the almanac J U LY 7, 2024
SOUTH HILLS COMMUNITY NEWS
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Cheap eats
Money-saving ways to cut food costs By Karen Mansfield Staff writer
kmansfield@observer-reporter.com
Judy Caves, right, completed a 4.5-mile open water swim on June 29 with four of her friends from the Mt. Lebanon Aqua Club’s masters program. The group raised money for pancreatic cancer research. From left are: Dave Watterson, Jennifer Petyk, Justin Dutta, Jess Monning and Caves.
Making Waves
Mt. Lebo woman swims the Mon for pancreatic cancer By Eleanor Bailey
The Almanac sports editor ebailey@thealmanac.net
The “PanCan” open water swim was short in comparison to other marathons Judy Caves has completed, but it may have been the most significant. The 63-year-old Mt. Lebanon woman swam 4.5 miles in the Monongahela River as part of the Making Waves for Pancreatic Cancer Research fundraiser. The disease took her mother’s life. Doris Bodine passed away on April 6, 2005, on the eve of her daughter’s 45th birthday, at the age of 80. Bodine and her husband, Gerald, had four offspring who gave her nine grandchildren and one great-grandchild. Caves was with her mother through the two years she spent in hospice until she took her last breath, living in her family home in Dormont during the final three weeks of the illness.
If you’re like most shoppers, you’ve likely noticed a sharp increase in your grocery bills in the last few years. The average American household spends an average of $475 a month – or about $5,703 a year – on groceries, according to data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor and Statistics. Since 2019, the cost of groceries has increased about 26%, the U.S. Department of Agriculture says. After housing and transportation, food spending accounted for the third-largest share of Americans’ disposable incomes in 2022, according to government data. “The cost of everything’s gone up, except people’s income,” said George Omiros,
president and CEO of Food Helpers, noting the food bank has experienced a 30% increase for food requests in Washington County during the past year. But for the first time in a year, grocery prices dropped in April, and inflation in the U.S. eased in May for a second straight month. That dip is a welcome relief, but grocery prices – which soared due to factors including the COVID-19 pandemic, supply chain issues and Russia’s invasion of Ukraine – are still higher than they were a year ago. The cost of eggs, ham, and cheese declined, along with the price for apples and citrus fruits over the past year. Bread and poultry prices also declined, but prices for items like breakfast sausage and ice cream were up. SEE CHEAP PAGE A5
Judy Caves, left, with her mother, Doris, center, and sister, Patty. Caves recently completed a 4.5-mile open water swim to raise money for pancreatic cancer research. Her mother died from the disease 20 years ago.
“It was definitely time well-spent with Mom,” Caves said. “I remember saying things to her, and I knew she could hear me because when I told her that she was still a graceful lady while lying there dying, her mouth turned up (in a
smile). I wouldn’t have had those moments, had I not stayed with her.” Those memories propelled Caves as she churned through the choppy waters of The Mon on June 29. Not only did Caves complete the outand-back swim that began
at Duck Hollow, just below the Homestead Bridge, she carried a hand-written note from her mother in her suit that contained the closing inspiring words: ‘You never walk (swim) alone.’” SEE SWIMS PAGE A2
KAREN MANSFIELD/OBSERVER-REPORTER
Mark and Patricia Hyman of North Strabane Township load their shopping bags during a recent trip to Aldi, where they regularly shop.
PT Community Day draws crowd A big crowd turned out Saturday in Rolling Hills Park for the 44th annual Peters Township Community Day. The event featured food trucks, raffles and a beer garden. Kids enjoyed activities such as face painting and bounce houses. A fireworks display planned for Saturday night was postponed due to weather.
Photos courtesy of Peters Township
MT. LEBANON Kist one of four men ordained to priesthood PAGE A4 What’s happening, B3
SPORTS PT native Humphrey’s drafted by Avalanche PAGE B1 Real estate transactions, A5
SIGHTS & SOUNDS New season of Bridgeville Public Art begins PAGE B3 Classifieds, B4-6