Harry Funk stories, Page 12
‘Great potential’: Students impress new Gateway band director
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...
‘We have felt welcomed’: Fundraiser in Harmar celebrates belonging, honors 9/11 lives lost
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...
‘Day One Sober’: Youngwood native Mia Logan explores cathartic side of songwriting
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...
‘Jammin’ Into Fall’ benefits Hampton nonprofit
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...
Franco Harris, Mac Miller join Pittsburgh personalities in Monroeville Mall mural
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...
Bring ‘hobby and family together’ at Guy on the Couch in Monroeville
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...
Plum musicians rock for Rustic Ridge
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...
Marshall and Verona restaurateurs compete in benefit BBQ cook-off
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...
‘I could write a book’: Office manager marks 60 years of working for Hampton church
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”...
Monroeville Public Library Fun Fest packs ’em in again
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...
BigFuture scholarship stuns Gateway senior
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 board rejects $158,500 change order in stadium renovation project
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...
Review: Sizable ensemble delivers on George Clinton’s vision in McKees Rocks show
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...
Scott Township Pool celebrates Swimmer Appreciation Day
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...
‘Notorious Pittsburgh’: Book tells tales from city’s seedy underbelly
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...
‘You have to start fast’: Volunteers help freshmen learn all about Gateway High School
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...
Bethel Park resident leads ghost-hunting events
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...
Public support essential for Tri-Community South EMS in Bethel Park
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...
Get ‘Mesmerized’ with Monroeville art exhibit
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...
End of Summer Bash: Kids enjoy Bethel Park event before school resumes
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....
Gateway principals go on Come Join Our Gator Family tour in Monroeville, Pitcairn
For their Come Join Our Gator Family tour, Gateway’s elementary principals made sure to bring the beloved school district mascot. And this Gator was a true Friend. “I volunteered,” Ramsey Elementary Principal Katie Friend said during a break from wearing the mascot costume’s head. “I’m having a lot of fun...
Young entrepreneurs featured at Plum’s Monday Market
Talk about a gift that keeps on giving, and teaches a life lesson, to boot. “I wanted a bike last year, and instead, my dad bought me a log splitter,” 11-year-old Wyatt Sheaffer said. “And to buy my bike, I just split a lot of wood and make some money.”...
‘True to the spirit of the times’: Plum native set to release 3rd historical novel
If it ever comes up during Trivia Night, the 58th doge of Venice died on July 18, 1365. OK. So, what’s a doge? And who cares? The first answer is the ceremonial leader of the canal-laden city-state in what now is Italy. The second is Kevin Butler. For his soon-to-be-published...
Support doubles for third annual Miles for Smiles
The third time was a charm for the nonprofit Always B Smiling’s primary fundraiser. “This is amazing. This is almost a doubling of what we did last year,” South Fayette resident Dean Huibregtse said regarding attendance at Miles for Smiles, held July 23 along the Montour Trail in Peters Township....
South Fayette couple serve ‘Indian cuisine with a twist’
The tantalizing aroma lets customers know they are in for a treat. It’s just a matter of what to choose from a menu loaded with selections that may not be familiar to the average Western Pennsylvania diner. “You can see initially, he’s not sure what he wants,” South Fayette resident...
