Bethel Park Journal category, Page 17
Morning roundup: Bethel Park man, 71, dies in motorcycle crash
Here are some of the latest news items from this morning, Friday, July 14: Motorcyclist from Bethel Park dies in Washington County crash A Bethel Park man died Thursday afternoon after a crash on Interstate 70 in in South Strabane, Washington County, according to state police. State police said Fred...
Playground equipment returns to Lions Park in Bethel Park
Playgrounds have come a long way since the days of bolting together iron bars and sheet metal atop a sea of asphalt. “There are federal and state guidelines on what you have to do with playground equipment. It’s pretty extensive,” Bethel Park council member John Oakes said. “There’s even a...
In brief: Bethel Park area happenings, week of June 26, 2023
Ruthfred Acres Woman’s Club The Ruthfred Acres Woman’s Club met at St. Clair Country Club in May for their annual spring luncheon to honor Joanne Koller, club president. She took the opportunity to present the club’s donation of $2,105 to Bethel-St.Clair Meals on Wheels manger Dorothy Vandruff. Officers for 2023-24...
Bethel Park real estate transactions, week of June 25, 2023
Bethel Park Betta Lee Heilman sold property at 592 Galway Drive to James and Terry Dixon for $175,000. Curtis Dunn sold property at 5212 Lark St. to Luis Angel Alcaraz Tapia for $125,000. Rohlyn Invests LLC sold property at 5393 Main St. to Delia Echo Ramseyer for $145,000. Calvin Hodder...
Bethel Park baseball faces adversity, comes through with solid season
It didn’t end with a state championship celebration like the previous two seasons did, but Bethel Park’s baseball team was able to boast of a strong 2023. The Black Hawks soared to first place in Section 2-5A with a 9-1 record, won 13 of 14 games prior to the WPIAL...
Bethel Park School District budget calls for tax increase
Bethel School Board is scheduled to vote June 27 on adopting the district’s final budget for 2023-24. Property owners can expect a new real estate tax rate of 24.5526 mills, or 4.8% over the current fiscal year, according to the proposed budget made available for public review. The amount represents...
Steelers sign LB Nick Kwiatkoski of WVU, Bethel Park; release WR Anthony Miller
It took a lengthy detour, but Nick Kwiatkoski is poised to pull off a local football trifecta. The Pittsburgh Steelers announced the signing of Kwiatkoski on Tuesday, five days after he completed a three-day tryout during minicamp. An eight-year veteran inside linebacker who previously played for the Chicago Bears, Las...
Bethel Park official named state’s Outstanding Council Member
Bethel Park Councilman Mark O’Brien has been named Outstanding Council Member of the Year by the Pennsylvania Borough Councils Association. “I am deeply appreciative and humbled by this award.” O’Brien said. “I see it as an honor not just for myself, but for all the individuals who have supported and...
Always B Smiling lives up to name: Nonprofit hosts programs in Peters for young people with disabilities
Most youngsters spend nine or so months waiting, patiently or otherwise, to hear the proclamation: “School’s out.” Heck, a song with that title remains popular even though it’s been around for more than 50 years now. But Destiny Otricelli of Bridgeville, a student at Pathfinder School in Bethel Park, is...
Service dog fundraiser in Peters exceeds goal
Numerous military veterans who are paired with service dogs can attest to their overwhelmingly positive effect on quality of life. Thanks to the success of what has become an annual event, three more vets will be joined by canine friends. A fundraiser held June 3 at Veterans of Foreign Wars...
Fitness studio with ‘after-50’ focus opens in Bethel Park
For folks in the stage of life where they start dreading the next birthday, Jason Zawodniak offers encouraging words. “We don’t believe that 50 is old, or 60, or even 70,” he said. “With the right programming, it doesn’t have to be.” In May, Zawodniak and his wife, Rachel, opened...
Municipality eyes taking over school properties in Bethel Park
With Bethel Park School District planning to close its elementary buildings by 2026, the municipality seeks ownership of two of the properties. The impetus is to preserve the land at Benjamin Franklin and George Washington schools for recreational purposes and green space, according to Tim Moury, municipal council president. “We...
Bethel Park graduates 352 students in Class of 2023
Bethel Park High School held its 114th annual commencement at Black Hawk Stadium June 8, on an unseasonably cool summer night that featured a brief shower beforehand and a poor-air-quality alert throughout the week, the result of wildfires in Canada. Those proved to be little more than minor distractions for...
Bethel Park, WVU alum Nick Kwiatkoski with Steelers on tryout
He went to high school about 10 miles down Route 19 from Pittsburgh and played in college another 80-minute drive or so to the south. But it took until just days after his 30th birthday for Nick Kwiatkoski to suit up for the Pittsburgh Steelers. Kwiatkoski, a veteran linebacker of...
Bethel Park student’s work ethic pays off with musical opportunities
Forgoing the typical student’s summer vacation is par for singer Clara McGough’s course. “She practices all the time,” her mother, Julie, attested. “She doesn’t have a lunch at school. Instead, she takes a study hall, which is her practice period.” With the conclusion of Bethel Park High School’s academic year,...
Venezuelan star leads Shaler to dominant win over Bethel Park in WPIAL Class 5A finals
Miguel Hugas sparked a championship celebration in Shaler Township, but the star senior was sure he’d hear from some happy baseball fans in Venezuela too. Hugas struck out eight in a dominant complete game, and top-seeded Shaler provided him more than enough run support to defeat No. 2 Bethel Park,...
2023 WPIAL Class 5A baseball championship preview: Shaler vs. Bethel Park
WPIAL Class 5A baseball championship 1-Shaler (18-4) vs. 2-Bethel Park (17-4) 7 p.m. Tuesday at Wild Things Park On the air: Trib HSSN (video) How they got here: Shaler had a first-round bye and beat No. 8 Fox Chapel, 11-1, in the quarterfinals and No. 4 Plum in the semifinals,...
Trib HSSN baseball player of the week for May 28, 2023Video
As a sophomore pitcher, Evan Holewinski started a WPIAL quarterfinal game as well as a PIAA first-round and semifinal playoff games. He allowed a total of three runs in his three starts, all Bethel Park victories. Last season, the Kent State recruit pitched a shutout in the district consolation game,...
Bethel Park police lieutenant charged in illegal immigrant transport case
A Bethel Park police lieutenant was taken into federal custody Thursday afternoon after authorities said he transported an illegal immigrant. FBI spokesperson Catherine Coennen confirmed that Lt. Blake Thomas Babin, 59, of Bethel Park, is in custody. He is facing a felony charge of transporting an illegal immigrant, according to...
In brief: graduation, Memorial Day events, week of May 22, 2023
Class of 2023 graduation The Bethel Park High School Class of 2023 graduation will be held 7 p.m. June 8 at Black Hawk Stadium. Everyone is invited to attend. Priority entry is available to family members of graduates from 5:30 to 6 p.m. General admission entry starts at 6:15. Blocked-off...
Bethel Park real estate transactions, week of May 21, 2023
Bethel Park Cheryl McCracken sold property at 1311 Buckskin Trl to Matthew Michael Mandic and Patricia Lynn Murphy for $225,000. Estate of Mark Dubich Jr. sold property at 5475 Glen Hill Drive to Nathan and Jean Zarah Ward for $250,000. Edward Maziara sold property at 1072 Grandview Farms Drive to...
Jenna Lang ‘a great motivator’ for Bethel Park track and field team
Bethel Park junior Jenna Lang has had her thought process firmly entrenched on her running abilities. Lang is a three-year letter winner in cross country, indoor track and outdoor track, and was named a captain on the girls outdoor track team in 2022 and ‘23. “For her career, Jenna is...
Eagle Scouts honored in Bethel Park
Matthew Ruffing, Steven Champlin, Jason Turske and David Lindsey, members of Boy Scout Troop 215, were honored for achieving the rank of Eagle Scout. The recognition took place during a Court of Honor ceremony held April 23 at Bethel Presbyterian Church in Bethel Park. To attain the highest rank in...
Rain or shine, Tuesday is farm market day in Bethel Park
The Bethel Park Farmers’ Market is supposed to take place rain or shine. For the 2023 season, opening day provided the precipitation. And the following Tuesday supplied the sun. “Today more than makes up for last week,” market manager Lindsey Sibert said amid ideal conditions on May 9. “We’re hoping...
Bethel Park School Board primary results
Two candidates have the opportunity to unseat Bethel Park School Board incumbents in November. Liz Avon (2,498 votes) and Danielle Gosnell (2,476) earned ballot spots in the general election with the top totals among Democrats in the May 16 primary, according to unofficial Allegheny County results. Others on the Democratic...
