Harry Funk stories, Page 11

Machinery manufacturer Hallmor Inc. began operating at 531 McMurray Road so long ago that it predated the 1966 adoption of Bethel Park’s zoning ordinance. When the factory closed and the property changed hands, new owners Joe and Karen Bonasso faced what could have been a setback for their business aspirations....

For Bridgeville native Madison Campbell, venturing into pageant competition was all about visibility. “I believe that by sharing my story out there, hopefully it helps other people feel comfortable coming forward,” the 2014 Chartiers Valley High School graduate said. Campbell is co-founder and CEO of Leda Health, an organization providing...

Plans call for the removal of about 80 to 90 trees from the area around the pond near the southern end of Hampton Community Park. The clearing represents the first phase of a pond enhancement project to comply with environmental requirements with regard to storm water and eventually to extend...

Bonds issued by Hampton over the past few years are paying off handsomely. The township at various times took on additional debt “when interest rates were at their lowest in decades,” according to bond legal counsel Ronald Brown of Dickie, McCamey & Chilcote. “Within the last year or two, with...

Hampton’s first new municipal manager in 37 years arrives with a ringing endorsement from his soon-to-be-former boss. Ryan Jeroski, who will succeed Christopher Lochner in Hampton, has been assistant manager in Peters Township for seven-plus years. “He’s an integral part of our administration. He’s going to be sorely missed and...

However the saying goes about catching more flies with honey, Ryan Moser apparently prefers that approach. Gateway High School’s director of bands listened intently as his students rehearsed a short section of a song during a mid-September practice. Then he commended them on a fine-sounding performance, especially considering that it’s...

And the winner: Everyone in attendance, except possibly a preferring-to-remain-anonymous guest or two. “Do we have any vegans out there?” John Vento asked, to a resounding silence. “Oh, good.” The West Deer resident and owner of Steamworks Creative listening room in Hampton served as master of ceremonies for the All-American...

Going the autobiographical route for your first musical release represents a bold move. So does including lyrics along the lines of: Now I’m sleeping in the bed that I have made / Every day I try to fix my past mistakes Plus Youngwood native Mia Logan named that tune “Day...

Musicians have a history of helping worthy causes, and members of the North Hills band Altered Egos want to keep up the tradition. They’re the featured attraction for the benefit Jammin’ Into Fall for Spenser’s Voice, scheduled from noon to 4 p.m. Sept. 17 at the PA Market, 108 19th...

One of the most recognizable individuals in Pittsburgh history would shake hands with folks he met and introduce himself, as if they didn’t know, by saying: “Hi, I’m Franco.” The friendly, unassuming side of football legend Franco Harris is what artist Kyle Holbrook knew. “When I would text him or...

In the early days of serious card collecting, some shops had about enough room for a parent, his son and the clerk. When it comes to capacity and comfort, Guy on the Couch Cards & Gaming in Monroeville offers pretty much the opposite. From a children’s play area near the...

Support for Plum’s Rustic Ridge neighborhood continues with the help of some musically inclined residents. Janet Schoedel, who sings for the rock band Barracuda, and Ken Joy, drummer for MoJo — The Band, live near the site of an Aug. 12 explosion that claimed six lives. Their groups will join...

Eat, drink and remember. An All-American Patriotic Barbeque Cook-Off scheduled for Sept. 11 serves the dual purpose of benefiting the nonprofit Team Friends, which provides socialization opportunities for adults with intellectual disabilities, while paying tribute to the lives lost 22 years ago. The event has a 5:15 p.m. registration time...

A sense of humor just may be the key to a long life. Look at some of the comedy-oriented entertainers who graced us for extended periods: George Burns and Bob Hope each lived to be 100, and Betty White, Eddie Albert of “Green Acres” and Larry Storch of “F Troop”...

The parking lot next to Gateway High School’s Antimarino Stadium was full of vehicles on the afternoon of Aug. 26, but not for a sporting event. Across the street, Monroeville Public Library’s Fun Fest drew a crowd that required a bit of a walk for many in attendance, not that...

At one point in preparing to further his education after high school, Gateway senior Rocco Matrazzo submitted information online for College Board’s BigFuture program. The specifics were kind of hazy for him when he was called to the auditorium stage during an Aug. 25 back-to-school assembly, but they ended up...

Chartiers Valley School Board voted against paying an extra $158,500 for a faulty aspect of the district’s high school stadium renovation project. At issue during the board’s Aug. 22 meeting was the need to repair the base of the stadium’s track, which was damaged by heavy construction equipment as the...

One of the many distinctive aspects of George Clinton’s 1970s-era music was his ability to integrate complex arrangements featuring a multitude of voices with eminently danceable rhythms. To take it to the stage, so to speak, the venerable leader of multiple bands brings a contingent of more than a dozen...

A dreary sky and strong chance of precipitation pushed back plans for Swimmer Appreciation Day at Scott Township Pool. Some activities did occur as scheduled on Aug. 7, but the main event ended up taking place some 48 hours later. “It turned out to be an awesome day. We’ve got...

A man of questionable business practices fishes in his pocket for the key to his Cadillac, which is parked in a dark alley. He probably hears the sound of approaching shoes as he attempts to enter the car. Soon, he is mortally wounded by four gunshots to the chest, shoulder...

Think back to your first day of high school, wondering how you were going to find your way through those long hallways to get to all of your classes on time. Gateway has a remedy for that. A couple of weeks in advance of the Aug. 24 start date, incoming...

Whether it’s “Ghost Hunters,” “Kindred Spirits” or “Destination Fear,” TV shows featuring searches for unusual occurrences typically pack plenty of close-encounter action into tidy hourlong episodes. Real-life explorations aren’t quite as predictably productive. “We can’t make activity happen,” Bethel Park resident Patty Henderson said. “That’s what we try to make...

Housed in the garage of Tri-Community South Emergency Medical Services are six ambulances and two sport-utility vehicles, which should qualify as reassuring numbers for residents of its coverage area in Bethel Park, Upper St. Clair and South Park Township. For further peace of mind, everything is updated frequently. “We replace...

Many of the world’s most enduring works of art capture aspects of the human form. But it took North Versailles artist Norma Rowley a while to proceed in that direction. “I was always intimidated to draw or paint people. I don’t know why,” she said, although it may have had...

The timing of an End of Summer Bash in mid-August may seem a bit interesting, but it fits right in with how youngsters and their parents view the season. “It’s our last big kids’ event before they go back to school,” Lindsey Sibert, Bethel Park Recreation special events coordinator, said....