Bethel Park Journal category
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...
Bethel Park residents help collect 3,000 pounds of food for nonprofits
With what turned out to be a record-setting shutdown of the federal government delaying Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits for millions of Americans, Bethel Park resident Tyann Neal decided to practice what she preaches. “I was looking at social media one day, and people were posting so many negative things....
Bethel Park residents to see small tax increase in 2026
Municipal taxes are rising in Bethel Park. Accompanying the 2026 budget, as adopted by council on Nov. 10, is a .6-mill increase in the real estate tax rate, from 3.19 to 3.79 mills. Including the .34 mills dedicated to fire protection, the total for next year is 4.13 mills. The...
Bethel Park’s William Penn ranks 9th among Pa. elementary schools
Bethel Park’s William Penn Elementary School is going out in style. A U.S. News World Report ranking of the best public elementary schools in Pennsylvania has Penn coming in at No. 9. Researchers with the media company compiled data from the U.S. Department of Education focusing on state assessments of...
3 incumbents retain Bethel Park School Board seats
Three incumbents won reelection to Bethel Park School Board, according to unofficial Allegheny County election results. Retaining their seats on Nov. 4 were Democrats Sharon Janosik (7,439 votes) and Buffie Faes (6,904), along with Christina Headley (7,538), who ran as a Republican and Democrat after winning both parties’ nominations in...
Bethel Park mayor reelected, 3 new members voted onto council
Bethel Park’s longtime mayor won reelection Nov. 4, according to unofficial Allegheny County results. Republican Jack Allen garnered 6,926 votes, representing just under 52% of the total cast, in defeating Democrat challenger Jon Lloyd (6,383 votes). Allen was first elected mayor in 2013 after serving on Bethel Park Council since...
Bethel Park pulls away from North Hills in Class 5A 1st round, sets up Peters Township rematch
Bethel Park combined a stout defense with timely offense Friday night, defeating North Hills, 38-7, in the first round of the WPIAL Class 5A playoffs. It was a slow start for the Black Hawks, who found themselves tied 7-7 in the final minutes of the second quarter. That’s when, despite...
