South Hills Record category, Page 6
Genevieve Cody, Thomas Jefferson swimmers collect medals during memorable postseason
Thomas Jefferson senior Genevieve Cody is a talented high school swimmer. And she’s a coach’s dream. “Genevieve is great,” TJ coach Steve Larkin said. “She works hard in the pool, in the weight room and in the classroom. She does everything she’s asked to do. She rests appropriately, eats appropriately,...
‘Heartbeat’ of Thomas Jefferson defense wins Breisinger Award for character, courage
He led the Thomas Jefferson football team in tackles for three years. Considering the magnitude of the Jaguars football program, it was a magnificent accomplishment. But TJ senior Matt Martinis received as much if not more satisfaction in landing the prestigious Breisinger Award following the 2024 season. Martinis, a 5-foot-10,...
South Hills real estate transactions for the week of March 23, 2025
Baldwin Borough Estate of David McManus sold property at 405 Bliss Drive to Rizal & Sons LLC for $200,000. Gary John Klapkowski sold property at 439 Blossom Drive to Benjamin Wenzel and Maranda Eichenberg for $275,000. Alexander Robinson sold property at 4841 E Willock Road to Dylan Grzeczka for $140,000....
South Hills nonprofit seeks to recycle, reuse old yard signs
Yard signs are great until they’re not needed anymore. And with most pegged to a particular date, their usefulness is often limited. And whether they’re to advertise an event, tout a political candidate or just draw attention to a personal cause, the same material that helps with weather resistance also...
WPIAL champion Peters Township fends off another challenge from Thomas Jefferson
When two top basketball teams collide, the margin of difference is often very slim. In the fourth meeting of the season between Peters Township and Thomas Jefferson, the game came down to the last four possessions. The Indians scored points on each of theirs while the Jaguars missed on good...
Baldwin-Whitehall will rename district offices to honor former superintendent
Baldwin-Whitehall school directors will rename the district’s administration building to honor longtime superintendent Charles H. Faust, who filled the role from 1986-2004. Current Superintendent Randal Lutz said Faust, a native of Ruffs Dale in Westmoreland County, was fully dedicated to his job at Baldwin-Whitehall, and even recalled seeing Faust sit...
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...
South Hills student achievements for the week of Feb. 25, 2025
Laekyn Flinn was named to the dean’s list at Frostburg State University for the fall 2024 semester. Jennifer Bakowski was among 350 students named to the Westminster College’s Dean’s List for the fall 2024 semester. Bakowski is majoring in music education and is a graduate of Westinghouse Arts Academy. Celia...
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...
In brief: House fire, fish fry and more in the South Hills
House fire A Jefferson Hills home was heavily damaged after an early morning house fire on Jan. 26. According to Pleasant Hills Volunteer Fire Company, the company was called to a home on Hunters Field Circle just before 3:30 a.m. Firefighters encountered flames in the back of the home. No...
Thomas Jefferson wrestlers find success at sectional tournament
Maddox Shaw, Bode Marlow and Shep Turk are three of a kind. All three seniors are WPIAL champions and standard-bearers of the Thomas Jefferson wrestling program. And they have the highest respect from their coach, Michael Ladick. “These guys have continued to set the bar higher for the program moving...
Thomas Jefferson gymnasts celebrate 3rd WPIAL team title
The girls on the Thomas Jefferson gymnastics team were all smiles, beaming perhaps, following the WPIAL championships held Feb. 13 at Moon. The Jaguars edged North Allegheny for the team title, winning by a 141.975-141.425 score. The final team standings were TJ, North Allegheny, Central Valley (140.425), Baldwin (139.35), Beaver...
South Hills Record notebook: Abby Rexrode again leads way for Baldwin gymnasts
The Baldwin gymnastics team was led once again in 2024-25 by the talented Abby Rexrode, a senior athlete and multiple-time WPIAL titlist. After winning the past three WPIAL all-around championships in the advanced division, Rexrode placed second at this year’s WPIAL finals with a 37.9-point total — three-tenths of a...
After capturing long-awaited section title, Baldwin boys fall in WPIAL 1st round
Athletic talent overshadowed by grit and determination carried the Baldwin boys basketball team to a banner 2024-25 regular season. Baldwin defeated South Hills rival Bethel Park, 64-55, on Feb. 4 to clinch the Highlanders’ first section title since 1986 — 39 years ago. “We set goals at the beginning of...
South Hills real estate transactions for the week of Feb. 23, 2024
Baldwin Borough Rebecca Gregory sold property at 562 Calvert Ave. to Joseph Washington and Ashleigh Mortimer for $220,000. Giulia Yarsky sold property at 22 Curry Hollow Road to Richard Lewis III and Theresa Marie Lewis for $189,500. Eileen Daquelente sold property at 5630 Koeffler Drive to Kyle Huwalt for $171,623....
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...
South Fayette shuts down upset hopes early in 5A quarterfinal win over Baldwin
A lot of young kids like to spend their vast amounts of energy at the park, running around, going down the slides and enjoying the monkey bars and jungle gyms. When South Fayette junior Ryan Oldaker was young, her playground was the gym at Mt. Lebanon High School. On Wednesday,...
Cool, collected Thomas Jefferson knocks off unbeaten Penn-Trafford in Class 5A quarters
A nine-point fourth quarter lead was gone. One of their star players fouled out in the closing minute of regulation. And their undefeated and higher-seeded opponent went on a sudden heater. Essentially, Thomas Jefferson’s check engine light came on as a lively WPIAL Class 5A girls basketball quarterfinal turned toward...
Chartiers Valley punishes Thomas Jefferson’s mistakes in Class 5A 1st-round win
Early in the first two quarters of their WPIAL Class 5A first-round boys basketball playoff game, No. 13 Thomas Jefferson was able to go toe to toe with No. 4 Chartiers Valley. However, lapses and mistakes at the end of those two quarters allowed the Colts to gallop free and...
Thomas Jefferson girls dominate Latrobe in WPIAL 1st round
The No. 6 Thomas Jefferson girls basketball team was doing everything right in the first half of its WPIAL Class 5A first-round contest. The Jaguars were shooting the ball well, passing with confidence and playing lockdown defense. But despite all those positives, they were up by only eight points, and...
Forward Township warehouse fire under investigation
A marina warehouse fire near the Monongahela River Bridge in Forward Township is under investigation. Fire crews were called to the area of Liggett Avenue and Edsel Lane just after 1 a.m. Friday morning, arriving to find a large one-story warehouse with fire coming from the roof. Gallatin Sunnyside VFD...
Bethel Park’s playoff hopes get brighter with win over Thomas Jefferson
The power went out on the Bethel Park gym scoreboard several times Friday night. Fortunately for the Black Hawks, the lights did not go out on their playoff hopes. Sophomore guard Will Sabatos tipped in a missed shot to break a tie in the final minute as Bethel Park held...
Police say man shoots another, then himself in Bethel Park
Police say they responded to a Bethel Park home Thursday after a man shot another man and then himself. Authorities did not immediately identify either man; both were reported to be in critical condition at unnamed area hospitals. The incident occurred in the 500 block of Chessbriar Drive, which is...
