Harry Funk stories, Page 3
Baldwin High School dedicates softball field in honor of late coach
A full house at a school board meeting often doesn’t bode well for the folks up front. But to the relief of Baldwin-Whitehall board member Pete Giglione and his colleagues, the residents who packed the place in December 2023 came bearing positives. “When I reviewed the phone-book-sized packet of letters...
Cali Cats Rescue opens Bethel Park location
With regard to fulfilling its mission, Cali Cats Rescue is off to a good start at the nonprofit’s new Bethel Park location. A friendly feline named Lollipop made such a good impression on Benjamin Franklin Elementary School student Mason Stratthaus and his mom, Krystal, that they decided to pursue adoption....
Get to know Bethel Park’s primary election candidates
Editor’s note: Bethel Park Journal is only profiling candidates in contested municipal and school board primary elections. Bethel Park School Board Seven hopefuls are in the race for Bethel Park School Board and all are cross-filed on the ballot: incumbents Buffie Faes, Christina Headley, Sharon Janosik are challenged by the...
Baldwin pool remains closed for 2nd year
Baldwin Borough’s municipal pool will be closed again for 2025. Improvements to the half-century-old aquatic facility were planned for last year. But on two occasions in 2024, bids for the project came in at roughly double the amount budgeted, according to information provided by borough manager Robert Firek. Construction was...
Baldwin-Whitehall proposes bus-driving program for students
For the wheels on the bus to go ’round and ’round, someone needs to start the engine and steer. To the misfortune of school districts across the country, people willing to step up to the task are becoming fewer and further between, causing superintendents — including Baldwin-Whitehall’s Randal Lutz —...
Brentwood, Murrysville residents represent Pa. Women Work on national TVVideo
Say you receive an email from someone claiming to be a producer for an Emmy Award-winning TV program. Your thoughts may be along the same lines as the folks at Pennsylvania Women Work. “Our first reaction was thinking this was spam,” Kristin Ioannou, the nonprofit’s executive director, said about an...
Whitehall’s improved Overlook Park ready for visitors
Once it was, to quote Whitehall’s Neighborhood Parks Master Plan, the “worst-looking park” in the borough. Following a facelift that saw Overlook Park closed for most of 2024, Borough Manager Courtney Wertz can provide this description: “It turned out beautifully.” With new playground equipment stationed atop the safety of a...
K9 for a Day: Bethel Park honors rescue dog seeking adoption
Perhaps the most popular member of a law-enforcement department is the resident police dog. In Bethel Park, an affable pooch named Leo had the opportunity to bask in esteem as an honorary K9 for a Day, complete with his own silver badge. Following his swearing-in at the municipal building by...
Brentwood-based refugee group celebrates International Women’s Day
When it comes to longevity, consider that International Women’s Day has taken place each March 8 for more than a century, dating back to before the 19th Amendment to the Constitution gave American women the right to vote. Celebrating the day is a longtime staple of the Brentwood-based Bhutanese Community...
Inaugural Whitehall Sustainability Fair carries on committee’s mission
The concept of resource conservation isn’t exactly new. Anne Downes, for example, was among a generation of Americans who were pretty much obligated to take a pragmatic approach to life nearly a century ago. “She raised five girls in the Depression, and made all her own bread and made the...
Whitehall historian provides Underground Railroad perspective
In greeting members of a full-house audience, David Thomas set the scene for the evening’s topic, the Underground Railroad in Pennsylvania. “Think of your journey here tonight. It’s a little drizzly, a little dark out there,” Thomas, president of the Whitehall Borough Historical Society, said. “Now think of what it...
Dads, daughters enjoy Ties and Tiaras in Bethel Park
As Bethel Park’s assistant recreation director, Lindsey Sibert spends quite a bit of time planning and organizing community activities. Ties and Tiaras is among her favorites. “It’s one of those events where everybody has a good time,” she said. “These little girls are just so excited to be here, and...
Jefferson Hills resident prepares for intense swim-bike-run competition
When she has the will, Ebtehal Badawi makes her way. As an artist with a strong desire to promote acceptance and understanding, the Jefferson Hills resident launched an initiative called Pittsburgh Builds Bridges, based around her painting of an arched span adorned with clenched hands of various colors and religious...
Event benefits Mon River Arts’ inclusive Penguin Project
Plenty of people enjoy time in the limelight. The Penguin Project gives young entertainers an opportunity, no matter what their perceived limitations. A national initiative hosted locally by Mon River Arts, the Penguin Project pairs individuals ages 10 to 21 who have developmental disabilities with peer mentors. “We have participants...
Fans get ‘Shrek’ sneak peek at Thomas Jefferson
Anyone who’s seen theatrical productions involving the “Shrek” universe knows to expect quite the array of costumery, from the malevolent Lord Farquaad to the grumpy but lovable titular ogre. In advance of Thomas Jefferson High School’s March 13-16 production of “Shrek the Musical,” fans of the franchise had the opportunity...
Bethel Park student qualifies for Special Olympics USA Games
Forget Disney World — Molly Mathias is going to Minnesota. She was in for the surprise of her life when she and other members of Bethel Park’s unified indoor bocce team took a trip to Pittsburgh’s Southside Works on the morning of Jan. 28. That’s when the Bethel Park senior...
Bethel Park chili competition nets $6,000 for nonprofits
A fine way to fend off winter’s chill is a bowl of chili. Or, as was the case at Bethel Park’s inaugural Battle of the Bowls Chili Cook Off, sampling small paper cups’ worth of cooks’ creations. And while guests of the Feb. 1 event at the Bethel Park Community...
412 Gives Back Gala at Fox Chapel Golf Club raises $165,000 for Make-A-Wish
Given that the event sold out within five hours of tickets going on sale, meeting a fundraising goal of $100,000 pretty much was a foregone conclusion. By the time everything was accounted for, proceeds from the second annual 412 Gives Back Gala totaled $165,000. The money benefits Make-A-Wish Greater Pennsylvania...
