‘Your life matters’
Peters Township woman wins silver medal
At jiujitsu world event
By Jill Thurston Staff writer jthurston@observer-reporter.com
Carri Czyzewski, 48, of Peters Township, returned from the International Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Federation (IBJJF) Master Worlds Championship in Las Vegas in August with a little more weight in her luggage.
The local real estate agent, wife and mother of two earned a silver medal in the Women’s Purple Belt Middleweight Division. The Master Worlds Championship is the premier event for juijitsu athletes ages 30 and older, open to blue belts and above, according to Sharon Czyzewski, mother-in-law to Carri Czyzewski and a top fan.
“I’ve watched Carri grow her skills and not only her physical strength these past few years, but also her courage and determination,” said Sharon Czyzewski.
Striking and kicks are OK, but I really enjoy ground fighting, and I knew I wanted to get into that deeper and that took me to jiujitsu,” Carri said. Juijitsu is a form of martial arts centered on ground fighting. She said she does a sport style of jiujitsu, not a self-defense one, which is designed to “make you comfortable on the ground, where most women are the most uncomfortable.”
“I’m a highly competitive person, and when I got my purple belt, I knew I needed to compete. I just didn’t feel authentic as a purple belt without testing myself against other people like me.” The highest belt is a black belt, two above purple.
By Jennifer Garofalo For the Observer-Reporter newsroom@observer-reporter.com
When someone asks Jen Pardini about the night her ex-boyfriend brutally attacked her and nearly ended her life, she answers the questions openly and without a hint of hesitation.
Nothing, the survivor-turned-advocate said, is off limits: not the night he fractured her skull with a hammer, the abuse that preceded it, her recovery, or the life she’s built since.
“I always say that I think everything happened to me for a reason,” Pardini said, “and I want to help others in any way I can.”
‘No one thought I would live’
Pardini’s 2½-year relationship with William McCann Oberschelp was mired by mental and emotional abuse caused by his sub -
stance abuse. They broke up briefly, said Pardini, but then reconciled.
The 28-year-old Bridgeville woman said she believed things would be different, that they would be better. Instead, she got back onto the proverbial roller coaster that is often present in domestic violence cases.
“They abuse you. They tell you it’s going to be OK, and you believe it. Then they do it again,” Pardini said.
Worsening isolation accompanied the mental and emotional abuse.
The night Oberschelp attacked her, Pardini said, he’d checked himself out of a mental health facility, drank alcohol, then took an Uber to a gas station near her parents’ home in Peters Township. He used a spare key to get into their home and walked into Pardini’s room.
She said she opened her
Park bench dedicated in Bethel Park youth’s memory
By Eleanor Bailey
Staff Writer
Almanac
ebailey@thealmanac.net
Echoes of the laughter of a little boy drifted through the minds of those in attendance at Pine Tree Park during a bench dedication ceremony in his memory.
On Oct. 20, family, friends and neighbors gathered in the 1.01-acre park of N Street in Ward 4 of Bethel Park to remember Joey Fabus and dedicate a bench and plaque in his memory. Fabus used to play in the park while visiting his aunt, Carrie Berry, before he passed away at age 8 due to an inoperable tumor.
“We used to come here all the time with Joey,” said his mother, Cynthia, who is Ber-
ry’s sister. “He used to play here and do his thing.”
Bethel Park Council President John Oakes and Councilman Todd Cenci wanted to do their own thing, too. They used their own personal funds to install a bench near the playground and basketball court in remembrance of Fabus, who died Jan. 21, 2015.
“Joey was a bright and amazing young boy who touched the lives of so many,” said Oakes. “He was a beloved child whose courageous spirit continues to inspire the community.”
The tribute was initiated by Berry, but when council learned that the existing benches in the park couldn’t support a plaque, Cenci and Oakes decided to personally fund a new one and affixed
a plaque to honor Fabus in a place he frequented.
“This park meant so much to him,” Oakes said.
Fabus was diagnosed with DIPG (Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Glioma), an inoperable brain tumor, at the age of 8.
Despite the diagnosis, he remained joyful and full of life, especially when interacting with local police officers. Many of them embraced him as an honorary member of their departments. A special day in his honor was held where Joey was sworn in as an officer and performed some “official” duties.
Though he passed away nearly 10 years ago, his legacy lives on through the Joey Fabus Childhood Cancer
SEE BENCH PAGE A2
Carri Czyzewski describes her nature as competitive and previously she was an amateur boxer. Becoming a real estate agent 12 years ago prompted her to seek training in self defense. She started to train in Krav Maga, the Israeli hand-to-hand combat system developed for the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF), which she now also teaches.
“The majority of fights or attacks end up on the ground. I really enjoyed that part of self defense.
“I’m older and here, locally, there’s not a lot of women like me who want to compete, so I knew I had to go to worlds to compete with other women my age, my size, my belt rank. You get women from all over the world … Brazil, Australia, Texas, England, all over.” This year, she competed against five other women to earn the silver medal.
“These women are so amazing,” Carri said. “The camaraderie, I can’t explain it. It’s very pro-women. We are all very proud of ourselves. It’s scary to get out there and do this. It takes a lot.”
Her first match on Aug. 28 was won against a
COURTESY OF JOE PISZCZOR
Jen Pardini spoke at the Domestic Violence Services of Southwestern Pennsylvania fundraising dinner on Oct. 15.
COURTESY OF JEN PARDINI
Jen Pardini was flown to Allegheny General Hospital, where she underwent emergency surgery after her ex-boyfriend fractured her skull with a hammer in 2023.
The Fabus family, David, Olivia, Josh, Cynthia and Clarissa, admire the bench dedicated in Joey’s name after an unveiling ceremony held Oct. 20 at Pine Tree Park in Bethel Park. Joey was David and Cynthia’s 8-year-old son, who died of an inoperable brain tumor on Jan. 21, 2015.
COURTESY OF CARRI CZYZEWSKI Carrie Czyzewski with her silver medal in jiujitsu
LIBRARY LOVE
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.
single person in that operating room. Her courage and strength during the healing process were simply inspirational.”
times difficult to identify, even for patients themselves.
talking,” said Parker.
“Sometimes they don’t even realize that’s not normal or healthy,” Lazzara said.
from Page A1
eyes to see Oberschelp standing over her. He took her phone, and not wanting to wake her parents, Pardini convinced him to go outside.
They walked to the nearby woods where Oberschelp took out a knife and held it to her throat. That was the first time he had been physical toward her, Pardini said.
At first, she froze. Then she ran.
“I thought I’d beat him to the garage,” she said. “That was the last thing I remember before I woke up in the hospital.” Family members and police filled in the rest. Oberschelp hit her with a hammer and kicked her in the face.
The attack stopped when the family dog Leo started barking and woke her parents. Pardini’s father saw her and yelled for her mother to call 911. She was flown to Allegheny General Hospital where “no one thought I would live.” The road to recovery
The assault had shattered her skull, knocked out several teeth, and left her with permanent damage to her eye.
Dr. Jody Leonardo, a neurosurgeon at Allegheny Health Network (AHN), performed an emergency surgery to repair her skull with a metal plate. Leonardo said Pardini’s courage left a lasting impression on everyone who treated her that day.
“Jen is one of the bravest humans I’ve ever met,” said Leonardo. “Her injury profoundly affected every
But Pardini said it’s Leonardo who deserves the praise. “She’s an amazing, amazing neurosurgeon – not only because I survived, but because I’m living like I did before,” she said, also lauding the nurses and other staff who took care of her.
Since the initial lifesaving surgery Pardini has had several others, including reconstructive surgery to her face, eye surgery and dental surgery.
Her left eye is lower than her right eye, and she will always have double vision in her left eye, which poses a small challenge when she does tiny tattoos – something she’d started doing before the attack.
“I always tell people, ‘If you want an absolute perfect tattoo, I’m not the person to come to. If you want a tattoo that’s meaningful then I’m your girl’,” she said. Prevention efforts
The severity of Pardini’s assault underscores why it’s so important to identify those who are in abusive situations, said Kristin Lazzaram, director of strategic operations for Allegheny Health Network’s Center for Inclusion Health: Intimate Partner Violence Program.
Started in 2020, the program trains hospital employees to help patients who are caught in abusive situations by providing them resources. The first step in that process, said Lazzaram, is teaching employees how to recognize the “spectrum of abuse,” which can include physical, mental and financial control. The latter two are some-
When she was being abused, Pardini said she initially confided in a few family members and some friends about it. She slowly stopped as things worsened.
On several occasions, Oberschelp asked Pardini to move away with him, but she told him no.
“I realize now he wanted me to move to a spot where I didn’t know anyone,” she said.
Jackie Parker, communications specialist with DVSSP, said isolation also includes discouraging someone from spending time with others, showing extreme jealousy, controlling finances or threatening or insulting their significant other.
“It is one of the first clues that a relationship may become abusive,” Parker said.
Earlier this year, Oberschelp, 29, of McMurray, took responsibility for the assault, pleading guilty to attempted homicide and other charges.
Before he was sentenced to 16 ½ to 33 years in prison, he told the judge, “I cannot imagine the hurt I caused or the amount of lives I affected.”
‘Be brave’
To raise awareness about domestic violence, Pardini has shared her story with many different media outlets. On Wednesday, she spoke at the Peace Begins at Home dinner, a fundraiser for Domestic Violence Services of Southwestern Pennsylvania.
Pardini spoke about hope and healing, and reminded those in attendance that survivors are not defined by their abuse.
“You could hear a pin drop in that room when she was
“Jen has extraordinary strength, resilience and compassion. She’s an important reminder of why this work matters.”
The advocacy has been fulfilling, with people in abusive situations reaching out to tell Pardnini her story helped give them the strength to leave.
Pardini is now in a relationship, but recognizes she has “little tendencies” that remain from her time with Oberschelp, like apologizing for things that aren’t her fault, or thinking her new partner will be angry over something innocuous.
“I am slowly learning these things that he put me through are not normal, and there are so many things in life that I was missing out on,” she said.
Asked what she’d tell someone in an abusive relationship, Pardini was quick to say what she wouldn’t.
“I’d never tell someone to leave,” she said.
While that may seem counterintuitive, Pardini said she thinks of herself. Had someone told her to leave, she said she would’ve strapped in tighter and stayed on the roller coaster of abuse, hoping it would get better.
So what would she say?
“Your voice has so much more power than you think it does. Do your best to stand up for yourself and be brave. You’re a person, a living human being, and your life matters just as much as their life.”
Greene
The agency’s helpline is available 24 hours a day and can be reached at 800-791-
Upper St. Clair educator named Regional Esports lead
Upper St. Clair High School esports coach Monica Erwin has been selected as the Region 8 Lead for the Pennsylvania Scholastic Esports League (PSEL), a leadership position that will shape scholastic esports across Southwestern Pennsylvania. She is one of only eight regional leads statewide. As Region 8 Lead, Erwin will support schools in Allegheny, Beaver, Fayette, Greene, and Washington counties. Currently, 24 schools are enrolled with PSEL, and Erwin also co-leads a broader regional esports group that includes even more schools. Her mission is to create an inclusive, competitive gaming environment that fosters student growth through teamwork, creativity and career readiness.
“I’m excited to help expand opportunities for students by organizing competitions, coaching clinics and recruiting combines,” Erwin said.
“My goal is to create an inclusive, competitive gaming environment which fosters student growth in Southwestern PA.”
Her first major initiative will be a Rocket League 2v2 tournament, hosted by West Mifflin High School and sponsored by Insight. The event will feature a round robin competition, a career panel with esports industry professionals, and a seeded championship round. It is the first of several events planned throughout the year. Erwin also plans to spotlight the educational potential of Minecraft Education, helping schools explore its
Medal
Continued from Page A1
an from Brazil. Her second match for the win was against a woman from Texas. Carri trains at Streel City Marshall Arts and had a local coach attend the master worlds tournament with her. She also trains about three times a year in Nashville with Rachel Casias, a third-degree jiujitsu black belt and multiple master world champion, who gave her encouragement to compete at this level.
Bench
Continued from Page A1
Foundation and the annual Joey Fabus Superhero 5K Run/1-Mile Walk, which raises awareness and funds for DIPG research.
Although he never met Joey, Cenci said he knew his family and was moved by his story. Hence he wanted to do something personally. Noting the bench wasn’t a municipal project he said, “I’ve seen the joy Joey brought to so many.
“This is why I got into public service – to help people and to make someone’s day a little brighter,” he added.
use both in esports clubs and in the classroom. At Upper St. Clair, she envisions continued growth for the Esports Club, including the addition of new competition titles and different student roles, including shirt designers, newsletter creators, shoutcasting and streaming. Through her new leadership role, Erwin hopes to ensure that Southwestern Pennsylvania students have access to the growing world of scholastic esports, while developing valuable skills for the future.
A science teacher, Erwin has served as USC’s esports coach/sponsor since the team’s establishment six years ago. She was named a Scholastic Fellow by the Network of Academic Scholastic Esports Federation in 2022 and Scholastic Mentor in 2023.
The USC Esports Club’s Super Smash Bros. team captured the PSEL Spring State Title and finished second in the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Esports Association (PIEA) Grand Finals.
“I asked her, ‘Do you think I can compete at worlds?’ and she said, ‘Absolutely you can.’ I wouldn’t have done it if she hadn’t given me the reassurance that I could do it.” Carri trains daily and trains in jiujitsu about 10 hours weekly. “I love it. It’s my therapy.”
She will compete at the IBJJF Pan American Championship in Orlando, Fla., in March and the master world tournament again in August. “I haven’t won gold yet,” she said. She plans to continue competing as long as she is healthy.
The ceremony, attended by Mayor Jack Allen, a handful of Bethel Park police officers, neighbors of the Georgetown housing plan, friends and family, lightened the day for the Fabus family in particular. Said David Fabus, “It’s touching. Really touching that they would do something like this. You don’t expect it.” Assessing the crowd he added, “Look at all these people that came. They all know us through Joey and they loved him.” His wife echoed the sentiments. “Quite honestly, we’re completely honored and touched that somebody would do this for us. We’re glad that people still want to carry on his name and help us support his legacy.”
Monica Erwin
Bethel Park Fire Dept. transitions to 911
At 6 p.m. Nov. 3, the Bethel Park Volunteer Fire Company (BPVFC) will be directly dispatched by Allegheny County 911 for all emergency calls.
Allegheny County 911 will handle all incoming emergency calls and directly dispatch the BPVFC. Additionally, the BPVFC will collaborate with neighboring mutual-aid services on a shared channel.
According to BP Fire Chief David Gerber, this will enhance engagement with other response agencies.
The Bethel Park Dispatch Center will continue to operate as a ring-up center, receiving and dispatching police and serving as a local point of contact for residents at the municipal building.
Individuals and businesses who have a fire alarm system currently monitored by the Bethel Park Dispatch Center and wish to have it connected directly to the Allegheny County 911 Center should contact their alarm company and update the dispatch number to 412-473-3370.
Gerber said the quickest way to get the fire department through an alarm company is to change the number the alarm company calls to this number.
Updating a fire alarm number to the County 911 Center is not a mandatory requirement. Residents retain the option to continue using the existing number, 412-8332000. If this option is chosen, the Bethel Park Dispatch will continue to receive alarm calls and relay them to the county for dispatch.
At 6 p.m. Nov. 3, the Bethel Park Volunteer Fire Company (BPVFC) will be directly dispatched by Allegheny County 911 for all emergency calls. Allegheny County 911 will handle all incoming emergency calls and directly dispatch the BPVFC. Additionally, the BPVFC will collaborate with neighboring mutual aid services on a shared channel.
IT IS IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT UPDATING YOUR FIRE ALARM NUMBER TO THE COUNTY 9-1-1 CENTER IS NOT A MANDATORY REQUIREMENT. YOU RETAIN THE OPTION TO CONTINUE USING THE EXISTING NUMBER ...
According to BP fire chief David Gerber, this will enhance engagement with other response agencies.
The Bethel Park Dispatch Center will continue to operate as a ring-up center, receiving and dispatching police and serving as a local point of contact for residents at the municipal building.
Individuals and businesses who have a fire alarm system currently monitored by the Bethel Park Dispatch Center and wish to have it connected directly to the Allegheny Count 9-1-1 Center, please contact your alarm company and update the dispatch number to 412-473-3370. The quickest
way to get the fire department through your alarm company is to change the number the alarm company calls to the 412-473-3370 number.
It is important to note that updating your fire alarm number to the County 9-1-1 Center is not a mandatory requirement. You retain the option to continue using the existing number, 412-833-2000. If you choose this option, our Bethel Park Dispatcher will continue to receive your alarm calls and relay them to the county for dispatch.
Beginning 11/3/2025: For Fire and EMS call 911 For Police call 412-8332000
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Are standing desks helping or hurting our health?
By Kristin Emery For the Observer-Reporter newsroom@observer-reporter.com
We keep reading and hearing about the negative effects having a sedentary lifestyle can have on our health. A big part of the problem for many people is sitting at a desk at work all day and not moving enough of the time.
One possible solution comes in the form of standing desks, which have grown in popularity in recent years. But are these standing desks actually helping us or are they no help at all?
pain, and some studies show they can help regulate blood glucose levels.
“Standing at a desk can be beneficial compared to sitting all day, but the benefits are often relatively small unless combined with other healthy lifestyle habits like consistent exercise, proper nutrition and reducing overall stress levels,” Poornima adds.
“The key takeaway is that standing is better than sitting for prolonged periods of time but is not a sole contributor to improved overall health.”
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A study led by a West Virginia University epidemiologist found alternating between standing and sitting at work can decrease sedentary behavior, but it also found too much standing at work may be just as harmful as too much sitting. The recent clinical trial was aimed at finding out whether changing from a sitting to a standing desk at work could help people lower their blood pressure. Overall, results show the change reduced sedentary behavior by about one hour per day. The bad news is that blood pressure did not improve at all.
“The research on standing desks and cardiovascular health is mostly negative,” says Dr. Indu Poornima, a cardiologist and Division Director of Clinical Cardiology & Imaging at Allegheny Health Network (AHN). “While some small studies suggest modest improvements in certain cardiovascular risk factors (like blood sugar and blood pressure) compared to prolonged sitting, this effect has not been replicated in larger studies, and in fact, there is some suggestion that prolonged occupational standing can adversely impact vascular tone and lead to venous pooling in legs.”
During the WVU trial, 271 participants were asked to stand 15 to 30 minutes per hour and take a walking break every hour. They also wore fit-
ness trackers to remind them to move each hour. For those who wound up standing even longer, the news wasn’t good: aortic arterial stiffness actually increased, which makes your heart work harder and can be an early indicator of cardiovascular disease.
She advises the best approach is to minimize prolonged sitting and incorporate regular movement throughout the workday.
So, is standing too much as harmful as sitting too much?
“The overall health benefits are likely most pronounced when compared to prolonged periods of sitting,” says Poornima. “But it’s important to underscore that standing desks alone will not be a direct solution to improved heart health or prevention of cardiovascular disease. Standing at work when combined with intermittent walking, however, is better than sitting for prolonged periods of sitting at work. Most importantly, prolonged leisure-time sitting is associated with abnormal triglycerides, abdominal obesity, high blood pressure and diabetes.”
The American Heart Association says nearly half of American adults have high blood pressure. Increasing physical activity can help lower the numbers, and researchers found that even if the standing desks didn’t help that standing outside of office hours did. Researchers attribute that to people moving around more outside of work rather than just standing still at a desk.
The news isn’t all bad for standing desks, as benefits can include relief from lower back
“Alternating between sitting and standing when combined with regular breaks to walk around, stretch, or do light exercises are much more effective in improving cardiovascular health and overall well-being than simply swapping a chair for a standing desk.”
While a standing desk can help reduce sedentary time each day, doctors recommend we get moving for at least 150 minutes of moderate aerobic activity or 75 minutes of vigorous aerobic activity per week, along with muscle-strengthening activities twice a week.
“Walking is a great form of moderate-intensity exercise and can contribute significantly to meeting these guidelines,” Poornima says. “However, incorporating higher-intensity activities, even short bursts, can be very beneficial for cardiovascular health. A combination of both intensities is optimal.”
Consider taking the stairs and walking during lunch breaks along with micro-breaks throughout your workday to stretch or move around.
“This is better than long periods of inactivity and has been shown to lead to healthy, lifestyle modifications of increased movement.”
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‘OUR KIDS FOUGHT HARD’
Bethel Park finishes runner-up in WPIAL team tennis
By Eleanor Bailey Almanac Sports Editor ebailey@thealmanac.net
For the second year in a row, Bethel Park finished runner-up in the WPIAL for girls tennis.
In a battle of undefeated teams, the Lady Hawks dropped a 4-1 decision to Shady Side Academy during the Class 3A final played Oct. 15 at the Janet Swanson Tennis Center on the Washington and Jefferson College campus.
“They’re a great team,” said BP head coach Gary Reese.
Indeed the Bulldogs were the Black Hawks’ equal as both clubs posted 14-0 undefeated regular season records.
Shady Side Academy was the Section III champion with a 7-0 slate while Bethel Park captured the Section IV crown with an identical 7-0 mark.
While the Black Hawks won their only WPIAL title in 2023 and finished runner-up to Mt. Lebanon in 2024, the Bulldogs picked up their sixth district banner, the first since 2010. They also boasted a threetime champion at No. 1 singles and a two-time runner-up duo that split up and played at No. 3 singles and as part of another No. 1 doubles unit for the team tournament.
As a result, the Bulldogs swept all three singles matches and won at No. 2 doubles.
“The match didn't turn out the way we wanted, but our kids fought hard,” Reese said.
Meriwether McCargo won at No. 1 singles, besting Cami Fisher in straight sets, 6-2, 6-4, while Brooke Henderson dispatched Hadley Murello in similar fashion at No. 3 singles.
At No. 2 doubles, Elena Rubinov and Elizabeth Butera swept Julia Ross and Mia Hogue, 6-0, 6-1, and Mackenzie Smock succumbed to Cassie Lapina at No. 2 singles.
Kiera Ross combined with junior Cassie Sierka for the lone victory. At No. 1 doubles, they outlasted Alex Merkel and Taylor Shanafelter, 2-6, 6-2, 6-4.
“They fought hard and they never gave up,” Reese said of the No. 1 doubles. “They had a game plan. They came in and they executed it.”
Of Ross, who is the lone senior in the BP’s starting lineup, Reese added, “All the kids look up to Keira. She's a great kid; great role model. She plays hard; works hard. She's a good example for the younger kids.”
To advance to the finals, the Lady Hawks shutout Baldwin and Greater Latrobe, 5-0, then
edged North Allegheny, 3-2.
Shady Side Academy, which was the No. 1 seed, blanked Thomas Jefferson and Pine-Richland, 5-0, in the opening rounds of the tournament then beat Mt. Lebanon, 4-1, in the semifinals.
With their 1-2 showing, Shady Side Academy and Bethel Park qualified for the PIAA Class 3A team tournament as did NA, a 3-2 winner over Lebo in the WPIAL consolation match.
First-round play commences Oct. 21. Winners advance to the Hershey Racquet Club to play out the remainder of the tournament with quarterfinals on Oct. 24 followed by the semifinals and championships on Oct. 25.
“We look forward to states,” Reese said. “Hopefully, we do better than we did (in the WPIAL finals) and individually we are hoping (our qualifiers) can go far. They have the potential. We’re going to put the work in and see how it goes.”
The PIAA singles and doubles tournaments will be held Oct. 31 and Nov. 1 at the Hershey Racquet Club. By virtue of their third-place showings in the WPIAL, Fisher as well as the duo of Smock and Murello qualified for the state singles and doubles tourna-
ments. After the season concludes, the Lady Hawks look ahead
Benrabia works to become top scorer for Bethel Park
By Eleanor Bailey Almanac Sports Editor
ebailey@thealmanac.net
As Bethel Park’s most prolific soccer scorer, Youssef Benrabia lacked the flash to match his goals.
“I’m not very creative when it comes to celebrations,” he admitted.
During the regular season when he notched 20 goals for the Black Hawks, who captured the Section 2 crown with a 12-02 slate, Benrabia said he celebrated with his teammates by doing the usual stunts like punching his fist into the air or doing a knee slide if the playing surface was slick from rain.
“I really didn’t have a signature,” he said. Until the WPIAL playoffs commenced Benrabia didn’t.
After each of his three tallies in Bethel Park’s 6-0 shutout against Knoch in the first round of the Class 3A tournament, Benrabia adopted a simple sign. He crossed his thumbs with his ring and pinkie fingers tucked underneath and close to his chest.
“I just saw it on the internet by some of the players I like from Switzerland and I thought it looked cool,” Benrabia explained. “I’ll just do it, I thought. I really didn’t know what else to do.”
After the Black Hawks lost to Mars, 2-0, in last year’s consolation match, Benrabia knew what he had to do during the offseason to ensure a rematch with the Planets and a deeper playoff run. He trained.
with optimism to the 2026 campaign. “We have a good group coming back,” Reese said. “The future looks bright for us.”
Area football teams prepare for playoff challenges
During the summer months, he was practicing at sunrise, between 6 and 7 a.m. daily with his teammate, Xavier Jackson, who had scored 19 regular-season goals phasized. “Most of the time we trained together but sometimes I worked out by Additionally, Benrabia hit the weight room. He also practiced about four times a “Personally, I love Youssef,” said BP skipper Doug Fink. “I had him in class as an American history teacher as well, but I loved how that kid has grown because this past year, he's put in so much work in the offseason, too, as far as the weight room and his conditioning, and just building his body, and it's proven on the field. I can't say
ELEANOR BAILEY/THE ALMANAC
Youssef Benrabia dekes out a defender and scores the first goal in Bethel Park’s victory over Knoch, 6-0, in the first round of the WPIAL Class 3A soccer playoffs. Benrabia had a hat trick in the win to go along with an assist.
enough good things.”
Fink noted that Benrabia has benefited from opposing team’s focus on Jackson, who was a marked man because he had more than 20 goals in 2024. Jackson scored 19 goals this fall before the playoffs commenced.
However, that’s only part of the reason for the tandem’s success this fall.
“Xavier is a very good playmaker. People don't give him credit for his assists,” Fink said. “His passing ability was good against Knoch as well as all season. So I think Xavier sometimes leaves it for Youssef, or he'll look for him. They have great chemistry together.”
Benrabia agreed. “We really mesh together. It’s been the story all year.”
In racking up a 13-2-3 overall record, the Black Hawks have racked up 72 goals, tops in both Class 3A and 4A. However, they have surrendered just 17 and posted seven shutouts, including the one against Knoch.
“Defensively, we were sound,” Benrabia said. “We got the clean sheet and that’s really good.”
After Benrabia stacked the Black Hawks to a 1-0 halftime lead, they exploded for five, second-half tallies. Julian Kountz, Andrew Hughes and Jackson tacked on goals. Jacob Lang and Josh Pantin added assists. Luke Rubican excelled in the nets, sharing shutout honors with back-up keeper Jake Coffield.
“Luke’s been fantastic,” Fink said. “Our focus was to try and get a clean sheet because offensively, we’ve done well, but we really wanted to focus on defense and not give up a goal. That was important.”
As the Black Hawks, who are seeded No. 2 in the Class 3A tournament behind Hampton, advance deeper into the playoffs, defense becomes more important.
Beinecke leads Lions to victory
Gabby Beinecke powered South Fayette to victory, 5-0, against Elizabeth Forward in the first round of the WPIAL Class 3A girls soccer tournament. The sophomore forward scored two goals for the Lady Lions, including the first tally in the first minute of the game.
Abbey Spalla added a goal and an assist while Mia Deramo and Stella Medvec provided single goals.
Lexi Deutschenorf registered an assist to complete the scoring for the Lady Lions, who improved to 16-1-1 overall.
South Fayette, which has won back-to-back WPIAL titles, played Montour, a 1-0 double overtime winner against Hampton, in the quarterfinals played Oct. 23. (Results unavailable at press time.)
In other first-round Class 3A action, Plum blanked Chartiers Valley, 5-0. The Lady Colts were making their first trip to the playoffs since 2017 and after only winning one game last season. CV finished 6-11-2 overall this fall.
Chloe Bird and Audrey Bodamer scored the goals for the Lady Panthers, who trailed 1-0 at halftime. Bodamer provided the gamewinner. Mary Mascaro assisted both tallies.
With the win, USC improved to 9-5-2 overall after finishing tied for third place with Canon-McMillan in Section 3 with 5-4-1 slates.
The Panthers faced No. 2 Seneca Valley in the quarterfinals played Oct. 23.
Meanwhile, Mt. Lebanon edged Butler, 4-3, in its playoff opener and advanced to face No. 3 Norwin in the quarterfinals.
In the win against the Golden Tornado, Scarlett Pryor provided the game-winning goal. Lilia Bhuta had given the Blue Devils their first lead of the game after the contest was tied, 1-1, at intermission.
By Eleanor Bailey Almanac Sports Editor ebailey@thealmanac.net
Pine Richland may be the No. 1 seed in the WPIAL Class 5A football playoffs, but some opposing coaches caution against crowning the Rams champions before the tournament commences this Friday, Oct. 31.
“A lot can happen from now until the championship game,” said Upper St. Clair coach Mike Junko. “High School football is unpredictable. Factors like momentum, turnovers, weather, and injuries can play a big role. You are dealing with 17 and 18 year old kids. We really emphasize trying to control the controllables in the playoffs.”
Peters Township field general added, “Pine Richland is the team to beat and a No. 1 seed is well-earned and well-deserved. They are defending champions and undefeated in 5A.
“If we are fortunate enough to play them, we’ll give them our best shot. We’ve gone 1-1 against them in the past. So that would be the rubber match.”
The Indians, with their plethora of Division I prospects, including Stanford commit Lucas Shanafelt, Pitt recruit Reston Lehman and Villanova-bound Nolan DiLucia, are considered among the top teams to contend with the Rams, against whom they finished runner-up in 2024.
The Indians won the Big Six Conference. They also have recorded four shutouts this fall, including a 61-0 thumping of Baldwin on Oct. 17.
While Cole Neupaver rushed for two touchdowns and returned an interception 72 yards for another, DiLucia, Talen Stauffer and Luke Wagner tossed scoring strikes to Ian Watson and Cooper Donovan (2) respectively.
DiLucia, who recently surpassed 8,000 career passing yards and has more than 1,800 on the season, engineers a high-powered offense that is averaging over 34 points per game while Lehman and Shanafelt anchor a defense that allows just seven points per game.
“Pound for pound I would put us up against everybody,” Plack said. “We are a battle-tested program, a team that has played a lot of tough games and overcome adversity and demonstrated that we are resilient.
“We have gone through the gauntlet in our conference and I would put teams like USC and Moon up against Central and North Allegheny,” he added.
As a result, the Indians anticipate conference rematches once they enter the playoffs. While the Class 5A tournament commences on Halloween, the Indians receive a firstround bye because of their conference title. They will host a playoff game at 7 p.m. Nov. 7.
“We think we will see somebody from our conference once, if not twice, because they have been formidable opponents. We feel the same way no matter who we play.
“Whoever we play that week is the team to beat. Our main focus is that game and we need to play as a team. We’ve done a great job of that this season. The defense has been stout whether we get turnovers or not and we have done a good job of moving the ball and being aggressive on offense. We need to continue to do that and make plays.” Plack has been pleased with Neupaver’s ability to make plays on both sides of the ball as well as the development of P.J. Luke and Jermey Poletti not to mention James Spratt’s play on defense.
two
Lady
de-
In Class 4A first-round playoff action, Upper St. Clair edged Penn-Trafford, 2-1.
The WPIAL championship matches will be held Oct. 30 through Nov. 1 at Highmark Stadium. The top finishers and qualifiers will embark on PIAA tournament action on Nov. 4. State championship games will be played Nov. 14-15
Additionally, Mark Ripepi and Jaden Blair rushed for short scores and Joey Wertman also had a Pick 6 for 25 yards. Anthony Maeillo kicked the extra points.
“Cole is on the field a great deal, playing running back and defense. He’s a huge reason why we are successful.
“James gets overlooked be-
ELEANOR BAILEY/THE ALMANAC
Bethel Park finished runner-up to Shady Side Academy in the WPIAL Class 3A team tournament for girls tennis. The Lady Hawks dropped the championship match, 4-1.
ELEANOR BAILEY/THE ALMANAC
South Fayette’s Gabby Beinecke, left, battles Tessa Crosby (8) of Elizabeth Forward for possession of the soccer ball during a WPIAL Class 3A girls playoff match. Beinecke scored
goals as the
Lions
feated the Warriors, 5-0, to advance to the quarterfinals.
cause of our outside linebackers but he has carried on the tradition we have had at middle linebacker,” Plack continued.
“At the beginning of the year we thought our cornerbacks and wide receivers were marginal but they are playing great football. Luke and Jeremy have really stepped up offensively as well as starting on defense.”
Defense has been USC’s bread and butter, allowing 14 points per game, but so has Moon, permitting 16 each outing. The Tigers topped the Panthers in overtime, 20-13, unseating them as conference runners-up. In the loss, Jacob Echeverria kicked three field goals and an extra point after John Banbury’s 2-yard touchdown run in the third quarter.
“Moon played very well and our kids played hard,” Junko said. “We had a chance to win the game in double overtime but the ball didn't bounce our way.
“Moon was one of a tough
stretch of physical games that we played over the past few weeks so we need to overcome some bumps and bruises as we prepare for the playoffs. We are looking forward to hosting a home game and creating some momentum for a
playoff run.”
USC’s path to a possible championship - its first since 2006 - will be a challenging one because Junko feels the Class 5A field is the deepest of all the classifications in the WPIAL. There are a number of quality
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or
teams that have Power 4-level
talent on their rosters and have a chance to play in Acrisure Stadium at 8 p.m. on Nov. 22.
“The teams that combine that talent with execution find success in the playoffs,” Junko said. “The higher seeds in this tournament have done a great job of combining their talent with a high level of execution. Class 5A is the most well rounded in that regard.
“We can't get caught up in our seed or the difficulty of the road ahead,” Junko continued. “We need to stay healthy and put our focus on the task at hand and that is getting to 1-0 in the playoffs. We can build momentum from there. I feel like our kids are hungry and looking forward to the opportunity ahead.”
Bethel Park is poised for its playoff opportunity. The Blackhawks clinched their post-season berth in a 33-16 win at South Fayette.
In the victory, David Dennison rushed for 244 yards and all five touchdowns.
Aayden Wright and Drew Welhorsky rushed for touchdowns in the loss.
CLASS 4A
Chartiers Valley needed a win against Ringgold on Oct. 24 to keep their post-season hopes alive in the highly competitive Class 4A division of the WPIAL.
A total of eight teams qualified for the playoffs, including the top two clubs in each of the Parkway, Big Six and Greater Allegheny conferences. Two wild card teams were determined by the WPIAL football steering committee.
Before tackling the Rams, the Colts were smarting after back-to-back losses to the top two teams – Trinity and Thomas Jefferson – in the Big Six. The Hillers, who were the conference champions, beat the Colts, 42-18, on Oct. 10. TJ, which was the conference runner-up, topped the Colts, 45-6, on Oct. 17.
The lone bright spot in the loss to the Jaguars was an 84yard scoring strike from Luke Miranda to Owen Weagraff.
“TJ is the gold standard. Well-coached. Discipline,” said Steve Spence, who’s in his first season at the helm at CV. “As the year goes on they get better and better. They’re a force if you have to play them in the playoffs.”
While New Castle, West Allegheny and Montour, not to mention Aliquippa, were the top teams in the Parkway Conference, McKeesport and Mars dominated the Greater Allegheny Conference. Mars features the top rusher in the WPIAL in Ayden Yocum while the Tigers boast Kemon Spell.
“The teams that we have played in our conference have to be considered two of the teams to beat in the playoffs but obviously, unless you don’t have a television or a cell phone, McKeesport has to be another team because of their running back. A generational player,” Spence said. “He’s as good as I have seen. Whether or not the Colts clinched a playoff berth, (results of their Ringgold game were unavailable at press time) Spence was pleased with their showing during his first campaign as head coach.
“The fact we were having a positive conversation about playoffs speaks volumes of the season that we had. The players earned every single inch of that because they worked hard to get to this point.
“The natural flow of any football season is the ebbs and flows, the peaks and valleys, and this team has been resilient and able to withstand the ups and downs.”
CLASS 6A
After beating Hempfield, 28-6, Mt. Lebanon held slim hopes of qualifying for the WPIAL Class 6A tournament. The Blue Devils needed a win at Norwin to earn a post-season berth.
With the win against the Spartans on Oct. 17, the Blue Devils improved to 2-3 in the Quad-Country Conference and to 2-7 overall.
Central Catholic, the conference champion, was the No. 1 seed in the tournament and scheduled to play the No. 4 team in the conference in the first-round of the playoffs set for Nov. 7.
North Allegheny was expected to pick up the No. 2 seed and host the No. 3 conference finisher.
The Class 6A championship is set for Nov. 15 at Pine-Richland High School stadium. Highlights in Lebo’s win against Hempfield included: a 209-yard rushing performance from Patrick Smith that also featured three touchdown runs of 54, 18 and 63 yards as well as a 47-yard Pick 6 by Joe Malone for the first score. Josh Huff kicked four extra points for the Blue Devils.
ELEANOR BAILEY/THE ALMANAC
Damien Holloway makes a reception but is tackled immediately during Chartiers Valley’s loss to Thomas Jefferson.
sights & sounds
SOMETHING TO
CELEBRATE
Carnival's new ‘Celebration Key’ a delightful destination
By Kristin Emery For the Observer-Reporter newsroom@observer-reporter.com
Before we ever boarded the Carnival Sunrise ship in Miami, I asked our friends and seasoned Carnival cruisers, "What is Celebration Key? Where is it?" No one seemed to quite know all of the answers, but everyone in our group was excited to find out the answers.
In July, Carnival Cruise Line officially unlocked its newest destination in paradise as it opened Celebration Key – the cruise line’s beautiful new exclusive destination on Grand Bahama Island in the Bahamas. This is the same large island that is home to Freeport and the Freeport cruise terminal on the other side of the island, where Carnival used to dock its ships. That terminal is still going strong for other cruise lines, but Carnival took a different angle: What if we built our own cruise port, pier and destination on the southern side of the island for our guests only? The answer is now called Celebration Key, and it is spectacular.
Five areas to explore Let's start with the basics: This is more than just a beach area, although you can park yourself on one of hundreds of beach chaises and umbrellas for free as soon as you walk off the ship. There is also a tram service for those who can't or don't want to make the walk along the pier.
The great news is that you can walk off the ship anytime you want rather than having to wait your turn for a tender to shore or back. You'll already be mesmerized by the aqua blue ocean water color as you walk along the boardwalk, but you'll really be wowed once you reach the colorful gate to Celebration Key framed
by a giant "sandcastle" that houses two racing waterslides. There, you can choose to hit the beach or set up shop in one of five areas: Paradise Plaza – The central location where guests are welcomed inside Celebration Key with live music.
Starfish Lagoon – A fun-filled area for families that features one of the two largest freshwater lagoons in the Caribbean, with 275,000 square feet.
Families will also enjoy a splash pad with a shallow pool, sports courts and the Suncastle’s body slides that wind through 350 feet of turns and sudden drops. The beach in this area is lined with loungers and cabanas for those looking to relax.
Calypso Lagoon – This adult-friendly area features an equally large, 275,000-square-foot lagoon as well as a dedicated area for adults only, a DJ Island, where guests can
what’s happening
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.
FOOD TRUCKS
A food truck festival will be held from 4 to 8 p.m. Oct. 30 at Hillcrest Christian Academy, located at 2500 Bethel Church Road. There will be children’s activities as well as a bonfire. Burgh Bites, Hibachi Lou, Hummus Pittsburgh and Millie’s Ice Cream will be the featured food trucks.
YMCA
Pumpkin Palooza will be held from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Oct. 29 and 30 at the Spencer Family YMCA, located at 305 Church Road in Bethel Park. In addition to activities, food trucks and games, there will be custom pumpkins carved by the Y’s Guides and Princesses program.
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.
COLLEGE CLUB
The College Club of Carnegie will hold its "Luncheon of Thanksgiving" meeting on Nov. 1 at Bella's on Fort Couch Restaurant, 91 Fort Couch Road. Doors open at noon, with lunch to follow. Entertainment will be provided by G.C. Gibson, musician. A 50/50 raffle will be held to benefit the club’s scholarship program. Women with a post-secondary education can call 412-279-4458 for
membership or further information.
CHABAD
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.
The Kabbalah of Meaning: Jewish Wisdom for finding the purpose that connects parts of life will be discussed from 7:30 to 9 p.m. Wednesdays beginning Nov. 5 at Chabad of the South Hills. The course is offered online or in person. No previous Jewish learning is necessary. The course will satisfy the continuing education requirements of physicians, health care professionals, psychologists, social workers, LMFTs, and LMHC/LPCs in most states.
Visit chabadsh.com or contact rabbi@chabadsh.com for more information.
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.
GRIEF
Surviving the Holidays is the topic of the GriefShare team’s seminar to be held at 6:30 p.m. Nov. 20 at the Bible Chapel South Hills campus, located at 300 Gallery Dr. in McMurray. Visit griefshare.org/events/276796 or contact Dave Shields at 724941-8990 for more details.
CRAFT SHOWS
■ The Upper St. Clair League of the Arts will host its Sugarplum Artisan Marketplace from Nov. 6-11 at the McLaughlin Run Road Activity Center, located at 1770 McLaughlin Run Road. Hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Monday and from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday and Tuesday. Gifts for all seasons, home accents and paintings will be among the items available for purchase.
■ The 51st Holiday-A-Fair will
enjoy music and drinks at the world’s largest swim-up bar with 166 in-water seats. Nearby is the Sunshine Swings Bar with nearly 50 swings offering a fun spot to enjoy cocktails while staying cool.
Pearl Cove Beach Club – The largest adults-only retreat at any cruise destination, this private club features an 11,000-square-foot infinity pool overlooking a white sand beach, alongside loungers, cabanas and supervillas. Guests will also find elevated dining and beverage options as well as a swim-up bar.
Lokono Cove – The island’s retail village offers shopping and showcases authentic Bahamian culture through vibrant murals and local art, as well as handmade goods.
You'll find more than 30 food and beverage venues across the destination and will be treated to a variety
be held from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Nov. 8 at Bethel Presbyterian Church, located at 2999 Bethel Church Road. Vendors offer a variety of items and a salad buffet, including the church’s signature chicken salad, a choice of two other salads, rolls, homemade cookies and drink will be available. There will be gift-basket raffles and baked goods for purchase. Proceeds benefit the church’s women's association, which provides funds for many local and international ministries such as SHIM, Brothers Brother, Meals on Wheels, Samaritan's Purse, Agape International and the Western Pennsylvania Diaper Bank.
■ A craft and vendor show will be held from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Nov. 8 at Peters Township High School, 121 Rolling Hills Drive. The sixth annual event is a fundraiser for the senior class. In addition to over 100 crafters and vendors offering artwork, vintage clothing, skin care products, home goods, jewelry, candles, decor and holiday items, there will be food trucks on site.
■ The John McMillan Presbyterian Church’s annual Christmas craft show will be held from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Nov. 8 at 875 Clifton Road in Bethel Park. More than 45 vendors will offer handmade gifts and treasures. There will also be a gingerbread house, a chance auction, and the Kris Kringle Kafé. Admission is free.
■ 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, crochet 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. The Nedals Gyro and Tom's Coffee food trucks will be on site as well as a concession stand
of live entertainment that includes Junkanoo parades, roaming rakeand-scrape musicians, DJs and all-day beach games. For private relaxation, a wide variety of cabanas, daybeds and villas are available for rent, and one mile of pristine, white sand beach overlooking the beautiful Bahamian water awaits. Why build it? Why did Carnival undertake the expense and effort to create Celebration Key when the cruise line already has its own private island in Half Moon Cay? It’s all about offering guests more ways to enjoy their cruise vacation with both destinations offering something different. While Half Moon Cay is all about the beach, Celebration Key gives cruisers more shore options. "Celebration Key represents a new era for Carnival Cruise Line. It’s an exclusive destination specifically designed for Carnival Cruise Line guests offering 65 acres of standout experiences including the two largest freshwater lagoons in the Caribbean, a 1.5-mile stretch of pristine beach and endless options of fun for all ages and interests," explains Carnival Cruise Line President Christine Duffy. "At Celebration Key, we offer five distinct portals for every type of cruiser, so whether a guest wants to have a lively experience at the world’s largest swim-up bar or have a more relaxing and elevated experience at Pearl Cove Beach Club, there is something for everyone."
Celebration Key will initially bring more than two million guests a year to Grand Bahama. By 2028, that number is expected to grow to four million. The economic impact for Grand Bahama is substantial, with hundreds of long-term jobs created
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.
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.
COOKIE SALE
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.
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.
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
by daily operations. The port can already welcome two ships per day, and construction on an extension to the pier is underway to accommodate two additional ships.
Where to start
The wonderful thing about this port is that you don't have to pre-book or pre-plan anything if you don't want to. In fact, I recommend you don't.
While our friends were up and out early to stake out tables and set up shop at a couple of the shaded swimup bar tables at the adults-friendly Calypso Lagoon, the place didn't really get hopping and full of guests until around 11 a.m. Even then, there was still plenty of space in the shade, out in the full sun in the pool beside the DJ and in the sprawling rows of chaise loungers and umbrellas. There’s plenty of room for thousands of guests, and it appears Carnival did a good job planning to accommodate as many as 9,000 guests daily when two of the huge ships are docked at the same time.
Even though two ships were in port this day, it never felt crowded to me. The bar and restaurant staff were plentiful, and the drinks were delicious. The only slightly disappointing aspect here is the food offered by the food stands (which provide one meal per day included in your cruise here). You can dine at one of the sit-down spots for 25% off as well, and I may do that next time, as the fritters were not great and the wait was too long.
Outside of the marginal snacks, I have nothing but glowing comments for our first visit to Celebration Key, other than I wish we had more time there to enjoy both the beach and the saltwater lagoons on more than just one day. There's always next time!
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.
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.
KEYNOTES
Keynotes of South Hills has reserved a private dining room at the Le Mont Restaurant on Grandview Avenue for a special evening during Pittsburgh’s 2025 Light Up Night to be held Nov. 22. Events begin with cocktails at 6 p.m. followed by a sit-down dinner at 7. There will be entertainment, raffle baskets and a lottery tree until the fireworks display at 9:30 p.m. Cost is $100 per person. Visit keynotesmusicscholarship. com under “Events” for reservations. The deadline is Nov. 14. Email Lynn Hagan at lhagan61@ gmail.com with Hills' mission of awarding annual music scholarships to Allegheny County students of exceptional talent. Each year $16,000 is awarded with over $452,000 awarded since 1970. Contact Lori Walter at houdini5@ hotmail.com or visit keynotesmusicscholarship.com for more details on the organization.
KRISTIN EMERY/FOR THE OBSERVER-REPORTER
Carnival Sunrise ship is docked at the pier in aqua-blue Bahamian water.
HONORING UPPER ST. CLAIR SCHOOL DISTRICT
MARCHING BAND
Row 1:
Julia Campagna
Thomas Mallison
Chloe Faist
Hudson Honeycutt
Anya Chen
Kaitlyn Burns
Ava Wynne
Ash Smith
Andy Scherer
Edwin Krofcheck
Maddie Weber
Row 2:
Robyn Miraglia
Jack Wilson
Owen Fick
Charlotte Swanson
Grace Nasman
Leanna Cowles
Arjun Kairi
Ansley Thornsberry
Kinley Wazenegger
Divya Singh
Annabelle McCaffrey
Row 3:
Izzy Dastur
Eliana Buries
Vivienne Black
Maria Zambri
Arianna Carter
Reed Friday
Keller Friday
Adam Khila
Nicholas Andrews
Benjamin Robinson
Jewel Leighty
Row 4:
Amelia Smith
Shrey Kachhadiya
Eli Tarr
Nigel Bailey
Tyson Williams
Drew Holzer
Samuel Scher
Joseph Wyse
Rohith Kumar
Oliver Paoly
Spencer Hills
Lindsey Fitzgerald
Sophia Henderson
Row 5:
Alyssa Paolicelli
Michael Earley
Maxwell Parrish
Michaela Pacella
Landon Rickel
Zena Meyer
Mila Finnegan
Theodora Lagonis
Chloe Slagle
Emily Geisler
Olivia Stockton
Row 6:
Alexis Hettich
Natalie Slagle
Jonah Durbin
Blake Davis
John Whitman
Shun Watanabe
Lindsay Krofcheck
Trevor Bandhari
Colin Burns
DANCE TEAM
Micha Gaydos
Melody Hanna
Caroline Fingal
Students who missed photo day:
Liam Black
Henry Oney
Matthew Hobbs
Chiara Rocco
Vincent Miraglia
Antonin Rocco
Anna Zegarelli
Sadie Dilmore
Thomas Oney
Ritu Gupta
Vinay Patel
Row 1: Juliya Chemoriya, Nina Speranza, Logan Campbell, Gianna D’Orazio, Genevieve Spina
Row 2: Frankie Manning, Makaela Mellinger, Malia Reynolds, Caroline Jones, Gianna Kania, Cristina DiPaolo
Row 3: Daphne Collins, Eliza Ogrodnik, Haylie King, Felicity Lalley, Claire Reyes, Madison Gavin, Kiran Khurana
Row 4: Adriana Daniele, Megan Sweeney, Lexi Dunn, Gianna DeNoon, Becca Bryson, Lauren Craig, Violet Leimkuehler, Sophia Casciato, Alexa Galbraith
&SOMUCHMORETHATWESTILLHAVETOUNPACK!! SATURDAY,NOVEMBER1st,8am-4pm SUNDAY,NOVEMBER2nd,9am-3pm
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Directions: Route19toPleasantviewDrive,RightonNorth HeideLaneto125NorthHeideLane.
**CASHONLY!!PLEASEBRINGYOUROWNHELP!! MURDOCHESTATELIQUIDATION
www.murdochestatesales.com
DEER HAULER - For pick-up truck. $75. 724-225-1214 724-809-5574
SHOWBOOTHS10x20foot,and 10x10allincluded , in-cludes rollingcarryingcases,lighting, bridge,frontpillar,sidedisplay tableswithlockabledoors, $15,000new. Mustsell. $3,000.412-310-0210
GUN STOCK - For AR15, slidefire, bumpstock, new. Text me for photos. $149. 724-984-5368
HANDGUN - 9mm, 8 shot.HI -point. Brand new in box! $199. Text for more pix, 724-984-5368 All firearm sales must comply with all state and federal regulations.
HOISIER / SELLERS CABINET Flour sifter, roll top. $650. 724-583-2713
KIRBY SWEEPER 2023
Model AVALIR2, all attachments, $1,400 724-745-5869
Olimp weight set 150 lbs. dumb bells, benches, stanchions, racks $400 724-942-4389
Radio Control Planes & Equipment Five planes, three radios, batteries all equipment etc. $400. 724-941-5051
REMOTE CONTROL TRUCKS (2) 1 Duratrax Warhead EVO Nitro and 1 Traxxas Revo Nitro, plus lots of parts. $500 for both. 412-849-6903 (no texts)
ROTOTILLER - TroyBilt rear tine, electric start, new tires. Good codition. $300. 724-470-3760
Sears Garage door openers (2), excellent condition, one is a year old both for $125 412-220-8035
Sewing Items, hemmer, elastic, snaps, eyes, hook fasteners, ribbon, satin cord $20 724-513-9390
