Harry Funk stories, Page 22
Fun with fungi: Western Pennsylvania Mushroom Club plans North Park foray
When it comes to identifying mushrooms, some folks get about as far as distinguishing between the little ones you slice to put on pizza and the big ones that fit nicely inside of a burger bun. Then there are the mycologists within the Western Pennsylvania Mushroom Club. “In general, a...
Love Your Library: Annual campaign supports Allegheny County lending institutions
You don’t need to know the Dewey Decimal System to enjoy today’s libraries. “There’s so much more going on than just books,” Allegheny County Library Association chief executive officer Amy Anderson said. “That’s an important part of what we do. It’s never going to go away.” But people who remember...
Love Your Library campaign launches in Hampton, throughout Allegheny County
Some patrons of Hampton Community Library circle a certain month on the calendar. “They will say to me, ‘Are we going to do Love Your Library in September?’” library director Suzanna Krispli said. “And they will wait until Sept. 1 and write me a check and say, ‘All right, here...
Love Your Library campaign launches in Monroeville, throughout Allegheny County
Leading up to September, Monroeville Public Library hosts an event for which the title says it all: FunFest! “It’s a really good way to raise awareness of what we have, but also just to build community,” director Nicole Henline said. “People who maybe think of libraries as that place where...
‘Nice to get them together’: Collier hosts event to meet first responders
No matter what the generation, children seem to have an affinity for firefighting. And so many of them who live in Collier enjoyed the opportunity to visit with the volunteers who serve their community, to try on their gear, and to have a close look inside the vehicles and at...
CollierFest, other events scheduled at Collier Community Park
Editor’s note: The Traveling Beer Market scheduled for Sept. 2, as listed in a previous version of this story, has been canceled. Collier Township hired a new parks and recreation director in June 2021. Within a few weeks, Josh Werner was busying himself with organizing CollierFest, a yearly community event...
Rev ‘Em Up For Kids returns to Bethel Park
If you like the “Smokey and the Bandit” movies, you’ll love Jim Gastgeb’s Pontiac. He has a 1977 Trans Am that looks pretty much like what Burt Reynolds drove in the Hal Needham-directed films, and Gastgeb even has life-sized images of the Bandit and Sally Field. No Jackie Gleason, though....
Independence work continues as school year starts in Bethel Park
The principal of Bethel Park’s Independence Middle School joined the staff just as plans for the building’s renovation were starting in earnest. “It’s very exciting, because you get to design the space and the instructional component together,” Racquel Sutton said. “And when do you ever have that opportunity? Every other...
Peters Township event benefits Always B Smiling activity center
As she spoke to a substantial crowd of people gathered on a bright Sunday morning, Kristin Huibregtse had difficulty holding back tears. “I know Bennett’s smiling down at all of this,” the South Fayette resident said, “and I’m just so happy and just love everybody here.” The occasion was the...
‘That’s how we remember it’: Legend of Drowning Fish endures as Bethel Park brewery marks 1st anniversary
So, two guys walk into a bar with a talking fish. Then they all decide to open a brewery together. “We say that’s a true story,” Pleasant Hills resident Don Tomino said. “We were drinking a little bit that day, but that’s how we remember it.” He and Mike Ameel...
Chartiers Valley implements AHN Chill Room program for all grades
They may not be able to take the proverbial chill pill. But this year, all Chartiers Valley School District students will have the opportunity to take walks to Chill Rooms. The district has expanded its partnership with Allegheny Health Network to offer an innovative support service from kindergarten through 12th...
‘No longer invisible’: Voter information shared at Chinese association’s picnic in North Park
Along with English and Spanish, voter services in Pennsylvania now are available in Chinese. “Many of our community members don’t know yet,” Stephanie Sun, executive director of the Governor’s Advisory Commission on Asian Pacific American Affairs, said. “So that’s why we’re here, to share more resources and information.” She and...
Voter information shared at Chinese association’s picnic in North Park
Along with English and Spanish, voter services in Pennsylvania now are available in Chinese. “Many of our community members don’t know yet,” Stephanie Sun, executive director of the Governor’s Advisory Commission on Asian Pacific American Affairs, said. “So that’s why we’re here, to share more resources and information.” She and...
Lyles love it: Couple celebrate launch of Mindful Carnegie
If you’ve never heard of an UTBAPH, they’re all over Western Pennsylvania. You generally can tell by their peaked roofs, trapezoid-shaped windows and the fact that each of them Used To Be A Pizza Hut. One of ’em is at 1001 Washington Ave., pretty much straddling the Carnegie-Scott Township line,...
Berklee welcomes Hampton graduate to staff
As far as prestige goes, consider that alumni of Boston’s Berklee College of Music have rung up a total of 320 Grammy Awards. When Caroline Collins was a senior at Hampton High School, she learned that Berklee had accepted her. But because of tuition considerations, she opted to attend Penn...
‘What we do is special’: Hampton’s Creative Hair Solutions receives Comcast grant
Hair loss hardly is limited to one gender. “So many times, I have women cry and just say, ‘Thank you for giving me my confidence back and making me feel comfortable to go out,’” Kristine Lewis said. Her Hampton business, Creative Hair Solutions, does have male clients. But for the...
Bethel Park celebrates life of teacher: Jon Gentile remembered by family, friends and fellow Phish fans
Ask the average music listener about the rock band Phish, and a likely response is either the faintest hint of recognition or a flat-out blank stare. But concerts by Phish — yes, that’s with a “Ph” — marked special occasions for Bethel Park High School teachers Jon Gentile and Rich...
Penn Hills celebrates first National Night Out
Penn Hills’ first National Night Out celebration almost started with a shower. As representatives of various organizations were setting up for the Aug. 2 event at Penn Hills Community Park, Western Pennsylvania weather refused to cooperate, temporarily drenching the proceedings. But by the time guests began arriving at Penn Hills...
Learning lacrosse: Camp for girls coming to Hampton
For 5-year-old girls, the tools of the lacrosse trade may seem to be a bit out of the ordinary. “Most of them have never seen the stick before,” Mariah Maxson said. As head coach of the Hampton Township Girls Lacrosse Club, she has the objective of teaching children as young...
Monroeville resident earns national, regional performing awards
First came a series of auditions for potential colleges. Then Kylie Edwards’ senior year at Gateway High School started, with major roles in a pair of theatrical productions on the horizon. As graduation approached, she turned in an award-winning performance in Pittsburgh. And after having earned her cap and gown,...
Scaling Seven Summits: CEO’s climbs raise money toward providing free hearing aids
Scaling North America’s tallest peak is difficult enough without temporarily losing a vital means of communication. “You’re on this rope, and you can’t talk to anybody because you have to be separated on the rope,” Julie Beall-McKelvey said. “In case one of you falls, you can’t be right next to...
Plum student goes for Girl Scout Gold
While they’re not quite like Olympic medals, Girl Scouts of the USA does have its Gold, Silver and Bronze awards. And Mackenzie Kmonk is about to wrap up the trifecta. Prior to entering 11th grade at Plum Senior High School, Mackenzie has spent part of her summer conducting a free...
Taxing situation: examining Hampton Township School District’s 2022-23 budget
The start of Hampton Township School District’s fiscal year means that tax bills have been mailed to local property owners. For the majority of them, what they owe this year is more than what they paid in 2021, primarily because of a 0.69-mill increase in the real estate tax rate...
Hot Wheels: Glass center’s demonstration van comes to Monroeville
The temperature rose to the neighborhood of 2,150 degrees Fahrenheit. “At least ideally, that’s where we want it,” Rob Warden said. “Once the glass goes below a thousand, it will break. So we call a thousand cold.” He and fellow artist Chris Ross arrived at Monroeville Public Library on July...
Vegan expo attracts healthy crowd to Monroeville Convention Center
Empty parking spots were difficult to find outside Monroeville Convention Center’s North Hall on the afternoon of July 16, demonstrating that what Amy Cotrill began in the 1990s has come a long way. The occasion was the Original Pittsburgh Vegan Expo and Festival, a multicultural showcase for plant-based food and...
