Fire truck rides, fireworks add to annual Community Day excitement in Shaler

Every year for Community Day, members of Shaler’s fire departments gather in Kiwanis Park and give free fire truck rides to those in attendance.

The 2025 gathering was even more special because the township is celebrating its 125th anniversary with events all year long.

Representatives from the Shaler Villa, Elfinwild and Undercliff volunteer fire companies, as well as the Reserve Township Fire Department, were among those who set up for the July 4 blowout.

Tracey Haegerle, a business member at Undercliff, and Carly Fondrk, one of the station’s firefighters, checked in people for the rides.

“We do this every year as a way to give back to the community and show the kids what it’s like to ride in the fire trucks,” Haegerle said.

Two-year-old Lillian Schmidt of Hampton was taking her first ride on a fire truck.

“We heard about this at the Shaler library so we thought it would be fun. She loves all kinds of dump trucks and fire trucks,” said her mother, Elaine.

Some kids might be turned off by the loud sirens, but not Lillian.

“She’s not one bit scared,” said Elaine as they entered the back of the fire engine.

In addition to the fire truck rides, residents were enjoying food vendors, free face painting and a day at the pool.

Games Faces, the company that does all the fan face painting at the Steelers and Penguins games, was present.

“We came here today to do our airbrushing designs supporting all the local Pittsburgh sports teams,” said Joe Risher of Beaver Falls, who owns the company with his wife, Sue.

For the Rishers, it’s a family business. Their son, Christopher Risher, also of Beaver Falls, was helping his father at the Fourth of July celebration, but his full-time job is serving his country as a staff sergeant and heavy equipment mechanic in the Air Force.

“It’s nice to have him helping. He’s been doing this since he was about 12 years old, but his day job is more important,” Joe Risher said.

The Rishers said the style of airbrushing and stenciling they use is a great fit for large functions because they can knock out designs in about a minute whereas traditional face painting can take up to 10 minutes or longer.

“With us, the kids can come get their face painted and be on their way. They don’t have to wait in a long line and miss out on other fun stuff,” Joe Risher said.

Later in the evening was live music from Uptown Rhythm & Brass. The well-known local cover band includes members as close as Shaler and as far away as Bethel Park.

“We’ve been together for about 25 years,” said the band’s founder, Ron LoVerde of Mt. Lebanon.

Steve Groves of Etna plays the trumpet and provides vocals. Rob Arnold of Shaler plays the keyboard.

“We are a cover band. We play classic rock, funk and blues. You could hear us play anything from Chicago to Bruno Mars,” LoVerde said.

The band started out in LoVerde’s basement.

“Well, we did start out rehearsing in the downstairs of my old house. We’ve moved up to the main floor now,” LoVerde joked.

Uptown Rhythm & Brass played a full two-hour set for Shaler residents, only stopping for a brief military recognition service.

The evening finished with fireworks.