025 championship is significant because it is South Fayette’s first in the highest classification since the school jumped up to Class 3A in 2016.
Under former coach Joe Cochran, the Lions captured four
Girls
Continued from Page B1
Senior Ellie Benson led the charge. She earned medalist honors in the match, firing an evenpar 71 that included a string of four birdies on the front nine.
“Ellie’s been a real senior leader,” Lacey said. “A lot of the younger girls have been looking up to her and she’s a real determined girl. She just refused to let this team down. She refused to lose.”
With their win in the district, the Lady Indians advanced to the PIAA team championships set for
The following communities are sponsoring home-decorating Halloween contests. Bethel Park: To nominate a house, email jdavin@bethelpark.gov or call 412-8316800, ext. 211, by Oct. 22. Judging will take place Oct. 23-31 and one winner per ward will be announced at the Nov. 10 council meeting. Peters Township: Pre-register by Oct. 17 to show off your home decorations and win one of two prizes. There will be a People’s Choice Award from a public vote and the other award from the judges. Registered homes will be featured online so families can drive by and see the displays. Voting closes Oct. 23 and winners will be announced Oct. 27.
FITNESS
The Westminster Presbyterian Church fitness classes begin the week of Oct. 27. Among the classes are: Barre Sculpt, Cardio Drumming, Cardio Drumming for Parkinson’s Disease, Cardio Strength Fusion, Yoga, Parkinson’s Fitness Classes, Stronger Bones/Better Balance and Zumba.
A Parkinson’s fitness class as well as Keep Moving with Boxing, Level 1 and 2, will be held at 9:10 and 10:10 a.m. as well as 12:15 p.m. Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays beginning Nov. 3 at the Westminster Presbyterian Church in Upper St. Clair. Parkinson’s for Pickleball is held from 1 to 2:45 p.m. Thursdays while Cardio Drumming for those with Parkinson’s is held from 2:15 to 3:15 p.m. Fridays beginning Nov. 7.
Class 2A crowns in a row. The streak ran from 2002 through 2005.
“Coach Cochran deserves a lot of credit. He started the golf program,” Ruffolo said. “Since being up in Triple-A, we battled to get (to the championships) and just had not been successful.”
The Lions were 2024 runners-up in last year’s district championships.
“We didn’t push them to try and replicate what we did in the past,” Ruffolo said. “It’s too much stress.”
The Lions, however, likely will apply pressure on the opposition long into the future. Ruffolo noted that the program has grown from eight golfers in 2013 to 16 members on the boys team and 14 on the girls side.
“We have 30 kids that participate in golf in our school every single year. The district is glad that we do it. They love having both teams.”
And the Lions love having a winner, especially at the highest level.
“(The WPIAL) is the hardest championship to win in all of high school,” Ruffolo said. “There’s only two classes and it’s little and big. When you graduate 275 and somebody else graduates 800, it doesn’t matter. You’re playing everyone. For us, to be considered one of the good ones this year is pretty remarkable.”
Thanks to their WPIAL title, the Lions qualified for the PIAA team tournament, scheduled for Oct. 22 on the Blue Course at Penn State University. Additionally, Bishop and Newman will compete in the state’s individual tournament, also scheduled at Penn State on Oct. 20 and 21.
Oct. 22 at Penn State University. Peters Township has won the past two state titles.
“This might sound crazy but we have a better chance of winning the state championship than the WPIAL,” Lacey said. In the PIAA tournament, the top three scores are counted. In the WPIAL, the top four finishers matter.
Noting that Glyptis and Benson finished second and third during the individual WPIAL championships, Lacey continued, “We have two of the best players in the state. Our one and two are just as good as anybody,” he said. “So, it’s just a matter of getting a third score, maybe near 90, and we have a good shot at states.”
Visit: wroc.westminster-church.org or call 412835-6630 to register.
GENEALOGY
The Mt. Lebanon Genealogy Society will meet at 1 p.m. Oct. 20 in the audio-visual room of the Mt. Lebanon Public Library. Because October is Italian Heritage Month, Melissa Marinaro from the Heinz History Center will speak about the Italian American experience in the region from the 1880s through the 1960s. There will be an emphasis on immigration policy and its impact. Contact malcolm.andrews1949@gmail.com for more details on the program or information regarding the organization.
NURSES CLUB
The Southwestern Pennsylvania Registered Nurses Club will meet at 9:30 a.m. Oct. 21 at Salvatore’s located at 5001 Curry Road. Lynn Ireland-Knight will speak on the topic “End of Life Doula.” All registered nurses can attend. Visit swparnclub.weebly.com for more details.
ARTS
South Arts Pittsburgh is hosting the following art shows at the Schoolhouse Art & History Center, located at 2600 South Park Road: Oct. 24 from 5 to 9 p.m. is the Halloween Bash & Art Market. This adult event includes a costume contest and art market.
FOOD FESTIVAL
The St. George Antiochian Orthodox Church of Bridgeville will host a Mediterranean food festival Oct. 17-19 at 3230 Washington Pike. Hours are noon to 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday as well as noon to 6 p.m. Sunday. All food items, including grape leaves and kibbee, are home made by church members. Free parking and handicap accessible spaces available as well as indoor and outdoor seating. Phone and online orders are offered. Visit stgeorgebridgeville.org or 412-221-2277.
PET MINISTRY
The Creatures of The Creator (COTC) Pet Ministry of Unity Presbyterian Church will hold a remembrance service at 11 a.m. Nov. 1 in the sanctuary of the church, located at 1146 Greentree Road.
Led by Unity’s Pastor Karen Claassen, the service will include prayer, music, poetry, a candlelit tribute, a video, and a slideshow of pet photos. Artist Bernadette Kazmarski will also attend for those who wish to order a customized votive, suncatcher or memorial photo.
Email: pet name, photo, name and contact information to ckozlowski@unitypresbyterianchurch.org no later than Oct. 27. Photos received later will not be included in the video presentation. Call 412-561-2431, ext. 3, for more details.
Nov. 8 and 9 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. This two-day artist market includes local vendors displaying/selling their works throughout the first and second floors and in one of the classrooms of the historic schoolhouse. Visit www.southartspittsburgh.org for more information. Email: southartspitt@ gmail.com with questions.
Molinari
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