the almanac M A R C H 10, 2024
SOUTH HILLS COMMUNITY NEWS
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UPPER ST. CLAIR STUDENTS LEARN FINANCING AT BIZTOWN PAGE A3
COURTESY OF JANET GREENBERG
The OSWP’s display, arranged by members Carolyn Bolton, Carol Panza and Kathy Collins, won Best in Show at the Greater Akron Orchid Society spring show the first weekend in March.
Orchid obsession Orchid Society of Western Pennsylvania hosts special guest at annual spring show
USC SWIMMERS LOOK TO STATES AFTER STRONG WPIAL SHOWING PAGE B1
By Katherine Mansfield Staff writer
mansfield@observer-reporter.com
More than 28,000 species of orchids bloom everywhere on earth except Antarctica, and hundreds of those delicate, colorful, perfectly symmetrical flowers will be on display and available for purchase next weekend during the Orchid Society of Western Pennsylvania’s annual spring show, “Orchid Obsession.” “There’s something beautiful about an orchid. They’re interesting. They’re exotic,” said Sheila Nathanson, an award-winning orchid grower from Mt. Lebanon and co-chair of the spring show. “You don’t have to have a greenhouse. A lot of orchids are happy growing in your house, on your windowsill. It’s a very rewarding plant to grow.” Visitors to “Orchid Obsession” will delight in the variety of plants available for growing in their homes, from vendors near and as far as Taiwan and Ecuador, who will set up inside the Crowne Plaza Suites at 164 Fort Couch Road, across from South HIlls Village mall, from 9 a.m. to
AREA HIGH SCHOOLS PREPARE TO DAZZLE WITH MUSICALS PAGE B3
KATHERINE MANSFIELD/OBSERVER-REPORTER
Orchids of the Cypripedium genus are better known as “lady’s slippers.” About 58 species of lady’s slippers, which resemble a lady’s slipper, grow across the globe.
5 p.m. Saturday, March 16, and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. March 17. “Most of the vendors bring unusual things that you’re unable to get anywhere else. It is a wonderful place to find unusual orchids,” said Nathansan. SEE ORCHID PAGE A2
What’s happening, B3 KATHERINE MANSFIELD/OBSERVER-REPORTER
In this file photo from 2022, Sheila Nathanson, co-chair of the OSWP, poses amongst the orchids in her greenhouse at her Mt. Lebanon home. Nathanson will present “So… I Bought an Orchid. Now… What Do I Do?” at 3 p.m. both days of the annual orchid show.
Real estate transactions, A6 Classifieds, B4-6
OBSERVER-REPORTER
March Madness
The WPIAL crowned champions in 12 different classifications recently and two area teams collected the gold. ABOVE: Upper St. Clair students react to the action happening at the Petersen Events Center as their Panthers defeated Baldwin, 64-41, and captured the 6A title. AT RIGHT: Haylie Lamonde (3), Erica Hall rush to embrace Lainey Yater (11) after South Fayette defeated Armstrong, 70-63, to win its third consecutive 5A crown. BELOW: Brett Meinert receives a warm welcome by USC head coach Dan Holzer after helping the Panthers win their title. Turn to B1 for full details of all WPIAL championship action.
Photos by Eleanor Bailey/ The Almanac
Engineer Bill Armstrong designed the Greer Tunnel’s new stabilizing eastern portal, which bears the Montour Trail Council logo and two dates: 1922, the year the original tunnel was completed, and 2023, the year the new facade was finished.
Greer Tunnel on Montour Trail closed for work
The Greer Tunnel on the Montour Trail is closed until early to mid-April to complete renovation projects. The third and final phase is the stabilization of the western portal of the structure. The tunnel is near Chartiers Creek in Peters Town-
ship at mile marker 28.5 on the multi-use trail. It was closed twice in 2023, primarily to construct a new steel liner in the eastern section of the tunnel’s ceiling and walls.
SEE TUNNEL PAGE A2