the almanac A U G U S T 3, 2025
SOUTH HILLS COMMUNITY NEWS
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PHOTOS: ELEANOR BAILEY/THE ALMANAC
Gary and Susan Maglin purchase art from Denise and Keith Bastianini at one of the vendor tables inside the Bethel Park Schoolhouse Arts & History Center during the Bethel Park Arts & Music Festival.
The Pinburgh pinball tournament brought players across the country to Collier Township.
Pinball wizards The parking lot outside the Phoenix Theatres multiplex in Collier Township was packed on the afternoon of Friday, July 25, but it wasn’t all moviegoers eager to check out the “Fantastic Four” movie or the latest “Superman” reboot. They were there for Pinburgh 2025, the pinball tournament that lured enthusiasts from around the country. It unfolded in Rezzanine Esports, a gaming venue on the second level of the multiplex. When tickets went on sale in February, tickets sold out quickly. Pinburgh 2025 also had the Women’s International Pinball Tournament.
Photos: Brad Hundt/Observer-Reporter
ABOVE: Steve Bowden of Chicago competes in the Pinburgh pinball tournament at Rezzanine Esports in Collier Township. LEFT: Competitors at Pinburgh 2025 competed for prizes that totaled over $40,000.
BP festival a hit with arts, music fans By Eleanor Bailey Almanac Sports Editor ebailey@thealmanac.net
The Bethel Park Arts & Music Festival suffered no sophomore slump. In its second season, the event topped all attendance and participation records from its inaugural year. Despite sweltering heat, patrons of the arts, fans of all music genres and foodies flocked to the community center, schoolhouse arts and history center as well as booths and vendors set up along Park Avenue to shop, learn, dine and listen. Nearly 100 artists, more than a dozen food trucks and numerous musical acts performed and participated in the daylong festival held July 26. “Fabulous,” said Andy Amrhein, who co-chaired the event with Christine McIntosh. “We had a little bit of rain in the morning before everything started but as you can see the shuttle buses are full and when you go into the buildings, you can’t move.
Scarlett Mahaffey, 7, of Bethel Park paints a scene of mountains, grass and flowers on a rock provided at the library’s booth during the Bethel Park Arts and Music Festival.
It’s elbow to elbow. The food truck vendors are packed and the dining room tents are full. “Everybody is happy.” Amrhein noted the delight of the police force and fire SEE FESTIVAL PAGE A2
Kid’s kicks
JON ANDREASSI/OBSERVER-REPORTER
Cali Cats Rescue’s building is boarded up after a car drove into it.
BP cat rescue looks to rebuild after car crashes into building
By Jon Andreassi Staff writer
jandreassi@observer-reporter.com
The director of a Bethel Park cat rescue said the aftermath of a car crashing into their building has been “heartbreaking.”
The accident occurred at about 5 p.m. July 14 at Cali Cats Rescue at 2776 South Park Road, according to Amanda Jeney. Jeney, director of the rescue, was not present at the time, but a volunteer was
NEW EAGLE Woman opens Cheetah Lounge Vintage clothing shop PAGE A2 What’s happening, B3
present when the car went into the building’s “community room,” where there were six free-roaming cats, and one in a cage waiting to be released. A woman apparently was mistakenly in the Cali Cats SEE REBUILD PAGE A4
ELEANOR BAILEY/THE ALMANAC
Maverick Fronk enjoys kicking the football while his father, Bruce, serves as his placeholder. The two were having some fun during a break in South Fayette High School summer football drills. The elder Fronk serves as the defensive coordinator for the Lions, who will open the season Aug. 22 on the road against rival Chartiers Valley. Kickoff is at 7 p.m.
SPORTS South Fayette’s Welhorsky ready to outperform the rest PAGE B1 Real estate transactions, A6
SIGHTS & SOUNDS Vaccine may help prevent breast cancer PAGE B3 Classifieds, B4-6