the almanac S E P T E M B E R 14, 2025
SOUTH HILLS COMMUNITY NEWS
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SOUTH FAYETTE UNVEILS NEW MOBILE CLASSROOM PAGE A4
COURTESY OF THE SENATOR JOHN HEINZ HISTORY CENTER
Bocce bonanza Men playing bocce at the Ateleta Mutual Beneficial Society in Pittsburgh’s Bloomfield neighborhood in the 1950s.
Sport has deep roots in Pittsburgh region
MCKEESPORT TO TEST UPPER ST. CLAIR FOOTBALL TEAM PAGE B1
By Brad Hundt Staff writer
bhundt@observer-reporter.com
PITTSBURGH – Is there a sport better suited than bocce to be played on a languid, humidity-soaked summer morning? If the scene outside Acrisure Stadium on Pittsburgh’s North Shore on a recent Saturday is any indication, probably not. As the scent of cigar smoke and the sound of Dean Martin lazily crooning “Volare” filled the air, contestants from across the PHOTOS: BRAD HUNDT/OBSERVER-REPORTER region gathered with teammates ABOVE LEFT: Brigid Smith, a South Side resident and Butler County native, throws a bocce to participate in the annual boc- ball at the bocce tournament and festival that benefited the Senator John Heinz History Center. ce tournament and festival that ABOVE RIGHT: Lou Troiani, from the South Hills, gets ready to toss a bocce ball at the tournaSEE BOCCE PAGE A2 ment and festival outside Acrisure Stadium.
PRACTICE OF SHAPE NOTE SINGING FINDS ADHERENTS TODAY PAGE B3 What’s happening, B3 Real estate transactions, A5 Classifieds, B4-6
SUBMITTED PHOTOS
Car enthusiasts will gather again at Highpoint Fitness during the #Garystrong Memorial Car Cruise set for Sept. 27. Hours are 1 to 5 p.m.
Car cruise continues Carmen’s legacy By Eleanor Bailey Almanac Staff Writer
Grist House pursues new horizons in Collier Township
ebailey@thealmanac.net
Gary Carmen possessed a passion for cars as well as caring. “He loved cars and he liked helping people,” said John Carberry of Bethel Park. So, for the third year, the #Garystrong Memorial Car Cruise will incorporate Carmen’s characteristics. Featuring hundreds of classic and exotic cars as well as super cars and trucks, the event will be held from 1 to 5 p.m. Sept. 27 at Highpoint Fitness, located at 1000 Higbee Drive in Bethel Park. Admission is free for spectators but those wishing to show a vehicle are asked to donate $10. All proceeds benefit St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. Additionally there will be food trucks and outdoor activities for the whole family.
RICK SHRUM/FOR THE OBSERVER-REPORTER
Scott Summers pours a draft during the grand opening of Grist House Command in Collier Township.
By Rick Shrum
For the Observer-Reporter newsroom@observer-reporter.com
Sandy Jansante (front) poses with her family members: Luke, Carmen, Zeb and Grant Jansante; and beside her Pontiac Trans Am during last year’s #Garystrong Memorial Car Cruise. The event is held in memory of Jasante’s brother, Gary Carmen.
A DJ will be on site providing music entertainment and the fitness center will host an open house featuring an open swim in the aquatics center. Carberry, who is a co-owner of Highpoint Fitness, is also the co-organizer of the car cruise with Jim Gastgeb.
Carberry recalled meeting with Carmen to organize the inaugural car cruise in 2023. Carmen would later pass away that November at age 61, a victim of Sarcoma cancer. “When we first met to discuss the cruise, Gary’s first comment was, ‘Let’s do some good,’ and
that’s just how he was and why we wanted to do this. “When his family told me about his diagnosis, and knowing he was a car guy, a lightbulb went off, and I said, ‘Let’s do this for Gary.’” SEE CRUISE PAGE A2
A structure built more than a half-century ago amid the trauma of Cold War politics has been transformed into a site specializing in cold brews. Grist House Craft Brewery owners celebrated the long-anticipated grand opening at their Collier Township location – called Grist House Command. Large crowds of patrons strolled into the combined brewery, taproom and
restaurant during the two-day opening Sept. 6 and 7, quaffing some of the 12 to 18 beers Grist House produces and dining. The taphouse is open Wednesday through Sunday. “We were hoping for this type of turnout,” co-owner Brian Eaton said during the first day. “Our goal is that when you come here, you will find something that you will like to drink.” Eaton shares ownership of Grist House with his brotherin-law, Doug Mientkiewicz, SEE GRIST PAGE A3