the almanac N O V E M B E R 14, 2025
SOUTH HILLS COMMUNITY NEWS
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SPECIAL CELEBRATION
Veterans Day personal at South Fayette The South Fayette School District celebrated Veterans Day in a very personal way. Approximately 40 local veterans joined elementary school students from kindergarten through second grade for a special assembly. Many of the students, faculty and staff had personal ties to military service, so the assemblies enabled them to better understand the respect and appreciation expected toward those who are serving the country or have sacrificed for the nation. Veterans and their host students paraded from the library to the multipurpose room accompanied by performing members of the Little Green Machine marching band. In addition to interacting with veterans and active service members, the students were able to witness how military service impacts the district and their peers as well as encourages values and characteristics such as empathy, respect, civic pride and responsibility. In addition a monument and bench were dedicated to salute veterans and active service members. Situated outside the high school campus, they were part of an Eagle Scout project completed this summer by Jasim Khilij. The bench was crafted, donated, and delivered by Gaydos Monument Co. (a veteran-owned company).
PHOTOS BY JENNIFER DONOVAN/FOR THE ALMANAC
ABOVE: Robert Ferrainolo shares a special moment with his son, Ethan, during Veterans Day activities at South Fayette Elementary School. Ferrainolo serves in the Army. BELOW: Mason Miller, Cody Campbell, Tenioluwa Famuagun, Abbey Miller, Arjun Yadav, and Jasim Khilji (seated) rest and reflect at the new fixture situated outside South Fayette High School. Khilij created the area, dedicated to veterans and active service personnel, as part of his Eagle Scout project.
ABOVE: Ronald Foor, who served in the U.S. Marine Corps, attended Veterans Day activities at South Fayette Elementary School with his wife, Anita, and granddaughter, June Capehart. BELOW: Ronald Kisak enjoyed Veterans Day with his grandchildren, Oliver and Anne Hodgins.
Upper St. Clair headlines Veterans Day commemorations By Eleanor Bailey Almanac Staff Writer ebailey@thealmanac.net
With temperatures hovering at 24 degrees and wind chills making it feel colder, state Rep. Natalie Mihalek kept her remarks brief during a Veterans Day commemoration on Nov. 11 in Upper St. Clair. Her five-minute discourse, however, proved powerful as she addressed her fellow veterans, families and community members crowded together at the Veterans Memorial Park to recognize those that took an oath to protect and defend the nation. Long before she began her political career in the 40th legislative district in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives, Mihalek served in the Navy’s elite nuclear program, of which only 1% of sailors admitted are women. Mihalek said that when she left the Navy, she learned what so many already knew – there is no real line that separates the then from now and that most veterans never truly take off the uniform. “When you raise your right hand and take that oath for the first time to support and defend the Constitution of the United States, you make a promise that doesn't ex-
pire when the enlistment is up. For many of us, that oath becomes part of who we are. And though we may hang up the uniform, that sense of duty stays stitched into us. It just takes on a quieter form.” Mihalek called this the second oath. “That quiet continuation of service. It's not written down anywhere. There's no ceremony when you take it. There's no signing bonus, nothing of note to post on Facebook, but you can see it every single day.” She noted the veteran who coaches the Little League team and teaches players about teamwork and accountability; the veteran volunteering at the food bank, the ones serving on the township boards of commissioners or those checking on their veteran buddies and organizing community events. “The service doesn't come with medals or ribbons, but it's just as honorable,” Mihalek said. “In some ways, it's even harder, because you're drafting your own orders. No one is telling you what must be done, but you instinctively know what to do. You do it. You keep serving.” She noted that every generation of veterans from World War II to Vietnam; from Iraq
FILE PHOTO
Volunteers prepare food at Ma and Pop’s Country Kitchen in 2022.
Bethel Park restaurant continues tradition of free Thanksgiving meals By Jon Andreassi PHOTOS BY ELEANOR BAILEY/THE ALMANAC
ABOVE: State Rep. Natalie Mihalek delivered the keynote remarks during Veterans Day ceremonies held Nov. 11 in Upper St. Clair BELOW: Colin Burns, John Whitman, Blake Davis and Nicholas Deutsch play during Veterans Day activities in Upper St. Clair.
Staff writer
jandreassi@observer-reporter.com
For eight years Ma and Pop’s Country Kitchen in Bethel Park has been helping those in need on Thanksgiving by providing free meals. Erica Diethorn, who owns the restaurant along with her husband, Stephen Diethorn, says the need may be even greater this year. With the ongoing delay in SNAP benefits due to the shutdown of the federal government, Diethorn said they are stocking up on more food than they did last year. Diethorn said they are “a little bit worried” about folks in the community who rely on the program. “It’s kind of worrisome,” Diethorn said. She noted that there are many families in the South Hills who are being affected by the delay in benefits. “I know that people don’t think that Bethel Park families, SEE MEALS PAGE A2
SEE VETERAN PAGE A2
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