The Almanac - Feb. 1, 2026

Peters Township approves five-year EMS contract

By Jon Andreassi jandreassi@observer-reporter.com

Ambulance services in Peters Township will be provided by Allegheny Health Network after council approved a fiveyear agreement this week.

AHN, which operates Canonsburg Ambulance, will begin as the township’s EMS provider after Peters Township EMS ceases operations April 20.

Council approved the agreement with AHN at its Jan. 26 meeting with a 6-1 vote. Gary Stiegel Jr. was the dissenting vote.

Peters Township had been negotiating with both AHN and Ambulance and Chair, which is operated by UPMC, since December.

Township Manager Paul Lauer explained that Canonsburg Ambulance had agreed to keep two ambulances stationed in the township for the duration of the five years.

“What Ambulance and Chair offered was that same level of coverage, but to do it for six months. At which time they would sit down with the township to determine what was a rea-

sonable level of care. From my perspective, that is the significant difference,” Lauer said. Per the agreement, Peters Township’s contribution will be to pay the ambulance subscription fee for senior citizens for three years, which will be $12,700 annually. After three years, that will be adjusted based on Canonsburg Ambulance’s subscription rate.

Lauer said the township also had this arrangement with Peters Township EMS.

“They offer a subscription program that provides a discount to the county of the ambulance service if you need that service. Instead of senior citizens having to pay for that, the township picks up that cost for all senior citizens,” Lauer said.

Canonsburg Ambulance will station its ambulance at the Peters Township EMS building at 300 Municipal Drive. Peters Township EMS has been owned and operated by Memorial Park Veterans of Foreign

After clearing his property, Tom Boes of Bethel

SNOW SURVIVAL

According to the National Weather Service (NWS), 11.2 inches of snow were recorded Jan. 25 at its site in Moon with Bethel Park reporting the highest total of 14 inches. The official total of 11.2 inches fell two-tenths of an inch shy of the largest snowfall this century in a single day.

According to NWS, the record was set Feb. 5, 2010 as part of the “Snowmageddon” storm. The snowfall was followed up by extreme cold with wind chills as low as minus-25 degrees predicted. Temperatures hovered in the teens all week, forcing cancellations of activi-

ties and schools as well as closures of facilities throughout the region. South Hills Village Mall was closed during the storm.

Grocery stores, including Giant Eagle, as well as Walmart closed early and rubbish collection was delayed one day due to the storm.

Governor talks up skilled trade grants at Junior Achievement headquarters

By Brad Hundt

bhundt@observer-reporter.com

Ambulance services in Peters Township will be provided by Allegheny Health Network after council approved a five-year agreement this week.

AHN, which operates Canonsburg Ambulance, will begin as the township’s EMS provider after Peters Township EMS ceases operations April 20.

Council approved the agreement with AHN at its Jan. 26 meeting with a 6-1 vote. Gary Stiegel Jr. was the dissenting vote.

Peters Township had been negotiating with both AHN and Ambulance and Chair, which is operated by UPMC, since December. Township Manager Paul Lauer explained that Canonsburg Am-

bulance had agreed to keep two ambulances stationed in the township for the duration of the five years.

“What Ambulance and Chair offered was that same level of coverage, but to do it for six months. At which time they would sit down with the township to determine what was a reasonable level of care. From my perspective, that is the significant difference,” Lauer said.

Per the agreement, Peters Township’s contribution will be to pay the ambulance subscription fee for senior citizens for three years, which will be $12,700 annually. After three years, that will be adjusted based on Canonsburg Ambulance’s subscription rate.

Lauer said the township also had this arrangement with Peters Township EMS.

“They offer a subscription program that provides a discount to the county of the ambulance service if you need that service. Instead of senior citizens having to pay for that, the township picks up that cost for all senior citizens,” Lauer said.

Canonsburg Ambulance will station its ambulance at the Peters Township EMS building at 300 Municipal Drive. Peters Township EMS has been owned and operated by Memorial Park Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 764 since 1963.

According to Lauer, employees of the current ambulance service will be considered for positions with Canonsburg Ambulance.

“One of the requirements of the contract is that whoever was going to be the provider offer all current employees

an opportunity to interview for a position with the new provider,” Lauer said

He added that township officials hope some of the staff makes the transition due to their familiarity with the community.

Peters Township EMS has notified the township it will cease operating on April 20.

Lauer said the two services will work together to “ensure there is a smooth transition.”

Lauer said that Peters Township’s elected officials are “appreciative of the long history of service the VFW has provided,” and called it “remarkable” that a nonprofit organization was able to keep the agency going for as long as it did.

“They are all to be commended for what they’ve done,” Lauer said.

Bethel Park will kick off America 250 celebration with artwork unveiling

By Brad Hundt bhundt@observer-reporter.com

We still have more snow and chill to endure before we can get to the rockets’ red glare and bombs bursting in air, but Bethel Park will be getting a jump on the Fourth of July by unveiling artwork on Saturday, Feb. 7, that commemorates America’s 250th anniversary. It will be at the Bethel Park Schoolhouse Arts and History Center on South Park Road. Activities will get underway at 9 a.m., and the art will be unveiled at 11 a.m. There will also be a vendors market at the event, which will wrap up at 2 p.m.

“It is just breathtaking what they’ve done,” said Andy Amrhein, vice president of the Bethel Park Community Foundation, referring to the four works that will be shown publicly for the first time. The artists were given “no restrictions and no guidelines,” Amrhein explained. They were just told to create around the theme of what the 250th anniversary of the United States means to them.

Some of the elements that are in the works are the Liberty Bell, the Statue of Liberty and an eagle, Amrhein pointed out.

All the artists have participated in the art and mu-

USC educator selected as guest conductor

An Upper St. Clair music educator has been selected to serve as a guest conductor for the 38th annual Alabama High School Honor Band Festival, scheduled for Feb. 5–7, at the University of Alabama.

Dr. John Seybert, the district’s performing arts curriculum leader and Fort Couch Middle School band teacher, will help lead the multi-day festival, which includes rehearsals, clinics and culminating performances featuring some of Alabama’s top high school musicians.

“It is a meaningful opportunity to represent our district and highlight the strength of our music program on a broader stage,” Dr. Seybert said.

Dr. Seybert is one of four guest clinicians/conductors invited to the festival.

The other clinicians are Dr. Elizabeth Peterson, retired associate director of bands at the University of Illinois School of Music; Michael Pote, retired director of bands at Carmel High School in Indiana; and Dr.

Dr. John Seybert

Myra Rhoden, a member of the music faculty at the University of West Georgia.

Students are selected to the Alabama Honor Band Festival by a committee of the University of Alabama School of Music faculty members based on a student application and a recommendation from their band director.

The annual festival recognizes the achievements of exceptional high school musicians from across Alabama.

sic festival that Bethel Park hosts every July. They are Linda Barnicott of Brentwood; J.P. Diroll of Allison Park; and Johno Prascak and Maria DeSimone Prascak, both of Pittsburgh.

Prints of the art will be on sale, as will commemorative American flags. Proceeds will benefit Bethel Park’s Fantastic Four Charities, which are the borough’s library, historical society, community foundation and educational foundation.

According to Tim Moury, president of the Bethel Park Historical Society, “As part of the Fantastic Four Charities, the Bethel Park Historical Society is happy to

be part of and host this wonderful event to showcase this artwork depicting the history of our country and community.”

America’s semiquincen -

tennial this summer is also going to be marked by the Bethel Park School District through an essay contest.

The topics that will be explored include moments that

shaped the United States and voices left out of the country’s founding. For more information, call 412-760-9614.

South Fayette senior recognized nationally for media work

By Paul Paterra ppaterra@observer-reporter.com

Soleille (Lilly) Green did not really have media experience when she entered high school, but she enrolled in video production class because she thought it would be fun.

Fast Forward three years and needless to say the South Fayette High School senior has not only found media to be fun, her work has brought her national honors by the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences (NATAS).

Green, 18, was named one of six nominees in the Outstanding Editor category for the Mid-Atlantic region based on a variety of pieces that she submitted to showcase her work as an editor.

Also, her public service announcement, “Minutes Matter,” earned one of six regional nominations for the Norman Felsenthal Young Producer’s Award.

Norman Felsenthal was a professor of communications at Temple University for 32 years and author of the Mass Communication textbook.

As a NATAS trustee, he founded and chaired the organization’s scholarship program.

“I’m definitely honored. Honestly I was a little bit surprised,” Green said. “I was super shocked, super honored and super proud to honestly receive it.”

The NATAS High School Student Production Awards focus on excellence in television and related media including local stations and student productions. This marked the first year that South Fayette submitted entries to the competition.

Wars Post 764 since 1963.

According to Lauer, employees of the current ambulance service will be considered for positions with Canonsburg Ambulance.

“One of the requirements of the contract is that whoever was going to be the provider offer all current employees an opportunity to interview for a position with the new provider,” Lauer said He added that township officials hope some of the staff makes the transition

due to their familiarity with the community.

Peters Township EMS has notified the township it will cease operating on April 20. Lauer said the two services will work together to “ensure there is a smooth transition.”

Lauer said that Peters Township’s elected officials are “appreciative of the long history of service the VFW has provided,” and called it “remarkable” that a nonprofit organization was able to keep the agency going for as long as it did.

“They are all to be commended for what they’ve done,” Lauer said.

General Manager Robert Pinarski

Executive Editor Liz Rogers

Sports Editor Eleanor Bailey

Staff Writers Jon Andreassi, Brad Hundt, Garrett Neese, Paul Paterra

Green said since many PSA are 60 seconds in length, she wanted to display just how much can be done in that time period with a PSA in which she was able to get many of her friends to appear.

“My generation is very screen prone,” she explained. “The thought of doing things in a minute led me to make an awareness video about the value of time, not spending too much time on your phone. Those are two messages I communicate through the PSA - make sure you’re spending your time how you want to and you’re not wasting it all away online.”

Indeed, it has been quite a successful journey since enrolling in a video production class her freshman year. She was putting together her schedule and saw something that piqued her interest.

“I was looking for something new to do my freshman year,” she recalled. “I saw video production listed and thought that sounded kind of cool. I like movies. I like TV. I figured I’d take that and see what it’s about. I took it and I loved it. I became friends with people in the class and realized I kind of had a passion for it. It slowly went from something I just did that was fun to something that I really value.”

Green’s work also has earned recognition at the Digital Media Arts Consortium Festival held annually at Robert Morris University. It was there that she first submitted the “Minutes Matter” PSA.

Andy Marinzel, video production teacher and media club sponsor, was not surprised that Green received national recognition.

“That’s the kind of work that she does all the time,” he said. “I’m extremely proud and excited. If I were to pick one or two people to win the award, she would be one of them. She is extremely driven and whatever she does, she does very well.”

Marinzel added that Green’s editing, along with the concept, of her PSA re-

ally stood out.

“I thought it was really unique in the fact that is what can you get done in a minute and focused on the fact that it might not seem like a lot of time, but when you add them up, they do matter,” he said.

“She put a ton of time into editing,” Marinzel continued. “Even if it’s a minute long, all of those cuts take a lot of time to pick out the second or two that you want in there while sifting through possibly minutes to hours of video. It’s not something easy and it takes a lot of planning and preparation.”

Green, who is president of the school’s media club, plans to major in film in college along with English or marketing. She hasn’t made her college selection as of yet, but her goal is to definitely be in the film industry.

“Film production is what I’m going for,” Green said. “I want to go to college to figure out what specifically in the industry I want to do. Right now, I handle all aspects of production from screenwriting to directing to editing, and I genuinely do love all of it.”

In college, she adds, she’ll “discover the niche” that’s the best fit.

USC robotics teams earn awards and state berth

An Upper St. Clair High School robotics team has earned a berth in the Pennsylvania FIRST Tech Challenge (FTC) Championship following a strong showing at the Raiders FTC Qualifier.

ROGO Rose captured the Inspire Award, the event’s highest honor, qualifying the team to compete at the state championship to be held March 14-15 near Allentown.

The Inspire Award recognizes excellence across all aspects of the FIRST Tech Challenge program, including robot performance, outreach and team organization.

ROGO Rose will be joined at the state competition by fellow USC Robotics team TeraBridges, which previously qualified at the Lancaster Area Qualifier in December 2025.

In total, five Upper St. Clair High School teams – TeraBridges, Botsburgh, USC Dynamics, ROGO Lotus and ROGO Rose – competed at the Seneca Valley and Raiders

Qualifiers, held Jan. 10-11 at Seneca Valley Senior High School. At the Seneca Valley Qualifier, Botsburgh earned the Connect Award for its community outreach efforts, while ROGO Lotus received the Sustain Award, which recognizes long-term team planning and sustainability.

During Sunday’s Raiders Qualifier, all three competing USC teams – ROGO Rose, TeraBridges and USC Dynamics – earned awards. In addition to ROGO Rose’s firstplace Inspire Award, TeraBridges received the second-place Inspire Award. For the playoff matches, TeraBridges selected ROGO Rose as its alliance partner. TeraBridges finished as Finalist Alliance Captain, with ROGO Rose earning Finalist Alliance Partner honors. USC Dynamics received the Reach Award for its efforts to recruit and engage new team members.

The teams are now preparing to host two upcoming FTC qualifiers

– the Southwestern Pennsylvania and Panther Power Qualifiers –scheduled for Feb. 21–22 at Boyce Middle School. Hosted by USC Robotics, each day will feature more than 30 teams from across Pennsylvania competing in robotics matches and participating in STEM learning activities.

The USC Robotics Club offers programming for students in kindergarten through grade 12, providing hands-on experiences in engineering, programming, CAD design, teamwork, leadership and

problem-solving. Students participate in FIRST LEGO League (Explore and Challenge), FIRST Tech Challenge, community outreach projects and industry visits that connect classroom learning to real-world STEM applications. FIRST Tech Challenge is an international program for students in grades 7-12 who design, build and program robots to complete themed tasks. The program emphasizes problem-solving, engineering, teamwork, communication and community impact.

Upper St. Clair earns gold on AP honor roll

Upper St. Clair High School has earned Gold distinction on the 2025 Advanced Placement School Honor Roll, the College Board announced. The recognition follows two consecutive years of Silver-level honors.

Launched in 2023, the AP School Honor Roll recognizes schools whose Advanced Placement programs deliver strong academic outcomes while expanding access and participation. Schools are recognized annually based on criteria that reflect a commitment to college readiness, opportunities to earn college credit and a strong college-going culture.

In May 2025, 367 Upper

St. Clair students completed 754 AP exams across 27 subject areas, achieving a 91% pass rate. AP exams are scored on a scale of 1-5, with a score of 3 or higher considered passing and often eligible for college credit.

“Earning Gold recognition reflects the hard work of our students and the dedication of our teachers to providing rigorous, engaging learning opportunities,”

Principal Dr. Timothy Wagner said. “We are proud to offer a program that challenges students academically while preparing them for success beyond high school.”

According to the College Board, research shows students who take AP courses

and exams are more likely to attend college and graduate on time.

“The students who enter four-year colleges with credit from AP accelerate their path to graduation and build confidence for college success,” Trevor Packer, head of the College Board’s AP program, said. “And even for those who don’t earn college credit, AP coursework provides early exposure to college-level work and contributes to a college-going school culture.”

The AP School Honor Roll offers four levels of distinction: Bronze, Silver, Gold and Platinum. To qualify at the Bronze level, schools must meet minimum benchmarks among students in the

most recent graduating class, including participation in at least one AP exam, earning qualifying scores and taking multiple AP exams during high school. Performance thresholds increase at each recognition level.

Upper St. Clair High School currently offers 24 AP courses.

The College Board’s Advanced Placement Program offers students the opportunity to take challenging college-level courses while still in high school, and to receive college credit, advanced placement, or both for successful performance on AP exams. The program offers courses in 40 subject areas nationwide.

Teams advance through local qualifiers to the state championship and potentially the FIRST World Championship.

This season’s game, DECODE, challenges teams to collect and sort artifacts on the field. Success requires strategic planning, technical innovation and consistent driving. Judges also evaluate teams on outreach, communication skills and how well they demonstrate the FIRST Core Values.

& Rick

Pennsylvania Trolley Museum recognized by USA Today

Streetcar enthusiasts take pictures of the newly restored Philadelphia Suburban (Red Arrow) Car 14 (circa 1949) as it completes its maiden run followed by the authentic Streetcar Named Desire from New Orleans, right, on the trolley loop at the Pennsylvania Trolley Museum in Washington, Pa.

Recertified

The Pennsylvania Trolley Museum has been nominated for USA Today’s 10Best Readers Choice Awards in the Best Small Town Museum category, and has been recertified as a Certified Autism Center, a designation awarded by the International Board of Credentialing and Continuing Education Standards (IBCCES). Daily online voting in USA Today’s awards is happening until Monday, Feb. 9, at 11:59 a.m. Winners will be announced Feb. 18. “We are honored to be included in USA Today’s 10Best voting, a recognition of Pennsylvania Trolley Museum as a premier transportation museum in

as autism center

America,” said Jeanine L. DeBor, the museum’s executive director and CEO.

“Our museum is committed to educating all on the importance of the Trolley Era and how it shaped today’s transportation technology and innovations. Maintaining our certification from the IBCCES is central to our mission and dedication to inclusivity.”

The museum was first awarded IBCCES certification in 2024. This recertification highlights the museum’s continued dedication to the ongoing professional development of its staff through autism-specific training to better understand and assist autistic or sensory-sensitive individuals and their families during their museum visit. In addition to their inclusivity training, PTM has a dedicated classroom, a cool-down space, and an adult changing table. Sensory bags that include noise-canceling headphones, sunglasses, and fidgets are always available for guests upon request. The museum is open during winter seasonal hours, which are Thursday through Sunday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. through Memorial Day. Visit pa-trolley.org or call 724-228-9256 for more information.

‘It’s

about a lot more than seeds’

Gardeners trade seeds, stories at local swaps

By Garrett Neese gneese@heraldstandard.com

Even amid snow, cold and blustery winds, experienced gardeners and novices alike are starting to plan for the warmer days ahead.

Groups throughout the area have turned to seed swaps or giveaways as a way to make plant growing more accessible.

People have been coming together to trade seeds and expertise since the dawn of agriculture.

Since 2006, the practice has been commemorated with a National Seed Swap Day.

This year’s celebration fell on Jan. 31 and the Allegheny Land Trust and Penn State Master Gardeners of Washington County hosted a swap at the Frank Sarris Public Library in Canonsburg.

“There’s definitely a lot of people out there who want to get started gardening or want to plant flowers, but maybe don’t know what type is right for them, or how to get started,” said Julie Travalini, senior director of education and curriculum for the Allegheny Land Trust, who launched the swap after hearing about the national day. “Or maybe they don’t have access to either the seeds or the people with knowledge about seeds.”

Seeds for the local swaps come from a mix of organizations, businesses and ones brought in from people’s personal harvests.

“I harvested 19 or 20 seed varieties just from my own plants,” Travalini said.

Even before National Seed Swap Day, local meetups were happening.

On Jan. 18, people with the gardening bug came to From Scratch in Uniontown for an annual swap organized by Shelby Huber of Hilton Farm II in Smithfield.

Huber, who has a self-admitted “seed obsession,” noticed a lot of new growers found seed investment too daunting.

That Sunday’s array included food staples like lettuce, peppers and tomatoes, perennials and medicinal herbs, and also cuttings for house plants. Seed swaps in future months will also offer seedlings, Huber said.

The local swaps draw people at all levels of experience.

At the Hilton Farm swap, one person will bring in paw paw seeds from their grove, with detailed notes on the genetics. Others will come in asking for help on where to start.

Huber will set them up with pots and soil, and also host instructional sessions out at her farm.

“It’s just kind of an opportunity for anyone at any level to come here and find what they’re looking for,” she said. “It’s about a lot more than seeds.” People leave the swaps with not just seeds, but more knowledge about how to make them flourish.

The Allegheny Land Trust’s swap included a winter sowing demonstration, where people learn how to successfully plant native seeds in the colder months.

“It’s really just a big community event to celebrate the shared love of gardening and hopefully helping out some native biodiversity too,” Travalini said. At monthly sessions at the Hilton Farm, people can get tips on everything from separating perennials to “chaos gardening,” where gardeners will mix old seeds they hadn’t figured out where to use.

“People come in and ask questions, and we’re like, ‘Would you like to know more about it? Let’s go,’” Huber said. “We just kind of go with it.”

The Peters Public Library in McMurray has hosted a small seed swap for the past four years in mid-January.

Sydney Kraweic, the public library’s program and outreach coordinator, said the swaps help growers find a use for older seeds, which are only good for so long.

“It’s almost like a little mini flea market set up, where ev-

Morris Community Center.

eryone has their own little table and can talk to other people about their seeds, and they bring pictures, or even an example of it grown,” she said.

“It’s been a lot of great fun to see that community engage.”

It helps launch their seed library, which gives out about 1,500 seed packets over the course of the year, Kraweic said.

The selection includes 18 fruits and vegetables, four flowers and four herbs. New donations are always accepted “as long as they’re not invasive,” Kraweic said.

Volunteers come in regularly to repackage seeds, label them and get them on the shelves.

The smaller packages reduce waste, Kraweic said.

“A home gardener, you don’t need 200 tomato seeds every year,” she said. “So it’s nice to be able to help people get what they need, and also try new varieties and things.”

Throughout the year, the library also hosts talks on topics such as native plants for landscaping and gardening.

Peters follows January’s swap with a plant swap in May, where people can trade their extra tomato plant from a boom crop, or a houseplant that needs a new home.

In Greene County, Penn State Master Gardeners gave away a variety of vegetable seeds last month at the Bowlby Library in Waynesburg.

Members of the organization also offer ways to turn the seeds into thriving plants. They have an upcoming class on sowing at 6 p.m. Feb. 11 at the Mount

And they teach Seed to Supper courses, in which new gardeners can learn how to grow their own food on a budget, said Cheryl Brendel, Master Gardener coordinator for Greene County.

The seed giveaways can help gardeners get started without worrying about cash investment, she said.

“To get a decent seed package, you’re going to pay a couple dollars for it,” she said.

Hilton Farm’s seed swaps draw anywhere from 20 to 150, depending on the time of year.

Huber has found that many people keep coming back, bringing new people in tow with them looking for help.

Partway through the seed swap at From Scratch, John and Tiffany Clark of Connellsville arrived with their young children in tow. It was the family’s first seed swap; they came after Tiffany saw it on Facebook.

After church Sunday, they came bearing spider plants — beginner-friendly house plants where “you literally water them when you remember to and they do the rest,” John said. They picked up seeds, from squash to hibiscus flowers, to add to their large garden.

And they got drawn into conversation with their fellow planters, swapping stories and useful growing information.

“Everything is expensive nowadays, and there are a lot of people who are less fortunate, even than us, who may not have a lot of money to spend on seeds, or a lot of knowledge,” John said. “You come to a place like this where there’s plant people, if you have questions, you can just ask it. That’s not the case if you go to Walmart and buy a plant or something like that.”

sports

Lawrence enters Century Club

Chartiers Valley wrestler making up for lost time

By Eleanor Bailey ebailey@thealmanac.net

Michael Lawrence considers last year’s wrestling season fruitless.

After suffering a season-ending injury, preventing individual post-season tournament competition, the Chartiers Valley senior recovered.

Currently, he is ranked among the top four in his weight classification with a 26-4 record. Fresh off entering the Century Club by registering his 100th career victory, he now finds himself in contention for section, regional, even state honors.

“I felt like I wasted my whole junior year,” Lawrence said. “I’m making up for lost time this year.”

Lawrence has set his sights on a berth in the PIAA tournament set for March 5-6 at the Giant Center in Hershey. He was a sectional runner-up and a WPIAL participant as a sophomore before his shortened junior campaign.

“I want to make it to Hershey,” he said. “It’s going to take hard work in practice and more conditioning. There’s a lot of competition. A lot of hard guys to wrestle,” he continued. “Any of us can end up on top of the podium. The

goal is to stay on the same tract as I have been on.”

That path to the PIAA requires a one-match-at-a-time approach. According to Lawrence’s head coach Bill Evans, it is important to take things on a week-to-week basis in the postseason.

“The goal would be a state berth and potentially a state medal finish,” Evans said. “Getting ahead of yourself during that stretch can be dangerous, a win or a loss one week doesn’t guarantee the same result the following weekend. Keeping focused on the match and tournament that you are in that day is crucial.”

Lawrence certainly was focused on redemption when he recently competed in the Allegheny County Championships. It was during the tournament last year that Lawrence incurred his devastating injury. He dislocated his elbow and forfeited his consolation bout to finish sixth overall at 172. In 2026, Lawrence turned misery into memory.

During the county championships held Jan. 16-17 at Fox Chapel, he not only earned a spot on the podium, he earned his 100th career victory to become the sixth Colt in school history to enter

the Century Club.

“It really felt good to join that group,” Lawrence said. “It was a goal that took a lot of hard work and going to practice when I didn’t want to go.”

“It was very memorable because it was on the same mat at the same tournament that he had that injury last season,” Evans added. “I didn’t talk about it to anyone beforehand, but the irony of the situation was definitely not lost on me, and I was a little nervous leading up to the match.”

Lawrence admitted to being apprehensive, too. After posting pins in opening bouts against Will Felton from Hampton (1:22) and Jonathan McDowell from North Allegheny (0:32), Lawrence decisioned Caden Wills from West Mifflin for his 100th career win.

“I was nervous because I knew if I won it would be 100 but I also knew it was the same round and the same arena that I got injured previously,” Lawrence said.

“The match was harder because of that but I was getting my attacks in and I controlled the match at the end.”

While Lawrence could not control the outcome in the semifinals, falling to Liam Costa from Moon, 11-3, he de-

feated NA’s Brody Barnhart, 10-1, to assure a podium finish. He finished fourth overall after dropping a decision, 4-2, to Carter Morvay from North Hills.

Zachary LaBryer from Thomas Jefferson won the 172-pound weight class when he scored a major decision, 9-1, against Costa in the finals.

“Zachary looks very solid,” said Evans regarding Lawrence’s top WPIAL competition. “He wrestles well in every position.”

Lawrence wrestles best in neutral, his preferred position.

“He is super athletic, very fast, especially on his feet in neutral,” Evans said. “He gets off of the bottom pretty quickly, and has a solid knack for riding.

“His personal strengths are that he’s hard-working and focused,” Evans continued. “He’s become a great team leader and has really matured over the past four years in every way.”

For four years, Lawrence has been a two-sport athlete at Chartiers Valley High School, also excelling on the gridiron.

This fall, he earned firstteam all-conference honors on both sides of the football. As a linebacker, he managed 95 tackles (6 for loss). He forced four fumbles and recovered three. He scored six touchdowns on offense.

Lawrence embarked on his athletic career thanks to his father, Mike, who played

both sports at Carlynton before he went on to play football at NYU.

Lawrence appears on track to make the same commitment. He is being recruited to play linebacker by Clarion, Edinboro and Gannon universities.

“I prefer defense and I like football better,” said the 18-year-old son of Jessica Lawrence, who was a cheerleader in high school. “At first, it was wrestling but I like football way more. I really liked safety at first but we had a lot of defensive backs and I was a quarterback, too, but I really like to hit people.”

Lawrence sees correlations between football and wrestling, but acknowledges the latter is more challenging than the former.

“Wrestling has a different mindset and it’s way harder than football. It’s you against yourself. Wrestling is the hardest thing you’ll ever do.”

Lawrence noted the weight loss, diet and training as critical to success. In addition to training with his high school team, he trains at the Gladiators Club in Imperial. As a result, he has risen to No. 4 in the WPIAL at 172 pounds.

“In wrestling, you are cutting weight, eating well and working out. To be good, you have to work hard and condition. It takes a lot of perseverance. After my injury, I knew I would be back and stronger because I was willing to do what I had to do no matter how hard it was.”

Michael Lawrence Who is he: Chartiers Valley High School senior who recently entered the Century Club, posting his 100th career victory on the wrestling mat. Age: 18

Birthday: May 26

Parents: Jessica and Mike Siblings: Paige and Myla Sports: Wrestling, football College choices: Clarion, Edinboro, Gannon

Major: Business Color: Blue Food: Cheeseburgers Who makes the best burger: Five Guys Athlete: Former Seattle Seahawk strong safety Kam Chancellor Who will win the Super Bowl: Seahawks, 14-7 Life lesson sports has taught you: Perseverance. “No matter how hard it is, like when I was injured, you have to be strong, stick with it and do the work to succeed.” Person with whom you would like to have dinner: Kevin Hart

Mt. Lebanon crowns two county champions Rowland headed to world hockey stage

By Eleanor Bailey ebailey@thealmanac.net

Mt. Lebanon crowned two champions and placed another on the podium during the Allegheny County Wrestling Championships held Jan. 16-17 at Fox Chapel. Originally entered at 133 pounds, Evan Sala dropped down a weight class and claimed the 127-pound title. He decisioned West Mifflin’s Lashawn Haley, 9-3, in the championship match.

“Evan had a great tournament,” said Lebo head coach Tyler Daffinee. “The fact he was drawn into the bracket, didn’t phase him at all. He knew he would have to wrestle tough guys no matter if he was seeded or not.”

Approaching each match in the same manner, Sala scored back-toback falls in his opening bouts against Mason Fink from Elizabeth-Forward (1:01) and Luke Krushinksi from Fox Chapel (1:18). After dispatching the Foxes Daniel Noel, 6-0, he edged Brady Rohaly from North Hills by sudden victory, 4-1, to reach the finals.

“(Sala’s) secret is his calm and presence,” Daffinee said. “He has a calm energy before every match. You don’t notice a difference in him from one

round to the next. The finals are just another match, just keep doing what you are doing.” Injuries during his freshman campaign set Sala back regarding individual goals such as becoming a member of the Century Club. The junior owns a

53-23 overall record. He was 20-7 as a sophomore last year and finished second in the section and sixth in the district. After the county championships, Sala sported a 24-5 record.

A Boyce Middle School sixth grader will take the ice on an international stage this winter.

Michael Rowland, 12, will compete in the 66th Quebec International Pee-Wee Hockey Tournament, scheduled for Feb. 11-22, 2026, in Quebec City. The event is widely regarded as one of the most prestigious minor hockey tournaments in the world.

A goalie, Rowland will compete with the Pittsburgh Penguins Elite 2013 team in the tournament’s AAA division. He has played the position for four years.

Rowland

Founded in 1960, the 12day tournament features top Pee-Wee teams from around the globe and has served as an early showcase for many future professional players. This year’s event will include 118 teams from a record 21 countries. In addition to on-ice competition, the tournament experience includes special events such as NHL Mascot Day and appearances by hockey celebrities. Outside of hockey, Rowland is also involved

DiLucia, Hellmann nominated for Willie Thrower Award

Among top five QBs in the league

By Eleanor Bailey ebailey@thealmanac.net

Nolan DiLucia from McMurray and Ethan Hellmann from Upper St. Clair are among the five finalists for the Willie Thrower Award.

The award recognizes the top quarterback in Southwestern Pennsylvania.

DiLucia and Hellmann will be honored along with Avonworth’s Carson Bellinger, North Catholic’s Joey Felitsky and Pine-Richland’s Aaron Strader on March 28 at a luncheon at the Knead Community Cafe in New Kensington. There the winner will take home a 29-pound replica of the Willie Thrower statue that sits inside of Valley High Memorial Stadium in New Kensington.

This is the sixth year for the award, which is named after the late Willie Thrower, the first Black quarterback to appear in an NFL game with the Chicago Bears in 1953.

Thrower began his career by helping lead the former New Kensington High School to WPIAL titles in 1946 and ’47, along with a runner-up finish in 1945. He was also the first Black quarterback in the Big Ten Conference, contributing to Michigan State’s 1952 national championship.

“I’m honored to be one of the five finalists for this award,” said Hellmann. “I appreciated everyone who voted for me.”

The finalists were selected from balloting by a 70-person panel consisting of two coaches from each WPIAL conference and the Pittsburgh City League, media members who cover high school football on a regular basis and gamenight field officials. Receiving votes were 27 quarterbacks from WPIAL schools, the City League and schools that play an independent schedule.

Crowns

FROM PAGE B1

“We hope to see Evan in Hershey this postseason,” Daffinee said. “He is certainly capable of it and is doing the work to earn it.”

Cole Gibbons continues to earn accolades this season. Having gained a spot in the Century Club in mid-December, he dominated the 160-pound weight class at the county championships.

He scored tech falls against Mathis Miller and Shaler’s Weston Emmons as well as pinned McKeesport’s Tory Anderson-Pearson to reach the semifinals where he decisioned Cooper Dietz from West Mifflin, 7-1. In the finals, Gibbons scored a major decision against Matthew Danna from Quaker Valley, 10-2.

“Cole has stepped up his game,” Daffinee said. “He wants that WPIAL title and is making the adjustments needed to win it.”

Gibbons ran his season record to 25-4 overall. He is 117-40 in his career. Though he currently is ranked No. 4 at 152, Gibbons has never topped the podium during the postseason.

As a sophomore, he did not place at states after finishing third in the sectional and regional tournaments at 145. Last winter as a junior, he was a section runner-up and sixthplace finisher in the WPIAL at 152.

“There are a lot of good wrestlers who don’t win a WPIAL title,” Daffinee said.

“Cole is focused on making that jump from good to great.

I think he is absolutely in the running for that WPIAL title at 160 pounds.” During the Allegheny

“All I can say is I’m thankful to be a Peters Township Indian because without everyone there I wouldn’t be able to say that I’m blessed to be nominated,” DiLucia said. DiLucia gained his recognition by leading the Indians to the WPIAL Class 5A championship, engineering the biggest comeback in the league’s history. Peters Township rallied from a 19-0 halftime deficit to stun No. 1 Pine-Richland, 20-19, in the title game played Nov. 22 at Acrisure Stadium. DiLucia also guided the Indians to a conference championship and a PIAA semifinal appearance. Peters Township finished 13-1 overall after falling to Bishop McDevitt of Harrisburg, 31-28, on a last-second field goal on Nov. 29 at Mansion Park in Altoona.

During the 2025 campaign, DiLucia passed for 2,782 yards and had 22 touchdowns to only six interceptions.

Under his tenure, the Indians sported a 45-8 record with two conference and district championships and a PIAA state runner-up trophy. As a signal caller, he was 39-4 overall.

DiLucia, who was a threetime all-state selection, etched his name in the record books. He finished his career as the No. 2 all-time passing leader in the WPIAL. His 8,819 career passing yards trailed only South Fayette’s Brett Brumbaugh’s 11,084 total. For his career, he accumulated 1,379 rushing yards and 17 TDs to add to his total of 81 passing strikes. Defensively, DiLucia had 211 career tackles and four interceptions. The 18-year-old son of Michael and Jennifer DiLucia is continuing his career at Villanova University, where he plans to major in business. Meanwhile, Hellmann also was a record-setter. A fouryear starter like DiLucia, he

County Tournament, Gibbons also captured the Brotherhood of Wrestling Award. The distinction recognizes exceptional sportsmanship and embodies the spirit of wrestling.

“I am very proud to win this award due to my strong belief in good sportsmanship,” Gibbons said. “I want to be an aggressive and high paced wrestler in the match but respectful and kind as much as possible. After all it is just a sport and meant to be fun.”

In addition to Sala and Gibbons, Ben Mares earned a spot on the awards stand. The senior placed fourth in the 152-pound weight class.

After dropping his first match to Logan Krul, Mares negotiated his way through the losers bracket, picking up five victories, including a major, tech fall and pin, to reach the third-place consolation bout. In the rematch with Krul, Mares again succumbed to the Avonworth freshman who is 22-5 this season.

“Ben had a great tournament,” Daffinee said. “He works every day to make himself and his teammates better.

“I was glad to see him capitalize on the opportunity to score when they presented themselves. It is great to see him having the success he is having this year. I’m excited to see what is in store for him.”

TWO WIN TOO

Two additional area wrestlers captured championships at the county tournament.

Peter Levintis from South Fayette won the 139-pound weight class. The senior scored a major decision, 8-0, against Gateway’s Braden Washington to claim the championship.

Levintis pinned his way into the semifinals, posting three falls in his opening

Blohm selected for U.S. Youth Futsal National Team

shattered the Upper St. Clair record for passing with 5,511 career yards and 68 touchdowns.

In the fall, he guided the Panthers to a runner-up finish to Peters Township in the Allegheny Six Conference. USC lost to the Indians in the semifinals of the WPIAL Class 5A tournament and closed out the season with a 10-3 record. Hellmann finished the 2025 campaign with 2,530 passing yards. He tossed 31 scoring strikes against five interceptions. He was 162 for 241 for a completion rate of 67 percent. An all-conference selection, Hellmann recently committed to Fairmont State University. DiLucia’s and Hellmann’s competition includes Felitsky, who led the WPIAL in passing with 3,381 yards and 44 touchdowns; Bellinger, who ranked second with 2,536 yards and 30 scores while leading the Antelopes to a PIAA title; and Strader, who passed for 2,193 yards and 32 TDs.

Past winners of the Willie Thrower Award were: Pine-Richland’s Cole Spencer (2020), Armstrong’s Caden Olsen (’21 and ’22) and Central Catholic’s Peyton Wehner (’23) and Fort Cherry’s Matt Sieg (’24).

rounds before defeating Bethel Park’s Caleb Crawford, 5-1.

While Levintis improved to 98-43 overall with his tournament showing, Crawford finished third, rebounding to beat Harper Sipes from Quaker Valley, 10-3, in the 139-pound consolation match.

Crawford’s teammate, Ian Bucheli claimed the 145-pound weight class. He scored a major decision against Adam Haines from Fox Chapel, 9-0, in the championship match.

A junior, Bucheli scored a pair of tech falls and a pin to advance to the semifinals, where he dispatched Montour’s Jacob Chacon, 13-9.

Other top wrestlers from South Fayette and Bethel Park to earn a spot on the podium included: Brock Dennison, seventh at 145 and Colton Fisher, eighth at 160.

Chartiers Valley had a solid showing in the tournament.

Musabek Sadyrbekov secured second place at 189.

Michael Lawrence finished fourth at 172. The senior picked up his 100th career victory when he decisioned West Mifflin’s Caden Willis, 7-2, after recording opening round pins against Hampton’s Will Felton (1:22) and North Allegheny’s Jonathan McDowell (0:32). At 139, Tilek Sadyrbekov finished fifth while Chase Glover ended up eighth at 189.

Upper St. Clair put four grapplers on the podium. Among them were: Alex Zevallos (third at 285); Derek Worstell (fifth, 152); Luca Coury (sixth, 172) and Will Stohl (sixth, 285).

North Allegheny won the team title with a 262.5 score. Moon was the runner-up (260.5) and Thomas Jefferson took third (201.0).

An eighth-grade student at Fort Couch Middle School recently represented the United States on an international stage.

Isabella Blohm was selected to compete as a member of the U.S. Youth Futsal (USYF) National Team during a se-

ries of international games held in London and Manchester, England, in late December 2025. The team faced top international competition and trained with elite futsal coaches alongside teammates from across the country.

Blohm, who has played soccer since the age of 4, competes locally for the Beadling Girls Academy and the Pittsburgh Assassins Futsal Club.

Her selection to the national team followed a competitive tryout process that included regional evaluations in Ohio and national tryouts in Michigan last summer. She was one of only two girls from Pennsylvania chosen for the team.

Isabella Blohm demonstrates skills that earned her a spot on the

While in England, Blohm and her family also experienced the country’s rich soccer culture. They attended Premier League matches featuring Manchester United, Chelsea and Manchester City, toured Etihad Stadium and the National Football Museum, and explored holiday attractions throughout London and Manchester.

The international experience provided Blohm with the opportunity to compete at a high level while gaining exposure to global futsal training and professional soccer environments.

PIAA finals coming to Highmark Stadium

By Eleanor Bailey ebailey@thealmanac.net

South Fayette High School boys soccer coach Rob Eldridge described the Pennsylvania Interscolastic Athletic Association’s (PIAA) announcement regarding sites for its fall state championships as “fantastic” news.

For four years, through the 2029-2030 sports season, Highmark Stadium, located on the South Side of Pittsburgh and home to the Riverhounds, who are the reigning USL champions, will host both the boys and girls state championships.

“Highmark is one of the premiere soccer venues in the state with great views of our city,” said Eldridge, whose teams won WPIAL titles in 2015 and 2023 in the stadium.

Doug Fink concurred. The Bethel Park boys soccer coach has had the privilege of actually playing at Highmark Stadium in various men’s leagues as well as of attending many Riverhounds matches. He’s also taken in a few college matches.

“I really enjoy Highmark as a spectator and a player,” Fink said. “It is beautiful to see the background of downtown Pittsburgh.

“I am excited that Highmark Stadium is hosting the high school soccer state championships,” Fink enthused. “I feel that this is a great opportunity to showcase western Pennsylvania.”

Since the PIAA instituted state soccer championships, WPIAL teams have enjoyed much success. Six times both the boys and the girls have completed a sweep of winning dual titles – both a district and PIAA crown.

Locally, Peters Township and Upper St. Clair both have four PIAA boys soccer championships. Bethel Park won a state crown in 1994 and Mt. Lebanon owns the 1981 title. The Lady Indians have won three state championships while USC, Lebo and South Fayette have one apiece.

So the move from central Pennsylvania – for years the finals have been played in Hershey or near Mechanicsburg, the home of the PIAA, to the western part of the state makes sense to Eldridge, who coached

, at Peters Township from 20022007, winning two WPIAL titles, before moving to South Fayette.

“The move aligns with the trending success of our WPIAL soccer programs that have had great success in the past state finals,” he said.

South Fayette’s girls team has experienced unprecedented success recently. They won back-toback WPIAL titles in 2023 and 2024. After finishing runner-up to Fox Chapel this past fall, the Lady Lions won their first PIAA title. They won the 2025 championship by beating Radnor, 3-1, at Northeastern High School in Manchester.

South Fayette head coach Nick Rosser noted his players missed “the experience” of playing in Hershey. “The players didn’t get to see what that was like.”

Hence, Rosser is thrilled with the venue change.

“It brings a lot of excitement to the game,” he said. “It’s a great opportunity for the players to experience.

“For Pittsburgh, it’s a good thing,” he added. “It brings people to our city to see what a great atmosphere Highmark brings to the game.”

Highmark Stadium, which opened in 2013, announced last August plans for expansion. When renovations are completed in 2028, the facility will have a capacity of 15,000, an increase from its current 5,500. It will feature more premium seating areas, a club with banquet space and suites, providing a range of options for fans.

OTHER SITES

The PIAA also announced site changes for the state championships in volleyball and cross country.

St. Francis University in Loretto will host the PIAA championships in girls volleyball through 2030. That overjoys Chris Kelly. He played volleyball for the Red Flash and coached the Peters Township girls to a WPIAL title back in November.

“I love it,” Kelly enthused. “Selfishly, St. Francis is closer to the schools in the western part of the state and my alma mater.” Kelly noted that the high school football teams play at Acrisure Stadium. So the move will enable volleyball players an

opportunity to experience the state finals in a similar fashion.

“Cumberland Valley is a great facility but I do think the state championships should be held in a university gym,” he said. “That’s something a little more special for high school kids.” The PIAA cross country champions have moved to the Big Spring School District in Newville. Previously, the finals were held on the Parkview Cross Country Course in Hershey. Coaches are weighing in on the new site and its challenges.

“All things naturally go through changes and it’ll be fun to have a fresh look at a completely different course that we haven’t raced at the high school level,” said USC head coach Doug Petrick. “We are looking forward to the excitement that a new venue and location will bring for all teams and all athletes.”

Because runners have no comparison times, the competition will “emphasize” racing, says Petrick.

“Since it’s a brand new course, athletes won’t have a number in their head. So it’ll be more a matter of truly racing at this level,” Petrick said.

Joe Winans is familiar with the course because his former harrier, Lauren Iagnemma, competed in the NCAA Division III nationals there when she competed for Case Western.

“She loved it,” he said. So did Winans.

“I went to the race as a spectator and I really liked the layout and how spectator-friendly it was,” he added.

While Winans said he is going to miss Hershey and its main attraction, Chocolate World, he’s thrilled about the change.

“I’m excited for a new look to the state championships,” he said.

The PIAA championship sites for football, field hockey, tennis and golf will remain the same. Football and field hockey are currently held at the Cumberland Valley School District in Mechanicsburg.

The Hershey Racquet Club hosts the team, singles and doubles state championships in girls tennis. The PIAA golf championships, individual as well as team competition, will again be held at Penn State University in State College.

sights & sounds

Mt. Lebanon man to take the reins of the Pittsburgh Opera

By Brad Hundt bhundt@observer-reporter.com

Like a lot of teenagers in the mid-to-late 1980s, William Powers was taken with REM, U2, the Clash and other bands that could be found on MTV or pouring out of boom boxes.

But he soon found himself mixing a little Berlioz with Bono and Camille Saint-Saens with Michael Stipe. Thanks to “an extraordinary high school teacher” who opened Powers’ eyes and ears to the arias of “Rigoletto” when he was growing up in the suburbs of New York City, he decided to journey to Manhattan to take in a performance of “La Boheme.”

“That really captivated me,” Powers recalled. “I had an extraordinary visceral response.”

He added, “It nurtured a burgeoning passion for (opera) and it has not left since.”

His obsession having become his profession, Powers’ love of

opera has taken him from the Juilliard School to jobs with the Metropolitan Opera in New York, the Berkshire Opera Company in Massachusetts, the Aspen Music Festival in Colorado and the Pittsburgh Opera.

Earlier this month, it was announced that Powers, a 53-yearold resident of Mt. Lebanon, will become the general director of Pittsburgh Opera as of July 1.

He’ll be succeeding Christopher Hahn, who has been the company’s general director since 2008.

Since 2021, Powers has been the executive director of the Pittsburgh Youth Symphony Orchestra, which features musicians aged 14 to 20 from around the region.

In a news release announcing Powers’ hiring, Pittsburgh Opera Board President Gene Welsh said Powers was “uniquely qualified to lead Pittsburgh Opera into the future,” citing his familiarity with “our company, our city and our patrons.” Welsh also pointed

what’s happening

BOOK SALE

Due to the weather, the Church of the Atonement’s annual book and jewelry sale has been moved to Feb. 6 and 7 at 618 Washington Ave. in Carnegie.

Sale hours are from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Friday and from 9 a.m. to noon and reopen from 1 to 2 p.m. Saturday.

Used books, from bestsellers to children’s stories, puzzles and costume jewelry will be available for purchase along with other miscellaneous items.

Cash only for purchases. Donations will be accepted. Call 412-279-1944 for more information.

Church services are held at 10 a.m. every Sunday. Coffee hour follows. All are welcome.

SPAGHETTI

The Peters Township Music Boosters will hold its annual Music and Meatballs fundraiser from 3 to 7 p.m. February. 7 in the high school cafeteria, located at 121 Rolling Hills Dr.

In addition to a spaghetti dinner, there will be raffle baskets and music provided by elementary, middle school and high school ensembles.

Pre-sale prices are: $15 for adults and $10 for children. Tickets are $20 after Feb. 3. A family meal ticket (two adults and two children) is available for $45.

Dine-in or carry out is available.

All meal tickets are sold online. Visit ptmbmarching-band-shop.square to purchase.

The Mt. Lebanon Blue Devil Marching Band will hold a spaghetti dinner fundraiser from 5:30 to 8 p.m. Feb. 13 at the high school.

Dine-in or take-out available.

Tickets are: $15 (adults), $14 (seniors 65 and older), $10 (ages 4 to 10). Children 3 and under are free.

Live music will be provided by the Blue Devil Jazz Band. Raffle basketball and Valentine crafts will also be available.

Visit www.facebook.com/ lebobands to order tickets or more information.

LEBO LIBRARY

The Mt. Lebanon Public Library is celebrating Black

over to than Bill Powers. Having worked with him for well over a decade, I have witnessed and benefitted from his expertise, judgment and counsel. His work ethic and integrity are second to none.”

Powers explained that when he was at Juilliard, he was interested in the idea of being a singer, but soon gravitated toward the administrative side of the arts.

His wife, Sari Gruber, is a soprano who has appeared with many national and international opera companies and teaches at Carnegie Mellon University.

Having been on the performance side, “I think it’s something that resulted in greater awareness and sensitivity” in what artists deal with when they stand in front of an audience, Powers explained.

times gotten lost in the shuffle in some school districts, and there are no longer retail outlets like Tower Records with an overflowing stock of classical music to pique the curiosity of younger listeners. But he also sees many talented young people participating in the Pittsburgh Youth Symphony Orchestra, and “there is still a place for it, and I certainly hope we can find ways to expand.”

In the years ahead, Powers also sees the Pittsburgh Opera’s seasons blending newer works and smaller-scale pieces along with familiar, beloved operas that have been traditional draws for audiences.

History Month by offering the following: Game Night: Celebrating Culture & Community from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Feb. 4.

Beyond the Page: A Celebration of Black Literature from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Feb. 10

Movie Night: Celebrating Black stories that shaped Pittsburgh from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. February. 19. Visit www.mtlebanonlibrary. org or call 412-531-1912 for more details.

BP LIBRARY

The Bethel Park library is offering the following programs this month: Scam and Fraud Awareness at 2 p.m. Feb. 3. Dawn M. Massaro from First National Bank will discuss the latest scams and practical strategies to protect bank accounts from financial fraud.

Historical fiction author Mark Macedonia will discuss how centuries of global history fuel his stories at 6:30 p.m. Feb. 18.

Money Management for Teens at 6 p.m. Feb. 25. Students in grades 7 to 12 will learn how to take control of their finances.

Life-size Candyland on Feb. 21. There are three sessions: 10:30 a.m. noon and 1:30 p.m. for ages 4 to 7. Teen Advisory Board member Olivia Anderson designed the program that invites children to journey through the library, transformed into the game, with stops at stations to create crafts, play games and collect stamps.

Pet Adoption Day at 6 p.m. Feb. 24. Children in kindergarten through second grade, accompanied by a caregiver, adopt a pet reading buddy and rotate through various centers that will prepare them to become responsible pet owners. Visit the library’s event page online at bethelpark.librarycalendar.com to register or for more details on each program.

Call 412-835-2207 for more information.

BP MARKET

The next Bethel Park winter indoor market will be held Feb. 3 at the community center, located at 5151 Park Ave. Hours are 4 to 7 p.m.

Future dates are: Feb. 17, March 3, 17 and 31.

No-Cook Tuesdays begin

to Powers’ “ability to successfully helm performing arts organizations.”

Hahn said, “There is no one I would rather turn the reins

March 3 and run through April 28.

GLOW NIGHT

Glow Night will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. Feb. 6 at the Peters Township community recreation center located at 700 Meredith Dr. Designed for mothers and sons, the evening features glowing lights, energetic games and interactive activities for ages 12 and under. Pizza and snacks will be provided. Fees are $20 per couple with $10 for each additional child. Nonmember fees are $30 per couple and $15 for each additional child.

Register at www.peterstownhip.com or call 724942-5000 for details.

COIN CLUB

The South Hills Coin Club will meet at 7:30 p.m. Feb. 10 at the Bethel Park Municipal Building located at 5100 West Library Ave. All members and the general public can attend the program, which will discuss counterfeit currency. A 50/50 will be offered and children’s prizes will be awarded. Applications are now being accepted for membership. Call 724-984-6611 for details.

The South Hills Coin Club will hold its 66th anniversary coin show from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Feb 7 at the Crowne Plaza Hotel & Suites Pittsburgh South, 164 Fort Couch Road. Admission and parking are free. Call 724-984-6611 or 412-854-4022 or email: dale827@verizon.net for further information.

FISH FRY

The American Legion Post 760 will hold a fish fry every Friday during Lent as well as on Ash Wednesday, Feb. 18 from 4 to 7 p.m. at 2409 Bethel Church Rd. Meals are take-out and cash only.

The menu includes: baked or fried fish, shrimp, Mac ’n cheese, French fries or potato soup as well as lobster bisque soup, coleslaw and Haluski.

Visit www.bethelParklegion760.org or call 412835-9690 for more information.

LUNCH

A senior luncheon will be held Feb. 25 at the Chabad of the South Hills, 1701 McFarland Rd. in Mt. Lebanon.

One of Powers’ goals when he becomes the Pittsburgh Opera’s general director at mid-year is getting more young people to come to performances. He noted that music education has some -

“Safe Driving Through the Ages” will be presented in addition to lunch.

Suggested donation is $5. The event is wheelchair accessible.

Call 412-278-2658 to RSVP or for more information.

SOFTBALL

Registration is being accepted for the South Hills Senior Softball League. Players 55 and older are eligible.

The league, formed more than three decades ago, attracts more than 150 players each year. Games are typically played at fields in South Park, Pleasant Hills, Baldwin, Brentwood, Bethel Park and Pittsburgh. One division of the league plays on weekday evenings. Another set of teams plays on weekday mornings. Teams in both divisions normally play twice a week. Tryouts and a draft are held in April. Dates to be announced to registered players later.

Email: SHSSLeague@ yahoo.com for information regarding how to register. Forms are due March 30.

Registration is also open to teams and/or players in the Men’s Church Softball League of the South Hills. Games are played as doubleheaders on Saturday p.m. and schedule requests are taken. The season generally runs from May through July and into August for playoffs. Games are played in Bethel Park or Bridgeville. Entry fee is per team or by individual.

Contact Bob Keibler, league commissioner at 724-518-6072 or rkeibler@ nacahtech.com for more information.

BLACK HISTORY

Mt. Lebanon will celebrate Black history from noon to 4 p.m. Feb. 28 at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, 1066 Washington Rd. Parking is available off Mayfair Drive. Doors open at 11:30 a.m. Honoring Legacy, Inspiring Action is the theme and guests can explore, celebrate and connect through education, food, activities and fellowship. The event is free but registration is encouraged. Visit tinyurl.com/lebobhm2026 to sign up. BINGO

Powers noted, “Pittsburgh Opera has a long, distinguished lineage of general directors. This company has accomplished great things in its first 87 seasons. I look forward to building on the legacy of artistic excellence, while helping ensure Pittsburgh Opera’s continued long-term fiscal stability.”

A charity bingo, benefiting Angel Ridge Animal Rescue and Bailey’s Cat Haven, will be held March 15 at the Bethel Park Community Center, located at 5151 Park Ave. Doors open at 12:30 p.m. Games start at 1:30 p.m.

Tickets are $30 in advance or $35 at the door. Admission covers all regular and special games. Players can compete for payouts of $100 for regular games, $200 for specials, and $500 for the cover-all jackpot.

A Chinese Auction, 50/50, pull tabs, a “Pot of Gold” raffle will also be featured. Food and beverages will be available for sale.

Advance tickets are available at Bailey’s Cat Haven in South Park from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. daily and Angel Ridge in Washington from noon to 3 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.

COMEDY

A Jewish comedy night, featuring Ami Kozak, will be held at 7 p.m. Feb. 15. Address will be provided upon RSVP. Couvert is $54. Purchase tickets at Chabadsh. com/comedy.

AARP

The AARP Chapter 3016 meets the second Thursday of the month at Unity Presbyterian Church, 1146 Greentree Road.

Doors open at 11:30 a.m.

The meeting starts at noon.

The group offers trips, picnics, programs and holiday parties. Ages 55 and older can attend. Call 412-563-3961 for more details

LEBO REC

The Mt. Lebanon recreation department offers the following:

Canvas Creation for kindergarten through sixth grade. Students will paint a Penguin on an 11x14 stretched canvas from 4 to 5:30 p.m. Feb. 16. Additionally, the recreation department offers an array of exercise and fitness classes as well as learnto-skate and play hockey programs. Visit mt.lebanon. org for more details or to register.

Mt. Lebanon is also looking to hire the following: parttime recreation center maintenance person; part-time skate guard; pool manager and supervisors for the upcoming summer season.

Visit the Human Resources page at mtlebanon.org for more information.

PANCAKES

The Rotary Club of Bethel-St. Clair will host its 66th annual all-you-can-eat pancake festival from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. March 7 in Fellowship Hall of the Westminster Presbyterian Church located at 2040 Washington Road. Tickets are $12 for adults and $6 for children under 12. Call 412-292-0922 to purchase tickets or for additional information.

LIONS CLUB

A bingo, benefiting the Lions Club, will be held March 14 at the Library Fire Hall. Doors open at 5:45 p.m. Tickets are $35 each and include cards for 10 games. In addition, there will be raffle baskets, including a $250 gift card and $250 lottery basket.

TOPS

Chapter 475 of the Take Off Pounds Reasonable group meets every Thursday at Carnegie Lifespan Center, 300 Lincoln Ave. Weigh-in is at 1:30 p.m. Class starts at 2 p.m. The group offers programs, contests and exercise.

Call 412-276-5056 for information.

PBPS MEETS

Plant Based Pittsburgh South holds its monthly meetings at 6 p.m. on the third Monday of each month at Sunnyhill Church, 1240 Washington Road in Mt. Lebanon. Contact naomiherman@ msn.com for more information.

CHABAD CAMP

Registration is being accepted for Camp Gan Izzy and early bird pricing is available until March 15.

The summer Jewish camp experience of fun in the South Hills is offered from July 6 through 17 for ages 5 to 11. Hours are 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Friday.

The camp features Jewish themes, swimming, weekly trips, sports, science, baking, and crafts administered by an experienced staff. Registration at chabadsh. com/cgi For more details email: hindy@chabadsh.com or call 412-344-2424.

Apartments for Rent

Allrealestateadvertisementsinthisnewspaperaresubjecttothe FederalFairHousingAct,whichmakesitillegaltoadvertise“any preference,limitationordiscrimi-nationbasedonrace,color,religion, sex,handicap,familialstatusornationalorigin,oranintentionto makeanysuchpreference,limitationordiscrimination.” Statelawsforbiddiscriminationinthesale,rental,oradvertisingof realestatebasedonfactorsinadditiontothoseprotectedunder federallaw. Wewillnotknowinglyacceptanyadvertisingforrealestatewhichis inviolationofthelaw.Allpersonsareherebyinformedthatalldwellingsadvertisedareavailableonanequalopportunitybasis.

CEMETERY CRYPTS - Two side-by-side 3rd level crypts in

Lawn Gardens, McMurray. Certificates of ownership include pre-paid entombment fees and crypt plate lettering fees. Asking $4,000. 412-552-4291

CEMETERY PLOT (1) Jefferson Memorial Cemetery Chapel Circle Section 26 $400 OR BEST OFFER 412-225-7067

CEMETERY PLOTS (4 plots) Jefferson Memorial Cemetery, located in “Garden of the Virtues”, will subdivide. $2,000 412-221-0956

COMPANION LAWN CRYPT Crypt for 2 at Forest Lawn Gardens, McMurray, Devotion section, Lot 117-B. $6,500, will negotiate. Call 386-416-9605

JEFFERSON MEMORIAL

CEMETERY - Companion lawn crypt for 2, in the Garden of the Pillars of Faith, Lot #1270. $4,500. 412-831-0433 MT. LEBANON CEMETERY

GUN STOCK - For AR15, slidefire, bumpstock, new. Text me for photos. $99. 724-984-5368

HANDGUN - 9mm, 8 shot.HI -point. Brand new in box! $199. Text for more pix, 724-984-5368 All firearm sales must comply with all state and federal regulations. HARLEY DAVIDSON BOOTS Size 8, leather, waterproof. Brand new. $150. 412-217-8800 KITCHEN ISLAND - Free standing, 3-drawer Thomasville, 32Wx26Dx36H. $300 obo. 412-835-2781

LAMP - Candlestick style, brass with crystal globe and silk shade, 28” high. $75. 412-835-2781

724-941-4912

DECANTER - Vintage, crystal with cobalt blue stopper. Very heavy. $25. 724-746-0473

DESKS (2) - Child/teen, white wood, with integrated bookshelf and 2 chairs. $10 obo. 412-209-9548 text only DESSERT PLATES (4) Seashell, ceramic, blue tone. New in box. $15. 724-941-4912

DINNERWARE - Stoneware, 60 pieces, all accessories. $200. 724-413-7168

DOLLHOUSE - Handmade, blue, 32L x 31H x 16.5W. $300. 412-414-9739

DOLLHOUSE - Handmade, brown, 30.5L x 31H x 11W. $300. 412-414-9739

DOLLHOUSE - Handmade, wooden, 24L x 26.75H x 8.5W. $200. 412-414-9739

DVDs - Jon & Kate Plus Eight, complete series, Seasons 1-5. $10. 724-809-5746

EXERCISE BIKE - Recumbent. Like new. $125. 724-632-6810

EXERCISE BIKE - Weslo Pursuit G 3.8. Good condition. $10. 412-443-3198 GENERATOR Wen 5600 watt. New, never used. $300. 724-428-3813

LAWNMOWER - Honda. Mulches and bags. $75. 724-416-7832 Log Splitter Used 2 days $600 724-328-1825 MODEL CAR - Chevy ‘59 Impala Convertible, 1-18 scale, Road Legends. Never opened. $50. 615-727-4481 MODEL CAR - Santa in a Dragster, 1-18 scale. Original box, never opened. $45. 615-727-4481 (McMurray area)

Amplifiers 412-715-3210

Tractors/Mowers John Deere 1025R with backhoe, loader, NEW $25,000 724-255-3691

Deere X738 tractor 2022 200 hours, 54 inch mower deck, all wheel drive, power steering $7,500 724-288-6177 Miscellaneous All Around Fence Co. Pressure Treated Yellow Pine Posts 7896 National Pike Uniontown 724-439-0331 allaround@allaroundfence.com Autos

CHEVROLET 1993 CAMARO Z28 Meticulously

AUDI

AUDI WASHINGTON 453 Racetrack Road,Washington, PA 866-414-9744 www.audiwashington.com

BUICK

BUDD BAER BUICK 83 Murtland Avenue, Washington, PA 724-249-6047 www.buddbaergm.com

2605 E Roy Furman Hwy, Carmichaels,

CHEVROLET

BORTZ CHEVROLET 249 Roy E. Furman Hwy. Waynesburg, PA 15370 724-627-6171 www.bortzchevy.com

COLUSSY CHEVROLET 3073 Washington Pk. Bridgeville, PA 15017 412-564-9829 www.colussy.com

SOLOMON CHEVROLET 1777 McClellandtown Rd, McClellandtown, PA 724-602-4678 www.solmonchevy.com

SUN CHEVROLET Route 19, McMurray, PA 724-941-5160 www.sunchevy.com

WASHINGTON CHEVROLET

Intersection of Rt. 19, I-79 & I-70, Exit 19A Washington, PA 724-222-2800 www.washingtonchevy.com

CHRYSLER

SOLOMON CHRYSLER Routes 40 & 43 Brownsville, PA 724-785-8000 www.solomonauto.com

SOLOMON CHRYSLER 2605 E Roy Furman Hwy, Carmichaels, PA 724-966-2600 www.solomonauto.com

SOUTH HILLS CHRYSLER 3344 Washington Rd, McMurray, PA 15317 724-941-4300 www.southhillsauto.com

DODGE

ROTOLO’S DODGE 58 Route 88, North Charleroi, PA 15022 888-269-6183 www.rotolomotors.com

SOLOMON DODGE 2605 E Roy Furman Hwy, Carmichaels, PA 724-966-2600 www.solomonauto.com

SOLOMON DODGE Routes 40 & 43 Brownsville, PA 724-785-8000 www.solomonauto.com

SOUTH HILLS DODGE 3344 Washington Rd, McMurray, PA 15317 724-941-4300 www.southhillsauto.com

FIAT

SOUTH HILLS FIAT 3344 Washington Rd, McMurray, PA 15317 724-941-4300 www.southhillsauto.com

FORD

FOX FORD

743 E. High Street, Waynesburg, PA 724-627-3151 www.foxfordwaynesburg.com

SOLOMON FORD Routes 40 & 43 Brownsville, PA 724-785-5500 www.solomonauto.com

STAR LAKE FORD 1212 S. in front of Main St 724-947-3381 www.starlakeford.com

WASHINGTON FORD 507 Washington Road, Rt. 19, Washington, PA 888-706-6128 www.washingtonford.com

GMC

BUDD BAER GMC 83 Murtland Ave. Washington Pa 724-249-6047 www.buddbaergm.com

HARLEY DAVIDSON

STEEL CITY HARLEY DAVIDSON 1375 Washington Road, Washington, PA 724-225-7020 www.steelcitymotorcycles.com

HONDA C. HARPER HONDA 106 Harper Drive Belle Vernon, PA 15012 724-929-8000 Ext. 227 Chuck Calcek www.charperhonda.com

WASHINGTON HONDA Rt. 19, Strabane Square Washington, PA 15301 724-222-2213 www.washhonda.com

HYUNDAI

WASHINGTON HYUNDAI

305 WashingtonRd. Rt. 19 at Strabane Square Washington, PA 724-222-2216 www.washhyundai.com

JEEP

ROTOLO’S JEEP 58 Route 88, North Charleroi, PA 15022 888-269-6183 www.rotolomotors.com

SOLOMON JEEP 2605 E Roy Furman Hwy, Carmichaels, PA724-966-2600 www.solomonauto.com

SOLOMON JEEP Rt. 40 & 43, Brownsville, PA 724-785-8000 www.solomonauto.com

SOUTH HILLS JEEP 3344 Washington Rd, McMurray, PA 15317 724-941-4300 www.southhillsauto.com

KIA

SOUTH HILLS KIA 3644 Washington Rd, McMurray, PA 15317 724-942-3000 www.southhillsauto.com

LINCOLN

SOUTH HILLS LINCOLN Route 19, McMurray, PA 724-941-1600 www.southhillslincoln.net

MAZDA

BUDD BAER MAZDA 83 Murtland Avenue, Washington, PA 724-993-4430 www.buddbaermazda.com

MERCEDES-BENZ

JOHN SISSON MERCEDES-BENZ 470 Washington Road Adjacent to Gabriel’s, 724-206-6000 www.johnsissonmercedes.com

NISSAN

JOHN SISSON NISSAN 470 Washington Road Adjacent to Gabriel’s, Washington, PA 724-223-8600 www.johnssissonnissan.com

RAM

ROTOLO’S RAM 58 Route 88, North Charleroi, PA 15022 888-269-6183 www.rotolomotors.com

SOLOMON RAM 2605 E Roy Furman Hwy, Carmichaels, PA 724-966-2600 www.solomonauto.com

SOLOMON RAM Routes 40 & 43 Brownsville, PA 724-785-8000 www.solomonauto.com

SOUTH HILLS RAM 3344 Washington Rd, McMurray, PA 15317 724-941-4300 www.southhillsauto.com

SUBARU

BUDD BAER SUBARU 71 Murtland Avenue, Washington, PA 724-222-0700 www.buddbaersubaru.com

TOYOTA

SOUTH HILLS TOYOTA 2403 Washington Road Canonsburg, PA 15317 724-743-1144 www.southhillstoyota.com

VOLKSWAGEN

THREE RIVERS VOLKSWAGEN 3694 Washington Road, McMurray, PA 724-941-6100 www.3riversvw.com

Pre-owned dealers

RT. 18 HOMES AUTO SALES 940 Henderson Ave., Washington, PA 724-225-5308 www.18autosales.com OLIVERIO

THREE RIVERS AUTO SALES 30 South Central Avenue Canonsburg, PA 15317 724-338-2923 www.3riversvw.com

PREMIERE AUTO SALES 667 E. Maiden St., Washington, PA 724-223-0600 www.premiereautosales.com

TREGEMBO MOTORS I-70 Exit 32B, Bentleyville, PA 724-239-2200 www.tregembomotors.com

WARNE MOTORS INC. 107 East Pike Street Canonsburg, PA 724-746-5956 www.johnwarnemotors.com