At the Front
News & Features
Entertainment
Inside
Mayzie celebrates her graduation from iCan Bike Camp in June. She learned to ride a traditional bicycle. Photo by Harry Funk.
Photo by Rick Fry.
Manager's Message
JOHN M. BARRETT
Autumn is a great time to reflect on what keeps South Fayette moving forward— both literally and figuratively.
Our team is dedicated to progress, from the Public Works mechanics who keep our fleet of vehicles and equipment running smoothly (page 20), to the Parks and Recreation staff who spearheaded paving the Panhandle Trail in Sturgeon (page 11).
Community spirit was on full display at South Fayette Community Day in August. More than 5,000 people came together to celebrate our residents, businesses and organizations (page 22). And as we plan for the upcoming holidays, events such as Joy-Thru Fairview (page 35) remind us that gatherings and traditions foster pride and bring us closer as a community.
We’re also enhancing how we connect with citizens. In addition to South Fayette Connect magazine and our online resources—including five social media channels and a website that has attracted more than 2 million visits—you can tune in to South Fayette TV on Comcast channel 14 for community information and replays of public meetings (page 2). It’s another way we’re keeping you informed and engaged all year long.
BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
Chuck Lazzini, President
Tim Postufka, Vice President
Mark Hondru
Leigh Ann Oravecz
Rebecca Sray
TOWNSHIP MANAGER
John M. Barrett
EXECUTIVE EDITOR
Andrea Iglar
ART DIRECTOR
Andrea Iglar
GRAPHIC DESIGN
Andrea Iglar
Recreation & Library
Ian McNeill
Paula Willis
Kristen Bagwell
CONTRIBUTORS
Rick Fry
Harry Funk
Abbey Scheerer
Daniel Thompson Photography
ABOUT THIS MAGAZINE
South Fayette Connect is a free magazine published and distributed quarterly by South Fayette Township for the benefit of the public. The magazine is a nonprofit source of news and information aimed at connecting people with local government and fostering a strong sense of community identity and pride.
If your delivery is missed, please inform your postal carrier. No portion of this publication may be reproduced without permission of the editor. © Copyright 2025. All rights reserved.
ADVERTISING
South Fayette Connect offers advertisements in exchange for sponsorship of certain community events and programs. Contact the magazine editor or visit SouthFayettePA.com/ads
CONNECT WITH US
SouthFayettePA.com/magazine magazine@sftwp.com; 412-221-8700, ext. 231 South Fayette Township, Allegheny County PA
South Fayette SHORTS
Siblings are Eagle Scouts
Mason Miller, left, and Abbey Miller have earned the rank of Eagle Scout with Oakdale BSA Troop 248.
The South Fayette Township Board of Commissioners recognized the siblings' achievements in August.
Mason, a high school junior, led volunteers to mark more than 300 storm drain inlets in South Fayette with a warning not to dump pollutants into the stormwater system.
Abbey, a sophomore, worked with the middle school band director to plan, design and build a pegboard for percussion instruments. She is the unit's first female Eagle Scout.
Their parents are Traci and Samuel Miller of South Fayette.
Leaf collections set for November
Hauler WM will hold curbside leaf and yard waste collections
Saturdays Nov. 8 and Nov. 22 in South Fayette. The night before pickup, place leaves and other yard waste at the curb in biodegradable paper bags no heavier than 25 pounds each. Yard waste may include leaves, brush, hedge/tree/garden trimmings, lawn edging and grass clippings. Households that normally receive curbside waste collection are eligible. Report missed pickups at southfayettepa.com/request.
PennDOT plans to replace Presto Sygan and Millers Run bridges
The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation is planning a $3.6 million project to replace two bridges where Millers Run Road and Presto Sygan Road intersect in South Fayette. Construction is set to occur from spring 2027 to fall 2028, with traffic detoured on both streets. The public can review and comment upon the plans here: southfayettepa.com/ prestomillersbridges.
TV & electronics recycling collections set for 2026
Free TV and electronics recycling will be held Sat. May 2 and Sat. Sept 12, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., at the Original Farmers Market, 151 Parks Road, South Fayette. In 2025, the township collected more than 86 tons of electronics.
Jordan Tax Service now collecting real estate taxes
Jordan Tax Service is serving as the Deputy Real Estate Tax Collector. As of this fall, the third-party firm is performing tax collection duties on behalf of the elected tax collector. All real estate (property) tax inquiries and services should be directed to Jordan: 724-731-2311 or jordantax.com.
Sign up for e-newsletter
You can receive our new monthly Parks and Recreation e-newsletter, featuring the latest on community events, recreation programs, athletic associations and park projects. Each issue sends around the beginning of the month. Sign up now through Constant Contact: southfayettepa.com/recreport.
More land eyed for conservation
The nonprofit Allegheny Land Trust is seeking public donations to help conserve 42 acres along the Panhandle Trail in South Fayette. The parcel would expand the 160 acres already protected as part of the Panhandle Greenway Conservation Project. Details: alleghenylandtrust.org/ panhandlegreenway.
Kirkpatrick retires
Dale Kirkpatrick retired in August after 35 years with South Fayette Township Public Works.
South Fayette TV channel launched for Comcast customers
Comcast cable customers in South Fayette Township now can access local government TV on channel 14.
The standard-definition (SD) channel, launched this summer, includes general township information, news, events, public meeting recordings and video features.
The channel is not available to Verizon subscribers. Meeting recordings also are available on demand through the township's YouTube channel @southfayettepa.
Other TV content remains available on the township website, social media and South Fayette Connect magazine.
▼ SALT SHED
South Fayette Township Public Works built a salt shed this summer at the former wood waste facility at Boys Home Park. During snow plowing season, crews will have three locations throughout the community to reload road salt—the Morgan complex, Fairview Park at Mayview Road and Boys Home—making snow removal more efficient.
JASON DAVID
Jason David joined South Fayette Township Public Works in 2024 as a parks laborer and then filled a position as a truck driver/laborer. Both outdoor-oriented jobs have suited him: "I like doing this type of work because it's hands-on stuff," he says. "I couldn't sit in an office."
Hometown: South Fayette resident for past 5 years; grew up in Lincoln Borough
Education: Graduated from South Allegheny High School
Family: Wife, Ashley; children Jaxson, 16, Bentley, 14, Owen, 13 and Aiden, 11
Pets: Dogs Nala, Nino and Mal
Hobbies & Activities: Camping, fishing, riding dirt bikes and quads; formerly coached youth wrestling
First Job: Bus boy at King's restaurant
Prior Jobs: Emergency Medical Service in Elizabeth Township; construction work
First Car: Chevy Blazer, black
Favorite Sports: Hockey, college football
Favorite Food: Pepperoni pizza
Favorite Vacation: Camping in the mountains
Bucket List: Go on an Alaskan cruise
Best Quality of South Fayette: "I like the buildup now of all the conveniences, but it's a big area. The land is here."
Fun Fact: Jason can wiggle his ears. Only about 10 to 20 percent of people have that genetic ability.
— Andrea Iglar
—Text & photo by Andrea Iglar
How do I submit an issue or concern to the township?
Do you need to report a pothole, a missed recycling pickup or other concern? You can submit an issue 24/7 by visiting Request Tracker on the South Fayette Township website.
You can submit an issue 24 hours a day, 7 days a week using South Fayette Township's online Request Tracker.
Visit the Website
When you visit our website at southfayettepa.com, you’ll find an icon on the homepage that says, “Report an Issue.” This will take you directly to our Request Tracker system, where you can report your concern.
Alternatively, you can type southfayettepa. com/request into your web browser.
Sign In
Choose a Category
Once you’re logged in, you’ll find a range of categories to choose from.
If you already have a township website account, provide your email address and password.
If you do not have an account, you can easily set one up by selecting “Login” in the upper right-hand corner, then clicking “Sign up.”
For example, you can report a pothole under the “Roads” category. You can report a missed recycling pickup under "Trash/Recycling Issue."
Let's say you select the “Pothole” category. You then will be directed to a new page, where you will fill in a brief description of the problem, the location of the pothole, a picture (if you have one) and your contact information. Click "Submit."
Stay Updated
After submitting your request, you’ll receive an email confirmation, and your concern will go directly to the appropriate department. If it's a trash or recycling issue, it also will forward automatically to WM (Waste Management).
Rest assured, our township staff will respond to your concern in a prompt and timely manner, and you’ll receive updates from Request Tracker via email along the way.
This is a great way to track your request and even submit additional information if necessary.
Questions?
As always, if you do not have access to the internet or prefer to speak with someone, you can call our office at 412-221-8700 during regular business hours, Monday–Friday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Abbey Scheerer is an administrative assistant with South Fayette Township.
To submit a question to Ask Abbey, email magazine@sftwp.com or mail South Fayette Township, Attn: Ask Abbey, 100 Township Drive, South Fayette PA 15017.
southfayettepa.com/ request
Chief's Corner
JOHN PHOENNIK
Police officer well-being enhances community safety
Earlier this fall, I accepted an invitation to take part in a podcast and videocast that focuses on wellness from a law enforcement perspective.
I had the pleasure of working with Paige Arnone, founder of Arizona-based Firstgevity, a virtual wellness program that supports the health and longevity of first responders.
For her "Words of the Wise" podcast, she interviewed me about leadership topics, including what I have done for officer wellness. I’d like to share some key points of
our discussion with you.
During 39 years of experience in law enforcement, I have developed my leadership style from observing both poor leadership and good leadership. As chief, I have applied lessons learned to the South Fayette Township Police Department.
Boosting morale in a police department can be a slow process, but genuinely putting value on officers can improve their morale, safety, and physical and mental well-being. This, in turn, helps officers protect and serve our community.
Since I became chief in 2014, I have prioritized placing value on employees, which enhances the work environment and culture of the department.
I have worked to shift from the mindset of “this is how things were always done” to a practice of doing them better, or in a more efficient way. Breaking this cycle can make everything fairer for all employees, which benefits our department and the public.
Community policing is important to me. Maintaining communication with our residents builds trust with the people who pay our salaries—so we’re not just faces in the patrol car.
We encourage officers to treat citizens with the respect and professionalism that our community members deserve. How
an officer treats someone during a difficult or negative encounter makes a world of difference to that person.
"Words of the Wise" Video Podcast with Chief Phoennik
At the end of the interview, Paige asked for words of wisdom. I thought a while about what I have told younger and newer officers, and it boils down to this: Our career is a marathon, not a sprint. It’s important to be your own person and keep your values even during the most challenging times.
If you’re interested in hearing more of our discussion, you can view the entire interview on the South Fayette Township YouTube channel @southfayettepa. (Scan the provided QR code with your phone camera.)
Firstgevity is expected to publish the interview in December on Spotify and YouTube @PaigeArnone.
John Phoennik is chief of the South Fayette Township Police Department.
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SPOTLIGHT
Sturgeon
Location: Sturgeon is a historical neighborhood located partly in South Fayette and partly in North Fayette, along Noblestown Road between Oakdale and McDonald.
Number of Homes: 153 active addresses are located in the Sturgeon 15082 ZIP code.
Home Types: Single-family, with some apartments and duplexes
Postal Service: Mail is delivered to P.O. Boxes in the Sturgeon post office, 507 Main Street.
Streets in South Fayette: Arlington, Beech, Cemetery Hill, Chestnut, East, Magnolia, Main, Main Ext, McNary, McVey, McVey Ext, Station, Walnut, Water
Amenities in South Fayette: Panhandle Trail Sturgeon Station with parking, picnic shelter and restrooms; Sturgeon Park; restaurants Hunner's and Valentour's; Franco-Belgian club; Sturgeon fire department and social hall; Sturgeon post office. The Sturgeon Honor Roll is located in North Fayette.
Settlement: Henry Sturgeon bought a land warrant in 1800 from his neighbor, Judge Hugh Henry Brackenridge, when the area was mostly farmland.
Fun Facts: Sturgeon originally was named Arlington and then Willow Grove.
History: sturgeonvfd.org/ HistoricSturgeon.html
— Andrea Iglar
'A little place on the back road'
Sturgeon neighborhood of South Fayette boasts Panhandle Trail station, social spots and a long history
Story & photos by Harry Funk
As she worked on breading fish one Friday during Lent, Shelly Freshwater paid closer attention than usual to what she was hearing on the radio.
The hosts of “The Bubba Show” on 100.7-FM were announcing the establishments that placed in a best-pizza contest, and among the entrants was the one Freshwater owns, Hunner’s Pizza and Restaurant.
“I just wanted to make the top 10, because I’m a little place on the back road,” she recalled. “I’m like, I don’t got a chance, you know. It’s all the pizza shops in Pittsburgh."
But then: “I came in No. 3 out of 45 restaurants. So that was awesome. That helped me get my name out there.”
Her “little place” is at the corner of Station and Main streets on the South Fayette Township side of Sturgeon, a neighborhood with 19th-century origins that crosses the municipal dividing line of Robinson Run into neighboring North Fayette Township.
line that now functions as the 29-mile Panhandle Trail, spanning from Collier Township to just outside Weirton, West Virginia, with 2.73 miles in South Fayette.
“We get a lot of customers off the trail,” longtime Hunner’s employee Leslie Allen said, and she knows the pathway well. “I used to live in McDonald. For two years, I walked the trail from McDonald to Sturgeon to come to work—rain, sleet, snow, all of it.”
Sturgeon.
Sturgeon, named after settler Henry Sturgeon, drew much of its early population from workers in nearby mines, such as the Champion operation on the North Fayette side.
“The area was predominantly French and Belgian immigrants,” fifthgeneration Sturgeon resident Keith Delaney said.
Across Main Street is the old railroad
The group established the Franco-Belgian Mutual Benefit Association in 1908. Still operating today, the social club on Main Street is a few doors away from the Sturgeon Volunteer Fire Department, where Delaney serves as assistant chief and his brother, Craig Delaney, as chief.
▼ Bill Schanck, left, Ray Cox and Bill Morphy prepare to bike on the Panhandle Trail in Sturgeon.
“They would hold dances there, and people would take the trains from Oakdale and Carnegie here and go to the dances,” Keith Delaney said about the Belgian club, which also housed an educational component. “As immigrants came in, they would join there, and then people who lived here would help them to learn English and assimilate to the area.”
‘Sturgeon didn’t have a fire department’ Delaney, a 1992 South Fayette High School graduate, has delved deeply into local history and enjoys sharing what he’s gathered. For example, he compiled an extensive report on the fire department’s background for its website.
The department’s founding was prompted by a 1943 catastrophe along Main Street. A youngster playing with matches at the Sturgeon Hotel, one of two in the neighborhood at the time, caused a blaze that consumed an entire block, leaving 35 people homeless.
“Sturgeon didn’t have a fire department, and also, all the young men were off to war,” Delaney said. As a result, firefighters from relatively faraway places had to make long, slow treks to reach the neighborhood.
a log cabin motif (formerly Lemon Tree), a short distance uphill from the trail.
“On a weekly basis, we’ll get someone who comes in either on a cycle or walking and says, ‘I’ve been walking past this place for three years, and I just realized you’re a restaurant,’ or ‘I keep on telling myself, I’m going to go there,’” he said.
‘It’s a beautiful trail’ Bill Schanck, Ray Cox and Bill Morphy parked their bicycles on the Hunner’s bike rack during a sunny September afternoon.
In the post-World War II return to normalcy, a group of concerned residents formed the Sturgeon brigade, using a donated truck.
Today, the Sturgeon fire department boasts blaze-battling capabilities such as a state-of the art pumper with capacity for seven crew members and amenities such as a battery-operated extrication tool and thermal-imaging camera.
Members promote other potential life-saving measures in the community.
After spouses Jon and Elaine Tummino moved Valentour’s Family Restaurant and Pub from McDonald Borough to the Sturgeon area of South Fayette in 2022, the fire department provided a LifeVac choking rescue device, along with training, at no charge, “which I thought is what a fire department should do in their town,” Jon Tummino said.
Valentour’s occupies a building with
“Shelly’s a friend of ours,” Schanck said, plus: “The food’s excellent.”
Near the trail's crossing of Station
▼ Elaine, left, Bobbie and Dawn prepare for lunch at Hunner's in Sturgeon in September.
◀◀ Romain's store sold a variety of goods on Main Street in Sturgeon around the turn of the 20th century.
◀ Today, the intact structure serves as an apartment building.
Street is a pavilion with picnic benches, where bicyclists Leslie Evans and Greg Zamule took a break.
“It’s a beautiful trail, and one of the things I like best about it is not only was it close, but I’d rather be on the trail than on the road,” Zamule said. “I feel safer on the trail.”
Zamule has been using the trail for 30 years, going back to before it was paved with crushed limestone—and as of late September, with asphalt.
“We actually had my 60th birthday party at his office and made everybody come and either walk or ride the trail,” Evans said.
Over at Hunner’s, Allen no longer walks the trail to work. Now she lives far enough away—in the Candor area of Robinson, Washington County—that she has to drive to Sturgeon.
“But I continued working here because it’s such a great place to work,” she said.
“All of our customers are like our family. Everyone is very nice. It’s a very nice community.”
Harry Funk is a freelance writer.
Image courtesy of Sturgeon Volunteer Fire Department
South Fayette AROUND THE TOWNSHIP
▶ STURGEON HISTORY
▼ This historical image shows the intersection of Cemetery Hill Road and the railroad tracks that passed through Sturgeon in South Fayette. The railway is now the Panhandle Trail.
◀ Students participate in an activity, circa the 1950s, outside the Sturgeon School. The building was torn down in the 1970s after fire damage. The site today is South Fayette's Sturgeon Park.
▼ Early members of the Sturgeon Volunteer Fire Department pose with a converted Studebaker truck that South Fayette Township previously used to collect trash.
Images courtesy of Sturgeon Volunteer Fire Department
▼ A steam engine passes through Sturgeon, long before the establishment of the Panhandle Trail on the rail line.
PANHANDLE TRAIL PAVED
South Fayette Township repaired and paved a 1.8-mile section of the Panhandle Trail this fall.
The portion spans from the McDonald Borough border, through the Sturgeon trailhead, to the Mill Street/Scotch Hill Road crossing at the North Fayette border.
On behalf of the township, contractor Mele & Mele & Sons, Inc. conducted the $247,370 project to replace crushed limestone with asphalt pavement.
South Fayette secured a $130,000 grant from the Pennsylvania Department of Community & Economic Development Multimodal Transportation Fund to partially fund the work.
In the future, the township aims to pave the remaining portions of trail within South Fayette, in partnership with neighboring municipalities.
A total of 2.73 miles of the 29-mile Panhandle Trail are located in South Fayette, between mile markers 3.04 and 6.49, with North Fayette and Oakdale portions interspersed.
— Andrea Iglar
▲ Panhandle Trail users ride an adaptive recumbent trike, left, walk a dog and prepare to bicycle on the newly paved surface in the Sturgeon neighborhood of South Fayette Township in early October.
▼ REALIGNED ROAD
South Fayette Township realigned Mohawk Road this summer so the bottom intersects with Battle Ridge Road (pictured) instead of Millers Run Road.
The previous intersection is no outlet, near Madsen Donuts and Ava Mae's Bistro & Pizzeria in the Cuddy neighborhood.
The $360,000 project aimed to improve sight distance and safety for school buses and other traffic.
Washington Financial Bank is proud to be a part of Joy-Thru Fairview. When our community comes together, we’re right there with you. Because we’re not just your bank— we’re your neighbors.
gets you.
—Text & photo by Andrea Iglar
Diamond Sponsor ◆ Thanks for Giving ◆ Thank you!
◀ RUNNING ON COFFEE
Dan Dernosek stops into the Public Works break room for a coffee in September.
A 28-year employee of South Fayette Township, Dernosek became Public Works Director this year after serving as laborer, operator, foreman and superintendent.
Diamond Sponsor ◆ Community Day ◆ Thank you!
WHERE: The Community Pavilion in Downtown Washington
WHEN: Friday, December 12, 2025 4-9pm • Parade: 7pm
Join us for horse and carriage rides, food trucks, photos with Santa, an expanded kids’ area and more surprises!
The celebration starts at the Community Pavilion, which will be a winter wonderland of shopping, food, kids’ activities and live holiday entertainment!
Photo by Rick Fry
South Fayette AROUND THE TOWNSHIP
◀ FRESH SURFACE
Contractors repaired and resurfaced two tennis courts at Fairview Park in September.
South Fayette Township Parks and Recreation had secured $18,000 from the U.S. Tennis Association and $4,000 from the USTA Middle States to help fund the improvements, which included filling cracks, resurfacing and painting tennis lines.
—Text & photo by Andrea Iglar
▲ NEW BALL FIELDS SHAPING UP AT FAIRVIEW PARK
The vendor FieldTurf is installing artificial-turf infields on three new ball fields at Fairview Park in South Fayette Township. Construction is expected to be complete this fall, with fields ready for play in late 2026. The turf, along with natural grass outfields, largely will serve youth in the South Fayette Baseball and Softball Association. The complex, pictured here in early October, is situated on the Mayview site near the splash pad. (Drone photo courtesy of FieldTurf)
South Fayette BUSINESS
FITNESS AND RACQUET CLUB SET FOR NEWBURY MARKET
The Wembley Club celebrated the groundbreaking for a fitness and racquet sports club in South Fayette with cake and a champagne toast in September.
Township officials and South West Regional Chamber of Commerce leaders welcomed the Wembley team, who also operate a club in Chagrin Falls, Ohio.
The $8.2 million, 68,834-squarefoot private fitness facility is expected to open in fall 2026 at Newbury Market, behind BJ's Wholesale Club.
Planned amenities include five indoor tennis courts, which also can be used as 10 indoor pickleball courts, plus three paddle courts. Five workout studios will host yoga, spin, group fitness, Pilates and boxing, while the 10,000-squarefoot equipment floor will offer weights and cardio.
Details: wembleyclub.com/ southfayette.
▲ From right, South West Regional Chamber of Commerce executive director Mandi Pryor, South Fayette Township Commissioner Rebecca Sray and Township Manager John M. Barrett join The Wembley Club team for a toast Sept. 8 celebrating the club's groundbreaking at Newbury Market.
◀ David Barr, owner of The Wembley Club, speaks at the groundbreaking ceremony.
— Text & photos by Andrea Iglar
PLANT, WATER, GROW
South Fayette resident launches township-based HR consulting firm
By Andrea Iglar
At South Fayette High School, friends called him “Dr. Phil.”
It wasn’t because he was a talk show host or a therapist.
Steve Nicholas was a good listener.
And he still is. The South Fayette resident leans on his listening skills as a human resources professional.
“I think that’s helped me a lot with human resources and partnering with business owners and business leaders,” Nicholas said. “I hear what they’re saying, and I hear what they’re not saying, and then try to create solutions.”
Nicholas has launched HR Seeds Consulting, a human resources firm based in the township home that he shares with his wife, Sarah, and their daughters Lydia, 5, and Claudia, 2.
He lends expertise to large and small organizations regarding talent acquisition, workforce sustainability and retention, compensation management, performance and more.
While the fundamentals of HR could be boiled down to “hire, retain, fire,” Nicholas embraces his purpose-driven business motto: “Plant. Water. Grow.”
“In many regards, that changed my course and eventually led to getting into human resources,” Nicholas said.
After graduating college, he moved back to South Fayette, which was familiar and comfortable but also thriving and expanding in new ways.
“I was very open and excited to be able to come back and formally live in a township that was really growing and moving in a good direction,” he said.
“If you’re doing it right, you are going to see a nice harvest come up at a certain point,” he said. “I really do believe that about people and business—let’s plant some seeds, let’s water it, and let’s see it grow to the next evolution of whatever it’s supposed to be.”
When he was in second grade, Nicholas moved to South Fayette with his family, living in Hunting Ridge and Lakemont Farms.
He graduated from South Fayette High School in 2006 and majored in psychology at Kent State University in Ohio. There, he became interested in industrial psychology—basically the psychology of business and people.
Nicholas spent 15 years gaining increasingly responsible experience at large organizations in the oil and gas, healthcare, nonprofit and financial realms.
Feeling the entrepreneurial spirit, he started HR Seeds as a side project last year, and then he left his corporate job to focus on HR Seeds full-time in July.
“I personally believe that every business and every group of employees has more potential in how they’re operating,” Nicholas said. “I come in to really see what we can make better, tighter or more sustainable.”
Nicholas serves local and out-of-state clients and has joined the South West Regional Chamber of Commerce to expand his network in the South Hills and West Hills. He hosted a booth at South Fayette Community Day in August.
Nicholas said he is grateful that both his home and business are in South Fayette, which has become a destination with a positive reputation.
“It is awesome to be in a community that wants to grow and continue to bring businesses in,” he said. “I’m kind of rolling with the township, growing and evolving. Businesses should be doing the same.”
HR Seeds Consulting: hrseedsconsulting.com
Steve Nicholas
MAYVIEW PAVILION RENTAL OPTIONS EXPAND
Time blocks added during splash pad season at Fairview Park
By Andrea Iglar
Starting in 2026, people will have more opportunities to rent the Mayview Pavilion next to the splash pad at Fairview Park.
Rather than offering only single full-day rentals, South Fayette Township will offer morning, afternoon and evening rental blocks on summer weekends to accommodate shorter events.
"We have a lot of demand for young children's birthday parties and things like that," parks and recreation director Paula Willis said. "Offering smaller blocks of time gives more people the chance to enjoy the pavilion for gatherings during the summer while the splash pad is open."
Mayview Pavilion renters can use the splash pad, but the water amenity itself always remains open to the public and cannot be rented for private parties.
The Mayview Pavilion has two sides. Each has access to a kitchen, electricity, picnic tables and restrooms.
The rental policy for each side varies depending on the season.
Summer
During the summer months (Memorial Day to Labor Day), Side 1—closest to the parking lot—is open to splash pad users and the general public. It features a concession stand with seasonal treats. Side 1 cannot be privately rented in the summer.
Meanwhile, Side 2—closest to Recreation Road—is available for rentals throughout the summer.
In summer, one daily rental block is available Monday through Friday, from 4 p.m. to 10 p.m.
On summer weekends and holidays, three-hour rental blocks are available as follows:
to Memorial Day and Labor Day to November), both Side 1 (150-person capacity) and Side 2 (125-person capacity) may be rented, either individually or together.
Each weekday rental block is 4 p.m. to 10 p.m. Each weekend/ holiday rental block is 8 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Rental Rates
Rental fees are reduced for residents of South Fayette Township. All rentals require an additional $200 refundable deposit.
Side 1 (per rental block)
• Monday–Friday: $175 resident or $275 non-resident
• Weekend/Holiday: $275 resident or $375 non-resident
Side 2 (per rental block)
• Monday–Friday: $150 resident or $250 non-resident
• Weekend/Holiday: $250 resident or $350 non-resident
MAYVIEWPAVILION MAYVIEWPAVILION
Reservations can be made one year in advance of the desired rental date, and no fewer than 12 days in advance.
Other pavilions available for rent are the Rotary Pavilion and Lafayette Pavilion at Fairview Park, the Boys Home Park Pavilion and the Morgan Park Shelter. Rates vary.
Request pavilion reservations online: southfayettepa.com/recreation.
E-bikes regulated on township property
Rules set for proper use of electric bikes and scooters at parks, trails and municipal sites
By Andrea Iglar
Stronger, clearer rules on e-bike use in South Fayette aim to make parks, trails and other township properties safer.
The Board of Commissioners in October adopted an ordinance to update the township code to specifically regulate e-bikes, e-scooters and other electrically motorized vehicles.
Paula Willis, the parks and recreation director, said the township is not prohibiting e-bikes or e-scooters in parks, but rather limiting where they can be operated.
“We’re not banning e-bikes; we are restricting them to certain areas to make our parks and trails safer and more enjoyable for riders, motorists, pedestrians and other park visitors,” Willis said.
In Fairview Park right now, e-bikes—when legally, properly operated—are permitted on some existing paved paths and on Recreation Road, the park road that connects Greenwood Drive and Mayview Road.
After the Fairview Park Trail Network is built (construction starts in 2026), e-bikes will be permitted on certain trails— generally the same areas traditional bikes are allowed.
Police Chief John Phoennik said the ordinance “gives us some teeth” to better enforce unsafe use of e-bikes and e-scooters.
While the local law covers parks and township property, the Pennsylvania Vehicle Code governs rules of the road—whether it's a park road or a public street. The police department can enforce both sets of rules.
“We will continue to enforce and educate,” Chief Phoennik said.
The ordinance applies to all township-owned and -controlled properties including, but not limited to, Fairview, Boys Home, Morgan, Preservation, Sturgeon and Treveskyn parks; the South Fayette portions of the Panhandle Trail; the Morgan complex (515 Millers Run Road) and the South Fayette Township Municipal Center (100 Township Drive).
The ordinance defines several types of electrically motorized vehicles.
An e-bike is defined as a pedal cycle with electric assistance that:
• Weighs no more than 100 pounds
• Does not exceed 20 mph through motor power
• Does not exceed 750 watts in power output
• Has functional, operational pedals
Some of the e-bike regulations include:
• Riders must be at least 16 years old.
• E-bikes are permitted only on shared-use paths and walking trails where traditional bikes are permitted.
• The use of the throttle-only function is prohibited.
• E-bikes are permitted on roadways within township parks, but operators must yield to pedestrians and adhere to all traffic signs and rules of the road.
• Speed limit for e-bikes is 15 mph.
• No passengers are allowed beyond what the vehicle was designed and equipped for.
• E-bikes are prohibited on grass, fields, parking lots, courts, pavilions, playgrounds, dog parks, natural-surface trails, open spaces and active event spaces.
Violations are subject to fees and penalties.
To report concerns about improper or illegal use of e-bikes or e-scooters, please contact the police immediately by calling 911.
To review the entire ordinance, visit southfayettepa.com/ebikes
Learn more
E-Bike and E-Scooter Regulations for Township Properties
Mechanics make a good team
Cardillo and Saunoras keep the engines humming for Public Works
Story & photos by Rick Fry
A well-worn but reliable Allis-Chalmers road grader from the 1970s sits outside the South Fayette Township Public Works garage along Millers Run Road.
Inside the storage bays, dump trucks stand near a gaggle of plows that will be installed at the first mention of snow.
A White GMC road oil distributor truck sits in the line, along with an impressive array of other machines, large and small.
All in all, the fleet that needs to be maintained and repaired is substantial: roughly 100 trucks, vehicles, police cars and pieces of equipment. There are high lifts, skid steers, backhoes. Trailers, mowers, tractors. String trimmers, chainsaws, leaf blowers.
Two mechanics keep the engines humming and the wheels turning in the entire fleet of township vehicles and equipment—Mike Cardillo and Matt Saunoras.
One morning in late September,
Saunoras worked to replace the front brakes of a small dump truck on a lift.
While the shop is well equipped with all the major tools needed complete jobs quickly and safely, Saunoras said he prefers to use his own tools.
“I wouldn’t know what to do without them,” Saunoras said. “For me, it’s necessary to be able to do my job to have my own stuff I'm familiar with.”
His toolbox is a gleaming wall of black steel. Actually, to call it a toolbox is an injustice. It’s large enough to be a small apartment in New York City.
Saunoras has been a professional mechanic his entire adult life. A South Fayette native, he went into automobile mechanics after he graduated high school.
As a foundation in the trade, he attended a Ford-sponsored community college program, so he held most of the motor company’s certified-technician credentials by the time he hit the job
market.
Saunoras started working for a local Ford garage and put in 10 years, all the while continuing Ford training programs. He worked on police cars, fire trucks, ambulances and plow trucks, solidifying skills that ultimately made him a great fit for the Public Works Department.
“I kind of did it all already,” Saunoras said. “A lot of it is the same. It’s all nuts and bolts.”
▶ Public Works mechanic Mike Cardillo pauses during his repair of a high lift along Cecil Sturgeon Road in September.
Clockwise from bottom:
▼ Mechanic Matt Saunoras replaces the front brakes of a dump truck in the Public Works garage.
◀ Saunoras uses many of his personal tools, kept in a large toolbox.
▲ Mike Cardillo leans into the engine bay of a high lift.
South Fayette Township hired Saunoras in 2017. Today, he inspects about 70 vehicles, and he maintains and repairs dozens of Fords, from pickups to dump trucks to Police Interceptors.
He stays current on the latest diagnostic tools and automotive technology to repair modern machines.
While Saunoras worked in the shop, Cardillo, the senior mechanic, labored off-site to repair a high lift that had broken down along Cecil Sturgeon Road.
His service truck close at hand, Cardillo examined the rusty workhorse and tested the fuel injection system. He used a light crane mounted on his truck to hold up the engine cover so he could work unobstructed in the engine bay.
Cardillo was in his element sitting on the big-wheeled machine’s tire, out in a field where he enjoyed the quiet while he worked.
A South Fayette native, Cardillo had started working on equipment while growing up on a farm.
“When you’re out on a
tractor and it broke down in the field, you didn’t call nobody, you fixed it,” Cardillo said.
While his specialty is heavy truck and equipment repair, Cardillo also is an accomplished welder and fabricator.
Beyond the farm, Cardillo’s shop classes at South Fayette High School prepared him for his career as a mechanic, and he lamented diminishing machine shop and welding programs.
Cardillo got his first job in small engine repair straight out of high school and quickly impressed the shop owner with his knowledge.
A township mechanic for 25 years now, Cardillo is very familiar with the older equipment and appreciates their basic, no-frill designs.
He said the traditional equipment is tough and reliable, and “the old stuff works just fine when properly taken care of.”
Together, Cardillo and Saunoras keep both traditional and modern equipment running, Public Works Director Dan Dernosek said.
“They make a good team,” he said. “I rely on them greatly to fix all the equipment. Nobody else would be able to do their jobs if we had nothing running.”
Rick Fry is a freelance writer.
'One of the greatest communities around'
Entertainment and attractions draw 5,000 people to South Fayette Community Day
By Harry Funk
It was quite the show.
South Fayette Community Day on Sat. Aug. 23 featured a full schedule of music, including an energetic blast from the past by way of the School of Rock South Hills House Band.
Performing on the Community Stage set up at Fairview Park, members of the group of primarily teenagers wowed the crowd with some rock ’n’ roll favorites from half a century or more ago, including Edgar Winter’s “Frankenstein,” Derek and the Dominos’ “Layla” and Rush’s “Working Man.”
Enjoying the music while greeting guests at the School of Rock booth were general manager Olivia Moore and her sister, Julia, who teaches piano and vocals at the Castle Shannon location.
“I am super-excited to be here,” Moore said. “I actually graduated from South Fayette in 2018, so I’m really grateful to be back in the community, talking to everyone here and getting music into everybody’s lives.”
Lex Ackson of BooglepLex Circus.
To the astonishment and delight of guests, Ackson towered above them on a pair of stilts. Nearby, Haase provided hands-on circus-type instruction.
“This is one of our favorite kinds of events, where we just get to play with our toys and teach people how to juggle and all
▼ Lara “Boogie” Haase, right, shows someone how to spin plates at South Fayette Community Day. (Photo
temporary tattoos using henna dye.
“I’ve had a lot of family members do it as a tradition, so I learned it from being around them,” she said.
South Fayette Community Day marked her first foray into taking the art form public.
“I think it’s a really nice tradition to spread, showing a little bit of the Indian culture,” Vulupala said.
South Fayette Community Day, presented by South Fayette Township and Washington Financial Bank, drew more than 5,000 people to 130 vendor booths, a football field-size spread of inflatables and amusements, games and activities, food and drink, and two stages of live entertainment.
While musicians, dancers and other entertainers provided plenty to see and hear, some performers took their act to the midway, including Lara “Boogie” Haase and
that,” Haase said. “It’s really fun.”
Visitors to the booth followed Boogie’s lead as they attempted to keep items such as sticks, balls and plates aloft. Of course, Haase impressed everyone in showing how it’s done.
In addition to the performing arts, the fine arts appeared by way of some students of Selva Priya Sahadevan’s Get It from Nature Arts studio on Millers Run Road. The young artists spent the day handing out examples of their work.
The local athletic culture had plenty of Community Day representation, such as the Take Down Club booth, where Nikki Stumph promoted youth community wrestling.
“We are here today to encourage as many kids as we can to join South Fayette wrestling, to promote discipline, friendship and things like that,” she said.
The club gave away stickers, bracelets and cups, plus held a pull-up competition to test youngsters’ strength.
“We offer something for every kid, from someone who knows nothing to someone who knows everything,” Stumph said.
For visitors interested in preceding generations, the Historical Society of South Fayette Township displayed photographs and mementos, including items that turned up during the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission’s Southern Beltway project.
“We have about 65 boxes of old artifacts we still have yet to go through that were found in the vicinity of the new beltway,” member John Alan Kosky said.
“They are super-talented, and all the paintings are very beautiful,” Sahadevan said.
One of her protégés, South Fayette High School sophomore Srihitha Vulupala, was stationed at the booth applying
Many of the items pertain to industries and occupations of the early 20th century.
“South Fayette was primarily either farming and mining, or some oil and gas and things like that. It’s become a very diversified community now,” Kosky said. “We have to accept the change that comes, and it’s all good. That’s why you have a Community Day.”
And he’s proud to be part of it.
“I was born and raised in South Fayette. I’ve lived here all my life, and guess what? This is one of the greatest communities around.”
Harry Funk is a freelance writer.
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by Harry Funk)
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ALWAYS COMING BACK AGAIN
World-class singer makes home in South Fayette
Pete Hewlett tells tales of working with musical legends, but always returning to Pittsburgh area
By Harry Funk
Ask musicians of a certain age about their origin stories, and chances are they came by way of a TV program on Feb. 9, 1964.
That Sunday night, an estimated 73 million people watched “The Ed Sullivan Show” for glimpses of a quartet from Liverpool, England—providing Americans with their first taste of Beatlemania.
Taking it all in was thenteenager Pete Hewlett, who promptly decided he wanted to take up music, too.
And that he did.
Forty-four years later, he found himself sharing a stage with none other than Paul McCartney, who joined headliner Billy Joel during the final concert at New York City’s Shea Stadium, the venue the Beatles had sold out the same year as their Sullivan debut.
A South Fayette resident since 2008—along with wife, Beth, and their pup, Ellie—Hewlett can look back on working with musical legends and crossing paths with many others.
Despite his ability to name names that would make an aficionado’s jaw drop, he tends to talk about his experiences in an unassuming manner that fits right in with his genial personality.
These days, Hewlett—a world-class singer renowned for his vocal range—sings and plays guitar either solo or with musical friends.
Under the group name Hewlett Anderson, he frequently partners with keyboard player Scott Anderson in the duo they’ve had since the late ’90s—or they perform as a trio with drummer Joey Waslousky, as they do each year during South Fayette Community Day at Fairview Park.
Catch one of Hewlett's shows and you effectively will be a step removed from the likes of Eric Carmen, Carly Simon, Andrew Lloyd Weber, Joe Jackson and Woodstockera Santana drummer Michael Shrieve, all of whom took on Hewlett for a variety of
projects. Hewlett also worked with John Lennon’s son Julian, forging yet another Beatles connection.
Peter’s Pipers
When John, Paul, George and Ringo wrapped up their Sullivan set in ’64, Hewlett’s course was set for six decades and counting.
“Two older guys I knew were talking about putting a band together, and they heard I had a ukulele. So I said, ‘Yeah, maybe that would be interesting,’” he recalled. “And after seeing the Beatles, it was like, yeah, this is what I want to do.”
The group borrowed guitars and amplifiers, listened to records and hashed out chords, practicing every day after school.
For a band name, the members came up with Peter’s Pipers, “which I hated,” Pete acknowledged. “But they said, 'You sing all the songs and everything.' So that’s what we went with.”
As seems to be typical for the myriad teen groups that sprang up in the wake of the British Invasion, Peter’s Pipers entertained at school, fairs and, of course, the obligatory battle of the bands.
One year at West View Park’s Danceland they earned first prize and subsequently placed sixth out of 40-plus acts in a national battle of the bands, leading to a contract with Philips/Mercury Records. Peter’s Pipers released three singles for the label in 1968, and Hewlett co-wrote the first, “Airplane.”
Meanwhile, the band scored a residency in California: “We drove straight through and took turns driving. So by the time we got to San Francisco, we were like astronauts getting out of a space capsule kind of thing,” Hewlett said. “It was one of the greatest experiences I ever had.”
Cleveland, Carmen, Carly and Combo
The Peter’s Pipers experience eventually fizzled. But after a few years, Hewlett was back with a major label, recording for RCA with Pittsburgh-based band Sweet Lightnin’, which released an album and single in 1972.
Then it was off to Cleveland for a year to form a group with Jim Bonfanti, the original drummer of the Raspberries, remembered primarily for the millionselling “Go All the Way” with Eric Carmen singing lead.
“Before the year lapsed, Eric Carmen asked me if I wanted to join his band," Hewlett said. "He was going to England to do an album.”
Hewlett was excited to work with producer Gus Dudgeon, who had overseen several of Elton John’s most successful albums. Hewlett primarily played bass in the early sessions of what eventually became Carmen’s 1977 LP “Boats Against the Current.”
“And then Eric kind of fired everyone, all the way to Gus Dudgeon. Fired him, too,” Hewlett said. “When that was over,
Pete Hewlett performs at South Fayette Community Day in 2023. (File photo)
I came back home. I was ready to just quit playing.”
Salvation of sorts came by way of a call from Pittsburgh native Sid McGinnis, who went on to become house guitarist for “Late Night with David Letterman.”
“He said, ‘Hey, I’m doing a thing with Carly Simon. She’s looking for a guitar player-singer. Why don’t you send her a tape?’” Hewlett explained. “So I got a tape to her, auditioned and got the gig.”
Playing on her “Come Upstairs” album (1980), he worked with luminaries like drummer Steve Gad, bass player Tony Levin and Simon’s then-husband, James Taylor. Hewlett accompanied Simon on a short tour that ended abruptly.
“Once again, I was like, I’m going back home,” he said.
Michael Shrieve and Friends
Soon enough, Hewlett accepted another vocalist-guitarist opportunity with Shrieve's Novo Combo, which wound up releasing two LPs on Polydor and opening some shows for The Who on that band’s ostensible farewell tour in 1982.
Unfortunately, after the second album, the band found out the record company might not sign them: “We were on the road, no money.”
Membership in Novo Combo had major perks, though. Hewlett and guitarist Jack Griffin stayed with Shrieve in New York, where they encountered an awe-inspiring array of guests.
“I’d come home from a session, open the door, Steve Winwood is sitting at the table,” Hewlett recalled. “That’s what it was like.”
At the studio, he met the likes of Mick Jagger and Bill Wyman from the Rolling Stones, as Shrieve contributed percussion to the Stones’ 1980 album “Emotional Rescue.”
Hewlett mentioned another visitor of note while he was singing harmony in the studio: “Somebody grabbed my face and gave me a kiss and went, ‘[Expletive] great, man!’ I backed up, and it was Pete Townshend.”
Billy Joel and Sir Paul
Among the many connections Hewlett made at the time was saxophone player Mark Rivera, who extended yet another musical invitation:
“Hey, Billy Joel just did an album with a lot of vocals on it. He’s looking for singers. Would you be interested?”
So Hewlett toured in support of “An Innocent Man,” Joel’s 1983 homage to the doo-wop and soul stylings of his youth, containing hits such as “Uptown Girl,” “Tell Her About It” and “The Longest Time.”
A highlight of their association came in the summer of 1987 with Joel’s performances in the Soviet Union, then a major rarity for a rock-oriented act. A show in Leningrad, with Hewlett appearing in the credits, is documented on the “Kohuept” album.
But …
“When we came back, things kind of dissolved,” Hewlett said. “Once again, I came back home to Pittsburgh.”
Since then, Hewlett has kept plenty busy, including with his Emmy Awardwinning work on WQED’s “Live from Studio A.”
Then there was the reunion with Joel for the pair of Last Play at Shea concerts in 2008, with guests including Tony Bennett, Garth Brooks, Roger Daltrey, John Mayer, John Mellencamp, Steven Tyler and, oh, that guy who played bass on “The Ed Sullivan Show” back in 1964.
“When he showed up, it was just like, wow, OK,” Hewlett said about Sir Paul. “That was probably the pinnacle of my career, that whole thing.”
On Dec. 20, Hewlett will perform at Carnegie Music Hall in Oakland for the 10th Holiday Jam, featuring "Live from Studio A" musicians. Vocalist Audrey Logan, a 2021 South Fayette High School graduate, also will appear. Details: studioamusic.com or 412-320-4610.
Harry Funk is a freelance writer. ▲ Pete Hewlett performs with the band Novo Combo circa 1981–1982.
Photos courtesy of Pete Hewlett
◀ Scott Anderson, left, plays keyboard and sings with drummer Joey Waslousky and vocalist-guitarist Pete Hewlett at South Fayette Community Day in Fairview Park on Aug. 23.
Photo by Daniel Thompson
Sgt Sebastian Vallelunga Army
Ham radio club keeps dots and dashes on the airwaves
In age of cellphones, amateur radio enthusiasts practice time-honored communication methods
By Harry Funk
Visitors to South Fayette Community Day applied a bit of 21st century technology to a mid-19th century method of communication.
Members of the South Hills Amateur Radio Club Inc.—its acronym is SHARC, with a shark mascot and logo—brought an array of equipment to Fairview Park, including a combination transmitterreceiver, an antenna and a laptop computer.
They also allowed the public to transmit Morse code using an iambic doublepaddle key—a device that lets modern folks transmit dots (alternatively called dits) and dashes (dahs) faster than, say, inventor Samuel F.B. Morse could 180 or so years ago.
“You had to press up and down, and space your ‘dits’ and your ‘dahs’ yourself. This spaces them for you,” club president James Mounts explained.
that’s all they’ll do is Morse code,” Mounts said, using the time-tested nickname for amateur radio. “They love it.”
Sustained modern-day use of Morse code came as a surprise to some folks who
president/treasurer, advised. “People say, ‘Oh, you know what? I have a landline if my cellphone is down.’ No, you don’t.”
The capability of ham radio operators to reach one another around the globe can help bridge the gap.
“You can connect this up to a receiver and tune the radio to hear the code, and it’ll decipher it and put it out on the computer screen. The kids like that.”
For example, keying “hi” as a universally understood greeting would involve four short dots, followed by a short pause, then two more dots.
Or perhaps a youngster named Amy would learn how to key her name with these signals: A dot and a dash for “A,” two dashes for “M” and dash-dot-dash for “Y.”
“There are still ham radio operators,
dropped by the club’s Community Day booth Aug. 23.
So did the continued interest of hams, or amateur radio enthusiasts, in contacting one another by voice or code during an era when connectivity through cellular telephones and the internet is taken for granted.
But what if a catastrophe causes outages among familiar forms of communication?
“You need to be prepared,” Danielle Mounts, James’ wife and the club’s vice
A pediatric nurse by profession, Danielle would like to instruct young people about the practice to ensure adequate preparation in case of emergency.
Club member Paul Mulcahey shares her viewpoint.
“When you meet ham radio operators, you’re likely to meet someone who’s, I’m going to say, 50 or over,” he said. “There’s always been a thrust for local clubs, such as the South Hills club, to hold classes and try to develop an interest in the younger generations.”
Paisley Gust, Danielle’s granddaughter, offers hope for the future: An associate club member at age 6, she’s developing a keen interest.
“She listens and watches and asks questions,” Paisley’s grandmother said. The club offers educational programs at its monthly meetings, usually held from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. the fourth Saturday of each month at the Upper St. Clair Library.
For practical application of amateur radio, the club participates in the annual American Radio Relay League Field Day. Members gathered at Fairview Park’s Lafayette Pavilion in June to make as many
contacts as possible within an allotted time.
“Everyone is set up so that they can prove they can set up an emergency station,” James Mounts said.
Mounts brought a rechargeable battery to power equipment on Community Day—and August 23 happened to mark the 32nd anniversary of the club's founding.
Mounts' interest in amateur radio coincided with the peak popularity of the citizens band (CB)—think C.W. McCall’s novelty song “Convoy” or Burt Reynolds in “Smokey and the Bandit”—as a pre-cellphone way to communicate wirelessly.
Mulcahey’s experience began with his hometown Uniontown Amateur Radio Club, which placed a newspaper ad for potential members when he was young.
“The next thing you know, I was taking lessons in Morse code and electronics and things like that,” he said. “I got my novice license, and the president of the club at the time helped me build a small transmitter and receiver.”
“...I’ve been a ham ever since.”
“In 1975, I got my first CB radio base station. I worked all summer to pay for it,” Mounts said. “I started with that, and then I get in tinkering with the radio, and I actually moved it into the ham radio band. I started talking, and somebody said, ‘You shouldn’t be on here.’”
Although his participation in the hobby dropped off later as he concentrated on his career, he is focusing on it again, especially with his membership in the South Hills club.
—James Mounts, Amateur radio club president
In the U.S., the Federal Communications Commission grants three sequential classes of ham radio licenses: technician, general and amateur extra, and operators must pass exams to attain each. Higher classes provide increasing privileges to operate on different radio frequency bands and power levels.
While anyone can talk on the relatively low-powered, shortrange citizens band, a license is required for the vast array of frequencies available through amateur radio.
As it turned out, the person who provided the warning lived near Mounts.
“He and I became friends. We’re still friends. He gave me my novice exam,” Mounts said about the requirement at the time for an entry-level license, “and I’ve been a ham ever since.”
Danielle Mounts, who earned her technician license last year, reiterated the importance of passing along relevant information to people who can apply it in the future.
“The problem is that the older we get,” she said, “if we don’t say anything, if we don’t teach, how are they going to know?”
For a head start, check out the South Hills Amateur Radio Club at sharc.net or call 724-263-1289.
Harry Funk is a freelance writer.
◀ James Mounts, left, Danielle Mounts and Paisley Gust host the South Hills Amateur Radio Club booth at South Fayette Community Day in August. ▲ Paisley demonstrates a Bencher BY series dual-lever iambic paddle, which transmits dots and dashes for Morse code. ▲▲ A Yaesu FT-891 HF transceiver allows ham radio users to transmit and receive signals. (Photos by Harry Funk)
515 Millers Run Road | 412-257-8660 | southfayettelibrary.org
Diwali Diwali
Family Night Family Night
Light, Learning, and Community Shine
By Ben Hornfeck, Library Director
The South Fayette Township Library sparkled with color and joy as more than 100 community members gathered for its 3rd Annual Diwali Family Night on October 15.
The event welcomed all ages to explore the traditions and meaning of Diwali, the Hindu Festival of Lights, offering cultural connections, creative games and crafts, and special treats.
As part of the celebration, attendees enjoyed a lively round of Diwali bingo, which introduced players to words and symbols connected with the holiday, from diyas and mehandi to Ganesha and Krishna. A fun twist on a classic game turned learning into laughter and friendly competition.
Attendees also learned about rangoli, a traditional art form of intricate patterns created at the entrances of homes to welcome good luck and prosperity. At the event, families designed their own versions using brightly colored paper and a variety of geometric shapes, bringing creativity and meaning to the craft.
A family poses with ‘Happy Diwali’ backdrop. Volunteer Surya Vijayakumar and library staff member Vaishali Shinde serve snacks.
Of course, a Diwali celebration would not be complete without delicious food. Guests enjoyed traditional Indian sweets, including Coconut Ladoo, Gulab Jamun and mini samosas generously provided by Tikka ‘N’ Wrapz.
FALL AUTHOR MARKET
Saturday, November 15, 9:00am - 3:00pm Presented with Aurora Corialis Publishing
Enjoy a day of literary delights! Meet 21 talented authors from various genres - romance, mystery, fantasy, memoir, self-help and more. Copies of all titles will be available for purchase and signing.
TEEN AFTER HOURS
Beyond the celebration itself, Diwali Family Night underscored the library’s ongoing mission to serve as a welcoming space, fostering cultural understanding and strengthening community connections. As staff member Vaishali Shinde stated in her opening remarks, “the library as the center of our community and learning is ideal for sharing the beauty and significance of Diwali.”
Friday, November 21, 6:30pm LEGO Build-Off! Ages 13 - 18
Do you have what it takes to be crowned the Master Builder? Come ready to compete in multiple rounds of LEGO Building Challenges. Only one can walk away champion.
HOLIDAY STORYTIME
Thursday, December 11, 6:00pm featuring the Grinch!
Join us for our annual holiday storytime featuring a special reading of How the Grinch Stole Christmas! Plus photos with the Grinch, crafts, and more.
For MORE PROGRAMS and to register visit southfayettelibrary.org/events
A child displays a paper rangoli craft, inspired by the traditional Indian folk art.
Campers with disabilities learn to ride a bike
South Fayette Parks & Recreation offers annual program for adults and youth
By Harry Funk
Even if we take a certain skill for granted, that doesn’t mean everyone can do it.
“The statistic is 90% of individuals with Down syndrome never learn to ride a bike,” Cherise Sandrock said during a program in South Fayette that provided an opportunity for people with disabilities to gain the competence.
Sandrock is executive director of the Down Syndrome Association of Pittsburgh, which joined the township in offering a weeklong iCan Bike Camp.
“This our second year partnering with South Fayette, and it’s just been amazing,” she said. “We saw an increase in riders this year, and it’s good for their physical health and quality of life, and it’s super fun.”
Held in June at South Fayette Intermediate School, the program is a key component of iCan Shine, a nonprofit based near Philadelphia.
“We travel around the country. Different host organizations have us come out and run our camps,” iCan Bike floor supervisor Makayla Brungardt of Wichita, Kansas, said.
VIDEO
iCan Bike Camp
During each week of camp, volunteers work with participants to develop their abilities. The bicycles they use are equipped with custom-designed features, including a bar on the back that guides can hold to help
keep riders steady and upright.
“Riders come in the first day usually a bit apprehensive,” Brungardt said, but that usually passes quickly. “They gain so much confidence and they progress so much throughout the week.”
By the end of the five days of camp, about 80% of participants learn how to ride a conventional two-wheel bike for at least 75 feet with no assistance, according to iCan Shine.
In South Fayette, finding people to donate their time on behalf of iCan Bike was no problem.
“A lot of them are regular volunteers who have put in many hours and volunteer at a lot of our events,” Ian McNeill, township recreation coordinator, said. “Then we also have a lot of new volunteers.”
Among them was Rebecca Sray, a member of South Fayette’s Board of Commissioners.
“This is my first year participating as a volunteer with these children, and I’m so impressed with the amount of work that they put in. It’s hard work,” Sray said.
“And I’m really impressed with the families, that they’re really supportive of the program and of their children.”
Her grandson Levi Bardo, an eighth grader in the CanonMcMillan School District, was another first-time volunteer on behalf of the riders.
“I want them to get better at riding a bike and just getting better in life,” he said.
Adults and youth ages 8 and up may learn to ride at the camp.
Hosting iCan Bike represents an opportunity for South Fayette Parks and Recreation to expand its community impact.
“We serve all people across multiple demographics,” McNeill said, “and it’s very valuable to have another opportunity to serve the demographic of people with disabilities.”
Learn more about the camp: southfayettepa.com/icanbike
Harry Funk is a freelance writer.
◀ Mayzie celebrates her graduation from iCan Bike Camp in June.
▼ Jack Scanlon, right, helps Logan practice riding a bike on the South Fayette school campus. (Photos by Harry Funk)
Fayette Parks & Recreation
412-221-8700 x 222 /
RECREATION PROGRAMS
BRIDGES: ENGINEERING
PITTSBURGH & BEYOND
Tuesday Nov. 18 @ 4:45 PM - 6:45 PM
Grades 1-3; $25
South Fayette Municipal Ctr.
SENIOR STRENGTH & MOBILITY
Thursdays @ 3 PM - 3:30 PM; Ages 60+
DETECT & DISCOVER WITH DNA!
Wednesday Nov. 19 @ 4:45 PM - 6:45 PM Grades 4-6; $25
South Fayette Municipal Ctr.
South Fayette Municipal Ctr.; $5 drop-in; multiple-class package discounts
SOUND
BEGINNINGS: SAND & SEA
Wednesdays, Jan. 14 - Feb.18
10 AM - 10:30 AM
Ages 4 & under; $110
South Fayette Municipal Ctr.
MAD SCIENCE: READY, STEM, GO!
Thursdays Jan. 15 - Feb. 19
6 PM - 7 PM, Grades 1-5, $95
South Fayette Senior Ctr.
BABYSITTER TRAINING
Saturday Feb. 7
10 AM - 6:30 PM
Ages 11-15, $210
South Fayette Municipal Ctr.
ADULT YOGA
Mondays @ 6 PM; Adults age 18+ Sturgeon Vol. Fire Dept. Social Hall; $12 per class
PUZZLE PALOOZA
Tuesday, Dec. 16 @ 6:30 PM; All ages South Fayette Municipal Ctr.; $5 per team of 2 to 6
KIDS IN THE KITCHEN
Tuesdays, Jan. 6 - Jan. 27; Ages 6-11, $150 4:15 PM - 5:45 PM, South Fayette Senior Ctr.
DONUTS WITH POLAR TRAIN CONDUCTOR
Sunday, Dec. 7 @ 12 PM - 1 PM, ; Ages 3 & up, $10 South Fayette Municipal Ctr.
PAGE TO STAGE WITH GEMINI CHILDREN’S THEATER
Tuesdays, Jan. 13 - Mar. 17@ 5 PM - 6:15 PM; Ages 7-10
$225/resident or $235/non-resident
South Fayette Municipal Ctr.
ADULT WINTER SPEAKER SERIES
6 PM; Free; South Fayette Municipal Ctr.
Wed. Feb. 4, UPMC Lung Health
Wed. Feb. 25, History of Invasive Species in Allegheny County
Tues. Mar. 10, Clearview Federal Credit Union Financial Empowerment
3:15pm:
4:30pm:
4:30pm-5:30pm:
5:30pm-7:30pm:
7:30pm-8:00pm:
APR 02 APR 02
BUNNY HOP IN THE PARK BUNNY HOP IN THE PARK
FAIRVIEW PARK, 12 PM - 4 PM FAIRVIEW PARK, 12 PM - 4 PM
EARTH CLEANUP WEEK EARTH CLEANUP WEEK
TOWNSHIP-WIDE, ALL WEEK
TOWNSHIP-WIDE, ALL WEEK
MAY 14 MAY 14
PAWS IN THE PARK - PET EXPO PAWS IN THE PARK - PET E P
FAIRVIEW PARK, 4:30 PM - 7:30 PM FAIRVIEW PARK, 4:30 PM - 7:30 PM
FAIRVIEW FLICKS FAIRVIEW FLICKS
FAIRVIEW PARK, MOVIE STARTS AT DUSK
FAIRVIEW PARK, MOVIE STARTS AT DUSK
JUN 17 JUN 17
JUL 12 JUL 12
20
20
SUMMER KICKOFF CONCERT
SUMMER KICKOFF CONCERT
FAIRVIEW PARK, 7 PM FAIRVIEW PARK, 7 PM
JULY 4 FIREWORKS TH JULY 4 FIREWORKS TH FAIRVIEW PARK, 9:30 PM FAIRVIEW PARK, 9:30 PM JUL 4 JUL 4
TOUCH-A-TRUCK TOUCH-A-T UC FAIRVIEW PARK, 11 AM - 3 PM FAIRVIEW PARK, 11 AM - 3 PM
FAIRVIEW FLICKS FAIRVIEW FLICKS
FAIRVIEW PARK, MOVIE STARTS AT DUSK FAIRVIEW PARK, MOVIE STARTS AT DUSK JUL 17 JUL 17
FAIRVIEW FLICKS FAIRVIEW FLICKS
FAIRVIEW PARK, MOVIE STARTS AT DUSK FAIRVIEW PARK, MOVIE STARTS AT DUSK AUG 14 AUG 14 SOUTH FAYETTE COMMUNITY DAY SOUTH FAYETTE COMMUNITY DAY
SEPT 18 SEPT 18
FAIRVIEW FLICKS FAIRVIEW FLICKS
FAIRVIEW PARK, MOVIE STARTS AT DUSK FAIRVIEW PARK, MOVIE STARTS AT DUSK
FAIRVIEW FLICKS FAIRVIEW FLICKS
FAIRVIEW PARK, MOVIE STARTS AT DUSK FAIRVIEW PARK, MOVIE STARTS AT DUSK OCT 2 OCT 2
OCT
ACCESSIBLE HUNT ACCESSIBLE HUNT LOCATIONS TBA LOCATIONS TBA OCT
HAUNTED HARVEST HAUNTED HARVEST
PARK, 6 PM - 9 PM FAIRVIEW PARK, 6 PM - 9 PM DEC 4 DEC 4
JOY-THRU FAIRVIEW JOY-THRU FAIRVIEW
Summer Summer Parks & Rec Parks & Rec
Summer Playground Camp
South Fayette Township
Trash & Recycling
Garbage is collected weekly and recycling every 2 weeks. Do not bag recyclables. Place bins at the curb before 6 AM on pickup day. Bulk/oversize item collection (2-item limit; does NOT include extra trash bags) is the 2nd full week of each month. If an observed holiday falls the week before your pickup day, collection is delayed one day.
Waste Management wm.com ◆ 1-800-866-4460
DEC
JAN
FEB
The South Fayette Township offices, meeting chambers and police station moved to a new building (GPS: 323 Hickory Grade Rd) 100 Township Drive, South Fayette PA 15017 Ph: 412-221-8700 Web: SouthFayettePA.com
Staff Directory
John M. Barrett, Township Manager
Administration
Vitali Alexandrov, Facilities Director
Patrick J. Catena, Assistant Manager
Joe Hollowood, IT Director
Arianna Lower, Executive Assistant
Shannen McKahan, Finance Officer
Amy O'Neill, Accounting Assistant
Peggy Patterson, Administrative Assistant
Planning, Building & Code
Gary Hartz, Planning/Zoning Director
Joe Niedermeyer, Building Code Official
Mike Blocher, Code Enforcement Officer
Abbey Scheerer, Administrative Assistant
Communications & Community Development
Andrea Iglar, Director
Parks & Recreation
Paula Willis, Director Ian McNeill, Recreation Coordinator
Public Works
Dan Dernosek, Director
Sandra Bukovinsky, Administrative Assistant Police
John R. Phoennik, Chief of Police
Dana Korbe, Administrative Assistant Police Business Office: 412-221-2170 Emergency & Dispatch: 9-1-1
Community Resources
South Fayette Township Library 412-257-8660, SouthFayetteLibrary.org
South Fayette Area Senior Citizens Association 412-287-3519, SouthFayettePA.com/seniors
South Fayette School District 412-221-4542, SouthFayette.org
Historical Society of South Fayette Township SouthFayettePA.com/history
Tax Collection
Deputy Tax Collector: Jordan Tax Service, 724-731-2311, JordanTax.com
Tax Information: SouthFayettePA.com/tax
Municipal Authority (Dye Tests & Sanitary Sewers) 412-257-5100, MATSF.net
Chambers of Commerce
South West: 412-221-4100, SouthWestRegionalChamber.org
Pittsburgh Airport Area: 412-264-6270, PAACC.com
Ambulance & Emergency Medical Services
SouthBridge EMS: 412-221-5115, SouthBridgeEMS.com
Volunteer Fire Departments in South Fayette Fairview, Oak Ridge, South Fayette, Sturgeon: SouthFayettePA.com/fire Police, Fire & Ambulance: 9-1-1
