Rotarians bring new welcome signs to Verona

Verona is getting a minor facelift on both of its entrances that should make the borough more enticing to visitors, as the Oakmont-Verona Rotary Club is replacing two aged welcome sides with new ones that represent a significant upgrade.

“When I come in toward Verona, the entrance really needed some improvement,” club member and project organizer Jeff Pepper said. “The other signs are old and chipped.”

According to an online fundraiser for the project, the signs do not conform to current Pennsylvania Department of Transportation regulations and likely will need to be removed within the next few years.

The project has been in the works for about 10 months, garnering full support from Verona Council, while Pepper did a rough draft of the sign design, which then was put together in full by Precision Sign and Awning in Carnegie.

The order was placed this week for two signs, one each on Allegheny River Boulevard at both ends of the borough, and there should be an approximately 12- to 16-week turnaround before the signs are ready for placement.

Funding for the signs was provided by multiple avenues, including a $3,600 donation from the Verona Rotary Foundation, $2,000 from the Verona Chamber of Commerce and $2,000 from Earth Volunteer Fund, along with numerous individual donations.

“The new signs will be made of 1/8-inch-thick aluminum plate, with raised borders and lettering made of routed aluminum,” Pepper said. “Each sign will be mounted on 6-by-6-inch painted wooden posts that are pre-drilled to break away, in conformance with current PennDOT safety regulations. These signs should last for decades without the need for maintenance. The entire sign plan has been reviewed and approved by PennDOT.”

A third sign is being proposed on Wildwood Avenue near Acclimation Brewing, but at this point, the Rotary still is raising money to support that project.

To help the cause, bingo events are scheduled from 7 to 9 p.m. each Friday in March at the Verona Eagles Club, 315 James St. Coordinated by Karyn Brooks, club president, the evenings feature a 50/50 drawing, lottery tree and raffle bags featuring items from a wide array of donors, including the Pittsburgh Penguins and Pirates, Highlands Tire, Pittsburgh Indoor Sports Arena, Verona council member Rhoda Worf, various local businesses, and Peppper through his Verona Pickleball organization.

According to Brooks, Pepper exemplifies the Rotary International motto of “service above self.”

“Jeff cares about his local community,” Brooks said, “and he had the environmental knowledge we were missing to successfully complete this project.”

Borough council member Trish Hredzak-Showalter also contributed heavily to organizing the project.

“The new signs will hopefully be one of many efforts in the coming years to continue work revitalizing and providing a fresh look for our borough, and will draw more residents and visitors to our expanding business community,” she said. “I am so grateful for the motivated Rotary Club members Jeff and Karyn, their generous support of time and money, along with the generous support of Rotary International.”

She also acknowledged support from the Verona Chamber of Commerce, especailly and of course the generous board members Mike Vento and Kevin Ewing, current chamber president.

Residents who wish to help out with funding the project can assist by attending the Friday fundraisers, contacting the Rotary club at rotaryoakmontverona@gmail.com or contributing to the project’s GoFundMe page at www.gofundme.com/f/verona-welcome-signs .