the almanac M A R C H 2, 2025
SOUTH HILLS COMMUNITY NEWS
a thealmanac.net
facebook.com/SouthHillsAlmanac
@shillsalmanac
PT council OKs police social worker position By Jon Andreassi Staff writer
jandreassi@observer-reporter.com
Peters Township council voted last week to formally establish a social worker position within its police department. Council voted unanimously at its meeting Monday to approve resolutions both creating the position and laying out the duties of the eventual hire. Peters police Chief Joseph Glover said last month the social worker will
assist officers with issues related to mental health and social welfare. Glover used the example of a hoarding situation, and said police officers are not typically trained to be able to help someone in that situation. According to the newly approved policies and procedures governing the social services coordinator position, officers can request that the employee ride along when responding to calls. The social worker will also be ex-
pected to respond to situations involving substance abuse or suicide threats. The guidelines for the position also expect that the new hire will engage with the community in the form of community trainings, educational programs and small group meetings. Peters Township will be the first municipality in the county to have a police social worker. The social services coordinator will be paid a salary of $66,000. Peters Township is receiving $42,500
Sweet old time
annually from Washington County for five years to offset the cost. Councilman Frank Arcuri said at the meeting that the continued existence of the position after those five years will depend on how beneficial the social worker proves to be. “I think, really, the county should have set it up as a regional thing so that the use of this type of person could benefit all the police departments and municipalities in the county,” Arcuri said. “I know that they’re throwing money at us, and I
think that’s great, but I think that going forward, after this five-year period, I would not spend the money on that unless it’s very, very beneficial to the township.” Township Manager Paul Lauer agreed that an arrangement with neighboring municipalities could be a way to push the idea of a police social worker forward. “If everybody chipped in, you could have several of these and they could be of use throughout the county,” Arcuri said.
PennDOT offers REAL ID Days to assist residents By Karen Mansfield Staff writer
kmansfield@observer-reporter.com
ABOVE: Twins Alexa, left, and Elliona Tredrow, 4, of Houston, adopt a cuddly new friend at the plush pet auction in the Kid’s Korner at Sweet Sunday. They are the daughters of Courtney Cherry. LEFT: From left, Judy Sandy, food service director of City Mission; Larry Maggi, Washington County commissioner, and Lisa Scarmazzi, principal of Scarmazzi Homes, had he sweet job of judging the desserts.
With the federal enforcement deadline just a few months away, the state Department of Transportation is holding a series of events across the state to help residents obtain REAL IDs. Starting May 7, residents 18 and older must show a REAL ID, a passport or other federally approved identification to board domestic flights and certain federal buildings. PennDOT is helping to expand access for those in need of a REAL ID-compliant driver’s license or identification card before the deadline by holding a series of REAL ID Days events across the state, including from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. March 3 at the Bridgeville License Center, 1025 Washington Pike. During the events, centers will exclusively process REAL IDs on Mondays, when the centers are typically closed. Pennsylvania residents who want to board an airplane for a domestic flight will need a REAL ID driver’s license or identification
card. If their driver’s license is not ID-compliant, they will need another form of approved identification, such as a passport, to board their flight or enter secure federal facilities, including military bases and some federal offices. The REAL ID driver’s license cards have a small star in the upper right corner to indicate they meet federal regulations security standards. “PennDOT is committed to making it as convenient as possible for Pennsylvanians to obtain a REAL ID if they want one,” said Kara Templeton, PennDOT Deputy Secretary for Driver and Vehicle Services. “Because we’re seeing an increase in demand, we decided to offer our REAL ID Days as a way to ensure we are meeting the needs of the public and providing them with the best possible customer service.” Bring the following documents: ■ Proof of identity: Examples include an original or certified copy of a birth certificate with a raised or embossed seal, or a valid, unexpired U.S. passport. SEE REAL ID PAGE A2
Historian talks democracy at Elrama Tavern reopens 3 years after W&J symposium fire destroyed popular restaurant PHOTOS BY
Liz Rogers/Observer-Reporter
By Brad Hundt
institutions,” Meacham said. He explained at the Senator John Heinz History Center in bhundt@observer-reporter.com Pittsburgh Wednesday that PITTSBURGH – Jon President Donald Trump Meacham says he is neither and his team were put in a Republican nor a Dem- office through a democratocrat, has written ic election, but one about presidents month into Trump’s as removed in time second term in the and temperament White House, “autoas Andrew Jackson cratic forces brought and George H.W. to power by demoBush, makes biblicratic means” have cal references when placed democracy discussing Ameri- Meacham at risk. ca’s history and emMeacham said, phasizes that the country “We are facing, I believe, a was not founded on ethnicfundamentally moral quesity or geography but “on an tion – are enough of us going ideal.” to see each other not as rivals, So, how does he view this or as foes, but as neighbors? moment in American life? Without a sense of neighbor“I believe we are in a seriliness, this does not work.” ous but survivable crisis of American democracy and SEE TALKS PAGE A2 Staff writer
By Mike Jones Staff writer
mjones@observer-reporter.com
In the nearly three years since the Elrama Tavern burned down, owner Susan Grimm wasn’t always sure they’d be able to rebuild and reopen the popular restaurant. There were ups and downs along the way with three different builders and six unique designs, all while money was tight with her family losing its main source of income. But Grimm persevered, and she received hugs and plenty of praise from loyal customers Monday when the new Elrama Tavern officially opened its doors to the public for the first time. SEE TAVERN PAGE A2
MIKE JONES/OBSERVER-REPORTER
Elrama Tavern owner Susan Grimm stands at the bar of her restaurant that reopened Monday nearly three years after fire destroyed the original building along Route 837 in Union Township.
PITTSBURGH Freezing for a reason at Polar Plunge PAGE A5
SPORTS Three girls teams reach WPIAL finals PAGE B1 What’s happening, B3
SIGHTS & SOUNDS Musical partnership flourishes PAGE B3 Classifieds, B4