Bethel Park Journal category
Bethel Park rallies to support women, girls in sports
National Girls and Women in Sports Day for 2026 was observed Feb. 4, promoting the accomplishments of female athletes and advocating for gender equality in sports. The observance took place a day earlier at Bethel Park High School, as the Bethel Park Girls Basketball Boosters held a grandiose event at...
Bethel Park notebook: Hall of Fame welcomes 5 new members
Five individuals were inducted recently into the Bethel Park High School Athletic Hall of Fame, representing the Class of 2025. Five sports were represented by the inductees: Tracy Pfister ’83 (swimming), Anthony Caruso ’08 (soccer), Nick Kwiatkoski ’11 (football), Levi Metheny ’16 (football/basketball) and Nino Bonaccorsi ’17 (wrestling). Former coaches...
Balanced offense carries Bethel Park hockey into PIHL playoffs
The Bethel Park hockey team is a PIHL playoff qualifier. “In the playoffs, the expectation is simple,” coach Mike Schall said. “Compete every shift and give ourselves a chance to win every night. Playoff hockey comes down to details, discipline and mindset. “If we stay true to our identity, manage...
Plenty of highlights in Bethel Park girls basketball season
Bethel Park and Baldwin clashed in a girls section basketball game Feb. 3 as the feature attraction of Bethel Park’s Women and Girls in Sports celebration. Although the Black Hawks lost to the visitors, Bethel Park coach Steve Norman was impressed by the “Sports Night” activities and talked about it...
Paintings unveiled in Bethel Park to celebrate 250th anniversary of U.S.
Besides their status as Pittsburgh icons, industrialist Andrew Carnegie, playwright August Wilson and everyone’s favorite neighbor, Fred Rogers, have something else in common. They’re among the people who appear in Brentwood artist Linda Barnicott’s “Our Lady of Liberty,” one of four paintings unveiled Feb. 7 in Bethel Park to help...
‘Here to serve’: South Hills Interfaith Movement offers food lockers in Bethel Park
Getting from Point A to Point B can be a daunting task, especially when attempting a race against the clock. As such, South Hills Interfaith Movement fields some anxiety-ridden calls before its scheduled closing time. “People would say, ‘I got off work at 5, but it takes a while. I’m...
Making the grade: School districts vary when configuring grade levels in buildings
A realignment of grade levels in Burrell School District buildings has offered more opportunities for students this school year. Students had more clubs, career exploratory classes and leadership prospects because of a district realignment that followed the closure of Stewart Elementary in August 2025. Effective this school year, Bon Air...
Bethel Park musician shows songwriting skills on debut release
Plenty of musicians do a fine job of entertaining audiences with takes on familiar songs. Then there are those who have the confidence to play their own compositions. Bethel Park resident Vince Russo — he goes professionally by Augustine, the middle name handed down to him by his father and...
In brief: Senior softball registration open, indoor farmers market and more in Bethel Park
Senior softball league seeks new players Registration is open for the South Hills Senior Softball League, which organizes games for players 55 and older. Interested people can get information on how to register by emailing SHSSLeague@yahoo.com. Registration forms should be turned in by March 30. The league, formed more than...
Bethel Park student achievements for the week of Jan. 27, 2026
Katelyn Ganter made the dean’s list at Duquesne University for the fall 2025 semester. ^ Dillon Brunner, Jackson Friday, Cheyenne Burgos, Ava Milletary and Emma Redlinger made the dean’s list at Westminster College for the fall 2025 semester. ^ Victorine Nyerere has been named to Southern New Hampshire University’s fall...
Bethel Park real estate transactions for the week of Jan. 25, 2026
Katey McGinty sold property at 573 Clifton Road to Mary Jo Rogoff for $325,000. Estate of Walter Mikrut Jr. sold property at 731 Clifton Road to John and Eleni Manganas for $280,000. Jason Farmerie sold property at 1008 Brookfield Drive to Brian Schwab and Aleksandra Klimas for $549,900. Richard Kozar...
Bethel Park notebook: Wrestler captures county championship
Bethel Park’s Ian Bucheli turned in a championship performance Jan. 17 at the Allegheny County wrestling tournament at Fox Chapel. Bucheli, a junior, captured first place in the 145-pound weight class by securing a 9-0 major decision against Fox Chapel senior Adam Haines in the championship round. Bucheli improved to...
Bethel Park’s Xavier Jackson relishes chance to cap high school career at all-star game
Bethel Park senior Xavier Jackson fulfilled another goal. A four-year starter for the Black Hawks, Jackson ended high school career on the pitch with an appearance in the Western Pennsylvania Soccer Coaches Association all-star games Dec. 6 at Pine-Richland. “I’m very thankful to have been chosen,” Jackson said. “I’ve always...
Bethel Park’s Charlie Simmons honored for work on, off the field
Bethel Park senior Charlie Simmons joined 10 other area football players as a Jerome Bettis Leadership Award recipient. Designated for athletes “who go above and beyond to provide mentor-like support for their teammates,” this year’s award winners are Simmons, South Fayette’s Connor Hiser, Greensburg Salem’s Max Topper, Aliquippa’s Marques Council...
Youngsters learn while helping others at MLK Day event in Bethel Park
Although they had the day off from school, youngsters who participated in South Hills Interfaith Movement’s Martin Luther King Jr. Day Family Volunteer Event received an education. “I’m trying to teach the kids how to be good citizens and good neighbors, and to find something you care about that you...
Bethel Park School Board reorganizes
The cohesiveness of the Bethel Park School Board is what will create success amid the new reorganization, according to Buffie Faes, who has served on the board for four years. “Ninety-eight percent (of the time) we all vote together,” Faes said. “It makes us strong and that trickles down to...
Paczki are back at Western Pennsylvania bakeries
Paczki season kicked off Jan. 6 at Oakmont Bakery where customers were at-the-ready to get their hands on the fried polish pastry known for sweet fruit or cream fillings inside a crispy dough. Similar to a doughnut, but richer, bigger and filled with a hearty helping of fruit or cream,...
In brief: Holiday concert, Rotary scholarship and more around Bethel Park
Holiday concert Community Band South, Bethel Park High School Top 21 and the Handbell Ringers of Southminster Presbyterian will perform from 2:30-4 p.m. Dec. 7 for the Dean Streator Holiday Concert. Attendees are asked to come early as parking is limited at the Bethel Park Community Center. This is a...
Bethel Park student achievements for the week of Dec. 9, 2025
When Bethel Park High School graduate Elsie Eason transferred into Slippery Rock University, she knew that she wanted to teach. A nursing major at her previous school, Eason had a close friend at SRU who pushed for her to come to The Rock to study education. “I wanted to become...
Ruthfred Acres Woman’s Club crafters make blankets for foster children
Members of the Ruthfred Acres Woman’s Club have once again demonstrated the power of community and compassion. This year, the club’s dedicated crafters joined forces to create 60 cozy blankets, each lovingly made for children in foster care. The project came together when club members, under the direction of member...
Bethel Park real estate transactions for the week of Dec. 7, 2025
Donna Lynn Accetta sold property at 605 Arkwood Drive to James and Karen Ann Melnik for $188,000. Jens Hebestreit sold property at 2311 Casswell Drive to Matthew King and Corrine Hebestreit for $350,000. Jodi Beurbrouck sold property at 1343 Centerman Ave. to James William Yauger and Stephanie Hook for $362,000....
Bethel Park constructing band shell in Millennium Park
Music enthusiasts are in for a treat at Bethel Park’s Millennium Park, where a band shell is set to be constructed. State officials notified the municipality of a $153,000 grant award toward the construction of a band shell, with the money coming from the Allegheny Gaming Economic Development Tourism Fund....
Identification of WWII airman Sidney Burke’s remains was ‘82 years in the making,’ nephew says
For almost all of Paul Hankin’s life, the circumstances surrounding the death of his uncle, Sidney Burke, who was killed while serving in World War II, were a mystery. “We thought we would never find out what had happened,” said Hankin, 83, of Bethel Park. “I had his picture hanging...
In brief: Tree lighting, holiday concert and more in Bethel Park
Tree lighting and holiday market Join us for Bethel Park’s annual Tree Lighting celebration, featuring visits with Santa, a whimsical gingerbread neighborhood, holiday activities and our final indoor market of the season for all your seasonal shopping needs! It’s all happening from 3-7 p.m. Dec. 6 at the Bethel Park...
Bethel Park real estate transactions for the week of Nov. 23, 2025
Yu Min Liu sold property at 4484 First St. to BCH Property Group LLC for $270,000. William Ruhl sold property at 2678 Bethel Crest Drive to Michael Matiyasic for $212,000. William Klein sold property at 1227 Clifton Road to EW Investment Group LLC for $45,000. Estate of Norman Mahfood sold...
