the almanac O C T O B E R 5, 2025
SOUTH HILLS COMMUNITY NEWS
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SALLY’S SANCTUARY TO SERVE HOMELESS WOMEN AND CHILDREN PAGE A2
COURTESY OF BRIDGEVILLE-SOUTH FAYETTE ROTARY CLUB
Cooking for a cause One of the 35 chili booths at the 2024 Bridgeville-South Fayette Rotary Club Chili Cookoff Fundraiser
Rotary clubs serve up comfort food to benefit charities this fall By Jill Thurston Staff writer
UPPER ST. CLAIR HOSTS BETHEL PARK IN SOUTH HILLS SHOWDOWN PAGE B1
jthurston@observer-reporter.com
Chili and barbecued chicken will be on the menu this fall for two area Rotary clubs raising money for local charities. For each group, planning for the fundraisers begins months in advance. “Once we know the Steelers schedule, we can pick the date,” said Joe Verduci, co-chair for the South Fayette-Bridgeville Rotary Club Chili Cookoff, now in its 18th year. The Steeler schedule is released in the spring, when the Rotary reserves the pavilion at Fairview Park in Bridgeville for the popular event that he said draws between 600 and 800 attendees. This year, the cookoff will be held on Saturday, Oct. 19, from noon to 4 p.m. Tickets are $10. For Brian Schill, club service director for the Rotary of Upper St. Clair-Bethel Park, Breakfast Club, finding the chairperson is the vital first step followed by the date. “Fortunately, the two chairs from last year are serving again as chairs, Sally Morrison and Theresa Kozleuchar,” said Schill. “They have 32 people (volunteers) to corral to make this happen.”
BETHEL PARK CAR CRUISE RAISES FUNDS FOR ST. JUDE HOSPITAL PAGE B3 COURTESY OF THE ROTARY OF UPPER ST. CLAIR-BETHEL PARK, BREAKFAST CLUB
Volunteers at the 2024 Chicken BBQ, held at Bethel Park High School
The chicken BBQ fundraiser will be held on Saturday, Oct. 11 at the Bethel Park High School’s parking lot from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tickets are $15. Planning time is also bonding time.
“We start in April or May with a kickoff meeting and decide the date. It depends on when the high school can accommodate us,” said Sally Morrison, co-chair for the chicken event. … “It’s a lot of work. We really documented a lot of it last
year (the process). Every year you get a little smarter and tweak things and do better,” Morrison said. “Because we’ve done it for so many years, it’s almost a bonding
What’s happening, B3 Real estate transactions, A6 Classifieds, B4-6
SEE ROTARY PAGE A2
Peters Township school board appoints new superintendent By Jon Andreassi Staff writer
jandreassi@observer-reporter.com
JON ANDREASSI/OBSERVER-REPORTER
The former site of a Kings Family Restaurant in North Strabane Township is slated to become the fourth location of Labriola’s Italian Markets.
Labriola’s Italian Markets plans new location for North Strabane By Jon Andreassi Staff writer
jandreassi@observer-reporter.com
A family-owned Italian market that has long been a staple of the Pittsburgh region is planning a new location in North Strabane Township. Leonard Labriola’s Italian Markets will open a fourth location at the site of the former Kings Family Restaurant at 580 McClelland Road. Owner Leonard Labriola said they are still early in the process, and are looking to open by next spring. “I always told my children … I always wanted to put a
store in the South Hills. I think that is a very great area,” Labriola said last month. “This came about in April. I was brought to that site. Oh, my goodness, how could this be available? And it was. It’s a terrific spot. It’s a terrific retail opportunity.” According to Washington County property records, Labriola’s purchased the McClelland Road property on Sept. 4 for $2,725,000. Labriola’s currently has locations in Aspinwall, Monroeville and Warrendale. A nowclosed location in Penn Hills is still used as a warehouse and kitchen. Their markets offer
a wide selection of cheeses, deli meats, pasta, homemade sauces, bread and desserts. They also sell prepared meals and homemade soup. “We sell anything that you can think of in an Italian product,” Labriola said. In Aspinwall, there is also the Labriola Winery. Labriola said the North Strabane location will also sell its selection of wines. Labriola said his father, Leonard Labriola Sr., opened the first store in 1929 on Larimer Avenue in Pittsburgh’s East Liberty neighborhood. SEE MARKETS PAGE A3
The current deputy superintendent of Peters Township School District will take over as the superintendent next school year. The board of school directors voted 8-1 at a special meeting Monday to name Dr. Jennifer Murphy as the superintendent on a three-year contract. Alexandra Binsse was the dissenting vote. The decision came after Dr. Jeannine French announced over the summer her intention to retire at the end of this school year. “I’m really humbled by this opportunity and overwhelmed by the positive outpouring I’ve received from the community, staff, parents and board members,” Murphy said in an interview Wednesday. Murphy will step into the role next July, and will receive an annual salary of $225,000. She has been with Peters Township School District since 2013 and has served as assistant and deputy superintendent. She previously worked in Pittsburgh Public Schools as a teacher, assistant principal and principal. “Dr. Murphy is a proven, student-centered leader
Dr. Jennifer Murphy
whose thorough knowledge of our schools and community will ensure a smooth and successful transition,” said Rebecca Bowman, president of the board of school directors, in a press release. “Her record of partnership with families, staff, and administrators, built over more than a decade in Peters Township, positions the district to build on our strengths and reach new goals.” Binsse did not respond to an email seeking comment regarding her vote against hiring Murphy. Going forward, Murphy said that the rise of artificial intelligence will be among the biggest challenges facing the district and education as a whole.
“How do we use it, and how do we teach students to use it ethically?” Murphy said. She added that the district is also committed to make sure its schools remain a safe place for students to receive an education. “We always have a lens on school safety, making sure we are maintaining the safest learning environment for our students, staff and teachers,” Murphy said. She credited her predecessor for helping her prepare to take the next step as the district’s leader. “I felt like I was prepared to do so because Dr. French is an amazing mentor, and it has been a great opportunity to work with her and the entire team for the past decade plus,” Murphy said.