the almanac J U LY 6, 2025
SOUTH HILLS COMMUNITY NEWS
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FOSTER GRANDPARENT PROGRAM CELEBRATES 60TH ANNIVERSARY PAGE A4
COURTESY OF TERRIE SUICA-REED
Lt. Gen. Gus Pagonis and his son, Gust, a military veteran as well, attended the recent celebration of surviving World War II veterans at Stage AE in Pittsburgh.
‘CALL ME GUS’ From teen band to band of soldiers, Charleroi native reflects on career
KUNTZ EARNS KEN WALDIE MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP STIPEND PAGE B1
By Rick Shrum
For the Observer-Reporter rshrum@observer-reporter.com
Gus Pagonis grew up in Charleroi three-quarters of a century ago, amid smokestacks and among countless Mon Valley kids who likewise were uncertain of their lifetime trajectories. “I was in a rock ’n roll band in the Valley when I was younger,” Pagonis recounted. “I think I was 15 or 16. My dad would say, ‘Do you want to be a bum all of your life or go to school?’ His father, an immigrant from Greece, pushed his son. “He sent me to a steel mill, where he knew the foreman,” Gus said. I realized that I don’t want to do that all of my life.” So upon graduation from Charleroi High School, Pagonis enrolled at Pennsylvania State University, which led to his trajectory.
DORMONT STORE DEDICATED TO ZERO WASTE, SUSTAINABILITY PAGE B3 What’s happening, B3 Real estate transactions, A6 RICK SHRUM/FOR THE OBSERVER-REPORTER
Former Steelers star Rocky Bleier, left, and Lt. Gen. Gus Pagonis converse during a SEE REFLECTS PAGE A2 celebration of World War II veterans at Stage AE in Pittsburgh on June 6.
Classifieds, B4-6
Always B Smiling to unveil Sensory Garden during event By Jill Thurston Staff writer
jthurston@observer-reporter.com
Bennett Huibregtse, or “B,” was a special young man who smiled even through difficult challenges in his short life and inspired the growing campus of buildings along the Montour Trail on Valleybrook Road, appropriately named “Always B Smiling.” A Miles for Smiles event is planned for July 20 to celebrate the life of Huibregtse, and proceeds will help continue the programs offered for special needs individuals of all ages. The family event includes a 116-yard dash, 5K, food and activities, performance by the Spectrum Band and tours of the new Sensory Garden. The festivities start at 8 a.m. at Always B Smiling, 106 Valleybrook Road in McMurray, along the Montour Trail. Registration is free, but required at www.alwaysbsmiling.org. The second phase of the Always Be Smiling campus, the Sensory Garden includes musical instruments along its borders, features that twirl, and swings. The Sensory Garden was designed at a cost of $261,000 and paid for by the Washing-
COURTESY OF TARA BENNETT PHOTOGRAPHY
Members of the group who set the kettlebell record are, from left, Krystle Gavin, Bianca Niccolai, Rachel Ferry, Samantha Carobine, Legend Thurman, Lisa Bruce, Kaitlyn Sweet, Trenton Sweet, Camilla DeFelice, Brittany Martin, Laura Glomb and Payton Etier.
World record swingers “I was pretty confident we were going to Washington fitness double the previous record,” said Energy Fitness co-owner Trenton Sweet. studio sets record for “Everyone at the gym was really starting to evolve with their kettlebell training, getpretty strong. We started doing a lot of kettlebell weight lift ting in-house competitions and challenges. I wonCOURTESY OF ALWAYS B SMILING
Liz Smolka, with son Benjamin, 7, along with volunteers, participate in the Saturday rides along the Montour Trail with Always B Smiling.
ton County Local Share Account generated from gaming proceeds. Located just outside of the garden is a greenhouse, providing space for handson gardening activities “that
nurture not only plants, but also confidence, joy and a sense of purpose,” said co-founder Kristen Huibregtse, Bennett’s mother. SEE GARDEN PAGE A2
By Jill Thurston Staff writer
jthurston@observer-reporter.com
A Washington fitness studio swung for the stars last month and landed a world record. Eleven women and one man at Energy Fitness Studio on Adios Drive set out to break the current world record for the most weight lifted by kettlebell swing in one hour by a team. They not only broke the record, they quadrupled it.
dered what we could go for as a team,” said Sweet, which led to his interest in the world record attempt. The team trained with the kettlebells – a weight-training tool resembling a cannonball with a handle – for 12 weeks prior to the event held in May. The weight of the kettlebell varied from 15 to 60 pounds. “The amount of weight was decided by each person depending on their confidence SEE RECORD PAGE A2