the almanac M A R C H 3, 2024
SOUTH HILLS COMMUNITY NEWS
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South Fayette Township opens new municipal building By Brad Hundt Staff writer
bhundt@observer-reporter.com
SOUTH FAYETTE – Things were a little crowded in the building on Millers Run Road that had long housed South Fayette Township’s municipal operations. How crowded? There were bingo supplies and giveaway books in the space where the board of commissioners met, and staffers had boxes of everything from must-keep documents to Easter supplies and balloons stacked in their offices. The days of being hemmed BRAD HUNDT/OBSERVER-REPORTER in and packed-to-bursting The exterior of the new South Fayette Township municipal building, located off Hickory came to an end in January, Grade Road though, when the township
opened its new municipal building. Located off Hickory Grade Road, it’s a much more comfortable 36,000 square feet, with light streaming in, an array of technological upgrades and much more room to maneuver for township employees. “This facility is more secure, it’s more professional, it’s more accessible,” according to Andrea Iglar, South Fayette’s communications director. For John Phoennik, the township’s police chief, the sense of relief is palpable. “I died and went to heaven here,” Phoennik said in his office on a recent morning. His department takes up the low-
er floor in the complex, and has training and fitness facilities, holding cells, a bloodhound kennel and more. The police facility takes up about half the building, and it’s a considerable expansion from the 1,800 square feet the police station had before. Phoennik said the space was needed, since the township’s police force has grown from 13 employees 10 years ago to 23 today. He explained that commissioners who gave the green light for the new building were “very good at understanding the fact that we needed to catch up with the growth of the township.” SEE BUILDING PAGE A2
PHOTOS: ELEANOR BAILEY/THE ALMANAC
The new Coen convenience store and gasoline station opened Feb. 28 in Bethel Park.
PHOTOS: KATHERINE MANSFIELD/OBSERVER-REPORTER
A visitor browses artworks created by children displaced by the Russia-Ukraine war through UCHI’s Warm Hands Art Therapy, during the Helpers of Pittsburgh event in Carnegie Feb. 23.
Somber anniversary Feb. 24 marked the second anniversary of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, and the Moon-based nonprofit DTCare and Carnegie-based Ukrainian Cultural and Humanitarian Institute (UCHI) observed the somber occasion with a free celebration of Ukrainian heritage at the Carnegie Borough building. The Feb. 23 afternoon event began with a memorial service for the more than 31,000 military and 10,500 civilian – 587 of them children – lives lost in the war, led by the Revs. John Charest, of St. Peter and St. Paul Ukrainian Orthodox Church, and Jason Charron, of Holy Trinity Ukrainian Catholic Church. Along with live performances, an “I am Ukraine” video by Sharing Our Story played throughout the afternoon, and selected works by Ukrainian photographer Iryna Puhach were on display. Visitors perused and purchased artwork and crafts by local and Ukrainian vendors, sampled traditional Ukrainian food at the Holy Trinity table, and witnessed the premiere of “Bridges Across Borders,” a documentary by filmmaker Tiahna Kovairk, of Leechburg, spotlighting Pittsburgh’s commitment to supporting Ukraine throughout the conflict. To learn more about DTCare, go to https://www.dtcare. org/. For more on UCHI, visit https://archivauchi.blog/.
ABOVE: Students from Ridna Shkola Ukrainian School in Carnegie perform a song during the Helpers of Pittsburgh event Feb. 23. AT LEFT: Artwork by UCHI’s Warm Hands Art Therapy was on display, and for sale, during the Helpers of Pittsburgh event at Carnegie Borough building Feb. 23. The event observed the two-year anniversary of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. BELOW: Images by Ukrainian photographer Iryna Puhach hang in the Carnegie Borough building, where visitors to the Helpers of Pittsburgh event were encouraged to take a handout and read about each picture, which depicts life in war-torn Ukraine.
For more photos from the Helpers of Pittsburgh event, see Page A2
SOUTH PARK Nate’s Reptile Rescue damaged in fire PAGE A6 What’s happening, B3
Coen Markets opens new store in Bethel Park By Eleanor Bailey Almanac Sports Editor ebailey@thealmanac.net
Kyla Ross from Bethel Park could not contain her enthusiasm. She was more than thrilled to attend the grand opening of the Coen Markets convenience store and gas station at 5281 Library Road. “I’m excited,” said Ross, who lives less than a mile away from the busy intersection. “For the convenience and the variety they offer.” At 5 a.m. Feb. 28, Coen’s newest store opened. It marks the first ground-up location in the family-owned company’s history. The new 5,100-squarefoot location is Coen’s 56th in the region and will employ more than 30 area residents. Its opening brings back a much-needed fuel stop to the community, which has been absent since the closure of GetGo in early 2023. As Coen’s first complete build from-the- ground-up, customers will experience innovative, new features in this location. “The opening of our first ground-up location is an important milestone for the
Coen Markets family,” said Charlie McIlvaine, CEO of Coen Markets. “With new food offerings and in-store features, this store emphasizes our commitment to our customers and our focus on enhancing the shopping experience. Our new in-store kitchen and fresh food options are just a few examples of how we’re innovating to meet our customers’ needs.” With a food-first emphasis, the location boasts an in-store kitchen, which features freshly grilled, fried, and baked menu items to order. The new, expanded menu includes breakfast offerings, made-from-scratch fried chicken, and pizza. “We are grilling food,” said Andrea Meurohr, vice president of marketing. No convenience store is grilling food. “We want to bring freshness to the community. Something new and different,” Meurohr continued. “The food is all made here and it’s always fresh.” That concept not only had customers buzzing on opening day but the employees as well. Moira Doerr from Castle Shannon was delighted to
SEE COEN PAGE A6
Moira Doerr from Castle Shannon hands a customer their hot food items at the new Coen.
SPORTS Baldwin edges Mt. Lebanon; USC advances to WPIAL final PAGE B1 Real estate transactions, A6
SIGHTS & SOUNDS 30th Sweet Sunday Dessert Festival held PAGE B3 Classifieds, B4-6