the almanac J A N U A RY 5, 2025
SOUTH HILLS COMMUNITY NEWS
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Death likely a ‘tragic accident’ Woman dies after struck by vehicle while crossing Route 19 in Peters Township By Mike Jones Staff writer
mjones@observer-reporter.com
SUBMITTED PHOTO
GIVING BACK Fort Couch Reach Out exceeds $36,000 Fort Couch Middle School students hold up numbered cards indicating the amount raised during a recent Reach Out campaign.
Fort Couch Middle School students raised $36,499.54 through the school’s annual Reach Out campaign that spanned Dec. 2 through 20. The total was announced during a schoolwide assembly before the holiday break. The Fort Couch Student Council and its sponsors, Rebecca Maley and Alexandra Neely led the effort, with support from the school’s administration, teachers and PTSO. All six teams of seventh- and eighth-graders raced to collect the most donations. For the first time, two teams tied for the highest contributions. For the last 30 years, Fort Couch Middle School students have supported local and international causes through the school’s annual Reach Out campaign. “Reach Out is a longstanding Fort Couch tradition dating back to 1994 to encourage students to give back during the holiday season,” Principal Erin Stehle said. In 1994, the students raised $600 to donate to the Upper St. Clair Police Department to give gift cards for families. Since then, the campaign has grown to over $20,000 annually. Throughout the month of December, students collect donations by reaching out to friends, family, and
“WHETHER IT WAS WALKING DOOR-TO-DOOR IN THE SNOW, SELLING HOT CHOCOLATE IN NEIGHBORHOODS WITH FRIENDS, OR MAKING INTRICATE GOODIES FOR SALE, OUR STUDENTS UNDERSTOOD THE MISSION OF SERVICE.” ALEXANDRA NEELY, SPONSOR OF FORT COUCH STUDENT COUNCIL neighbors and by offering their services to the community. “Our seventh- and eighth-graders have done countless endeavors in order to fundraise on behalf of these organizations,” Neely said. “Whether it was walking door-todoor in the snow, selling hot chocolate in neighborhoods with friends, or making intricate goodies for sale, our students understood the mission of service.” The students committed to raising funds on behalf of four causes – Sam Strong, Bike MS, Yahve-Jire Children’s Foundation, and Giant Eagle Gift Cards with the Upper St. Clair Township Police Department. “They recognized that their determination and efforts were imperative in order to ensure that these organizations received their needed donations,” Neely said. “We are beyond proud of their selflessness during this time of year.”
The money raised was divided as wheelchairs, medicine, and living among the following organizations: adaptations. Funds also support rePrimary Cause for 2024: search.
Yahve-Jire The Sam Strong GoFundMe bene- Children’s Foundation
Sam Strong
fits Sam Levine and the Levine family in the battle against DIPG, an invasive childhood cancer that forms in the brain stem. It is extremely rare, inoperable, and difficult to treat. Funds raised will support the family as Sam participates in clinical trials and treatments.
Bike MS
Bike MS is a series of fundraising events for Multiple Sclerosis research that involves thousands of people cycling hundreds of miles around the country. The local Fort Couch team trains year-round to cycle over 150 miles from north of Pittsburgh to Lake Erie in two days for Bike MS. Money is used locally to help people with MS with practical needs such
The Yahve-Jire Children’s Foundation began when a group from Pittsburgh sent money to Haiti to fund relief efforts after the Haitian earthquake in 2010. The YJCF now runs an orphanage and school in Haiti where children are some of the poorest in the world.
Giant Eagle Gift Cards with Upper St. Clair Township Police Department
Each year, Fort Couch donates $5,000 in Giant Eagle gift cards to the township police department. Officers hand-deliver these gift cards to families in the Upper St. Clair community who would benefit from extra help during the holiday season.
A pedestrian died Christmas night after she was struck by a vehicle while trying to cross Route 19 in Peters Township. Peters Township police said the 79-year-old woman was crossing the road with her daughter shortly after 7:30 p.m. when she was struck by a northbound vehicle in the 2800 block of Washington Road near Pizzaz Italian Restaurant and Simmons Farm Market. The mother suffered major injuries, while her 43-yearold daughter was not struck by the vehicle, police said. Peters Township medics and firefighters attempted to resuscitate the woman, and she was eventually taken by ambulance to St. Clair Hospital in Mt. Lebanon, where she died of her injuries, police said. The Allegheny County Medical Examiner’s office contacted Washington County authorities to notify investigators the woman had died, but they have not publicly identified her as of Jan. 30. Police also did not identify the woman. The motorist who struck the woman pulled into a nearby gas station and waited for police officers to arrive. Police did not identify the driver, but said the 73-year-old man was not impaired, and officers eventually released him from the scene. The occupants of another vehicle witnessed the crash and attempted to help the woman before first responders arrived. Peters Township police are continuing to investigate the crash. “The preliminary investigation appears to show that this is a tragic accident and at this time, no fault has been determined,” police wrote in a news release.
Symbol of generosity was wrapped in a $1 bucket, but he said that the Salvation Army $2,700, bill with a note tucked inside. money from the coin is a huge was dumbfounded,” said help for the organization’s volunteers find Lt.“ITom Perez of the Salvation fundraising efforts this year. Army in Washington. “My The Washington Salvation rare gold coin wife and I weren’t going to Army exceeded its $60,000 count the buckets that night; goal, raising more than in red bucket we thought we’d come in $71,750, not counting online
By Karen Mansfield Staff writer
kmansfield@observer-reporter.com
It’s a familiar sight and sound during the Christmas season – volunteers ringing bells as passersby drop bills and coins into red kettles as part of the Salvation Army’s annual campaign. But on Christmas Eve, a surprise was left in a donation bucket at Giant Eagle in Washington: An anonymous donor dropped a rare gold coin into the kettle. The coin, a Queen Elizabeth II coin valued at more than
Friday and count, but I said, ‘Let’s do it, let’s get a couple volunteers and get it done.’” Perez pulled out a dollar bill with tape around it. Inside were the coin and a note. “Initially, I thought it was a fake coin,” said Perez. It was not. Perez had the coin appraised, and it turned out to be the real deal. This year marks the fourth consecutive year a mystery donor has placed a rare coin in a red kettle. Perez doesn’t know who dropped the coin inside the
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donations. In recent years, secret Santas have been leaving rare gold coins in kettles across the country. Perez is grateful for the anonymous donor’s generosity. “It was a remarkable gesture that not only symbolizes generosity, but also played a part in helping us exceed our fundraising goal for the year,” said Perez. “There is such a severe need in this community, COURTESY OF SALVATION ARMY and all of the donations, including the coin, enable us to An anonymous donor dropped a rare coin valued at more than $2,700 into a Salvation be a blessing to people here.” Army red kettle at Washington Giant Eagle on Christmas Eve.
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