the almanac D E C E M B E R 15, 2024
SOUTH HILLS COMMUNITY NEWS
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SOUTH HILLS MASONS LODGE CELEBRATES 75TH ANNIVERSARY PAGE A6
Holiday cheer
PHOTOS: ELEANOR BAILEY/THE ALMANAC
The Torris family of Bethel Park compose their letters to Santa. From left are: Linda, Ann, Ricky and Rick Torris.
Santa Claus the top draw in Bethel Park By Eleanor Bailey Almanac Sports Editor ebailey@thealmanac.net
Santa Claus was the main attraction at the annual Bethel Park Tree Lighting ceremony. Even the Grinch agreed. “Santa is the classic,” said the beloved Dr. Seuss character through the handler that interpreted his mimed answers. Augie Marraccini concurred. The 6-year-old Bethel Park resident said the Grinch is one of his “favorite characters” next to Santa. “He’s No. 2,” Augie said. “I’m really excited to see (Santa).” Augie was eager to have a conversation with Santa. He wanted to relay his wish list in person. “I want a reindeer and a pig. We can’t have a real pig,” he added. “Fingerlings, Bakugan. Those robot things,” he explained, “Tech Decks. They’re like skateboards.” “Augie thinks he’ll get them all because he has been good,” explained his mother, Angie. “I have been good,” Augie insisted. “Yes, it’s been hard.” For children like Augie, it was a challenge awaiting Santa’s arrival. Families lined up to enter the community center well before the doors opened at 6 p.m. on Dec. 4. However, the recreation department, thanks to Jason Mentel and helpers Lindsay Sibert and Samantha Lee, were prepared.
ABOVE: Gemma and Maverick Arnold enjoy their visit with Santa during Bethel Park’s annual Christmas tree-lighting ceremony. AT RIGHT: Blaze Arnold plays with an ornament he picked off the Christmas tree while awaiting Santa’s arrival at the annual Bethel Park Light Up event. The special celebration featured an appearance by the Grinch, reindeer games, musical selection from the Bethel Park High School jazz ensemble and Top 21 chorus, cookies and cocoa, a Lego holiday display and a visit from St. Nick.
They reorganized the event to inNew this year were reindeer corporate the entire facility and to games where children could partickeep guests entertained until the ipate in activities in the gymnasium moment Santa arrived to light the Christmas tree. SEE SANTA PAGE A2
SOUTH HILLS WRESTLING TEAMS TO BATTLE ON THE MATS PAGE B1
SEASONAL POP UP BARS ARE SERVING UP HOLIDAY CHEER PAGE B3 What’s happening, B3 Real estate transactions, A4 Classifieds, B4-6
Judge gives ‘Citizen of the Year’ honors to BP, USC residents By Brad Hundt Staff writer
bhundt@observer-reporter.com
BETHEL PARK – Two individuals who have demonstrated leadership, generosity and unselfishness have been named Citizens of the Year by Magisterial District Judge Ron Arnoni. The awards are given annually to residents of Bethel Park and Upper St. Clair, and they were presented on Dec. 4 to Diane Ford, of Bethel Park, who leads Melting Pot Ministries, and Upper St. Clair’s Terry Kish, the editor of the township and school district’s official magazine, USC Today. Kish has also been involved in numerous volunteer endeavors. In a ceremony in Arnoni’s courtroom, both were given commemorative medals and certificates honoring them from state Sen. Devlin Robinson and state Rep. Natalie Mihalek. They also received gift certificates for the restaurant Bella’s on Fort Couch. “I don’t consider the work that I do to be award-worthy,” Ford said. “I think this is what we all should be doing. We have a lot of opportunities to make a difference. Ford’s family has deep roots in Bethel Park, having
PHOTOS: BRAD HUNDT/OBSERVER-REPORTER
ABOVE LEFT: Bethel Park citizen of the year honoree Diane Ford, center, poses with friends and family after receiving the award in the courtroom of Magisterial District Judge Ron Arnoni. ABOVE RIGHT: Terry Kish, second from left, is Upper St. Clair’s Citizen of the Year. She is with, from left, state Sen. Devlin Robinson, Magisterial District Judge Ron Arnoni and state Rep. Natalie Mihalek.
lived in the borough for close to a century. A 1985 graduate of Bethel Park High School, Ford has been the director of operations for the Bethel Park Chamber of Commerce, and is credited for playing an important part in relaunching the organization. Melting Pot Ministries, the program for which Ford serves as executive director and CEO, is designed for at-risk, low-income youth and their families.
She also owns and operates Bethel Park’s Reverse Aging Naturally Energy Spa and co-founded the SEED Project, which is short for Self-Empowerment through Education and Development and is a grassroots organization that helps people in ways that include a food giveaway at Thanksgiving. Ford has been recognized for outstanding service to the community by Jack Allen, Bethel Park’s mayor.
“Her heart’s desire is to transform lives, helping people to recognize their value,” Arnoni said. Like Ford, Kish has been involved in numerous service endeavors that include work as a volunteer emergency medical technician, president of a parent-teacher association, and religious educator. Kish has been a resident of Upper St. Clair since 1987, and after a career at GM that
encompassed stints supervising inspections, statistics, production services and other areas, Kish became a freelance writer. While working as a stringer for The Almanac, she was a finalist for a Golden Quill Award from the Press Club of Western Pennsylvania for spot news coverage. She became the associate editor of USC Today in 2003, and became its editor in 2022.
She has applied her writing and editing skills to Drawn to Christ, the monthly magazine of the St. Catherine Laboure Parish. The list of the other volunteer duties Kish has done for the parish is long – she has been part of the marriage preparation team, a funeral coordinator and a Communion minister. “I’m truly overwhelmed and humbled,” Kish said on receiving the award. “It really is an honor to be nominated.”